Coving provides an excellent decorative flourish to wall and ceiling junctions.
Coving is a decorative trim that is frequently used to separate the junction between walls and ceilings. It is most commonly made from polystyrene or plaster, although modern coving is also manufactured using British gypsum as well. One of the more challenging aspects of fitting coving is making separate ends fit into corners snugly but this can be easily achieved using a coving mitre block. Careful attention should be paid to internal and external corners to keep wastage to an absolute minimum.
Instructions
1. Take a tape measure and record the length of the first two walls you wish to corner. Establish the type of mitre cut you will need. Some corners will need to be cut internally while others will need to be externally shaped.
2. Place the coving on a stable working service and use the saw to cut two lengths that match the dimensions of the walls, allowing an additional six inches of length to each piece to allow for cutting. Don't worry if the edges of the coving are serrated as these will eventually be removed when the corners are shaped.
3. Mark the coving with a pencil at the point where you wish to make a cut. Remember to leave an additional length at the opposite end of the coving so that the correct type of angle can be formed to meet up with the third wall at a later stage. Surplus material is highly recommended until you have mastered internal and external cutting techniques.
4. Place the coving into the mitre block, paying careful attention to the type of angle you need. Internal corners will need to be cut across one side of the mitre block while external corners will need to be cut across the opposite side. Use a spare piece of coving to make test cuts if you are unsure of which part of the mitre box to use. This will allow you to see how the different corners meet up.
5. Apply light pressure to the saw and cut through the coving to create the perfect corner. Use your spare hand to keep the coving steady as this will help to maintain the correct angle. Repeat the process on the second piece of coving and remove it from the mitre block once it has been cut.
6. Hold the two pieces of coving together to ensure the corners meet perfectly. If cutting is inaccurate, put the coving into the mitre block and make another cut until the perfect angle is achieved. As long as you have allowed an additional six inches of length, you should still have enough material to cover the length of each individual wall.
7. Place each piece of coving back into the mitre block and cut the correct angles for the opposite ends. It is advisable to take off several small cuts at a time until the correct length as been achieved. Once again, you will need to pay careful attention to whether you need an internal or external angle.
8. Place the coving against the junction between wall and ceiling to ensure the coving length has been accurately cut. Mount the coving to the wall and ceiling using a recommended adhesive before repeating the cutting procedure for all other walls in the room.
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