Coving - can you put new over old?

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Hi everyone - I have a DIY problem and it is getting me down. Can anyone help? What I need to know is can you stick new coving over old? The old coving is plaster so will I have to use plaster again? If anyone has any expert advice on this, I would be most grateful.
 
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There might be a situation where you could get away with doing this (e.g. if walls and ceiling were boarded out such that the original coving was now sitting flush/below the level of the board) but I can't see it being done frequently. What's the issue with the old coving - do you have any pictures?
 
Thanks for your reply. I have had some internal cladding put up in my lounge and the cladding has been finished off unevenly at ceiling height. The old coving is thus inset from the new cladding and to make it the same depth and straighten up the uneveness all along the walls I want to put up some new coving over the old. I am afraid I have been extremely let down and disappointed with the workmanship and it was someone who had come recommended from a friend! Needless to say this has all cost me money in terms of materials and labour - end result - careless workmanship. Help please!!!
 
In that case you should be able to put more coving up - but obviously this is a case of making the best out of a bad situation without ripping everything out and starting again.

If you're lucky your old coving will be a smaller profile that can be covered with a larger size - iirc you can normally get a few sizes in the DIY sheds - the Gyproc stuff is normally something like 96mm (smaller size) and 127mm (larger size). But as far as I know there's no reason you have to stick with plaster coving.

If you've already got the larger size in the room then just make sure you use the right adhesive and offer up your pieces of coving to the wall to check the 'fit' before you put adhesive on them in case you need to chop away any of the old stuff underneath.
 
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Thanks Chud - that is what I thought. What adhesive do you recommend? I have been using evostick gripfill solvent free and it seems good stuff - what do you think?
 
You can use gripfill but you're probably better off using a proper coving adhesive as they also act as a (sandable) filler - by the sounds of it you will probably not get a perfect fit so a bit of filling will be required.
 
Thanks Chud for your help. What do you mean by the DIY sheds? Can you recommend a few places.
 
B & Q and such like. I would make a trip to one and trace out the profile of a piece. This way you can transfer the profile to a piece of cardboard and check that you have sufficient clearance around the old. There is no reason why you cannot take an old wood chisel and a hammer to the old stuff if its a bit sticky outy.
When you use the new stuff, before you get carried away, mark the bottom edge of it on the front, pencil or a bit of tape. Often its not symmetrical when it should be and so the joins turn out lumpy. The correct glue is mean't to be sandable, but its very difficult, have a bucket and a sponge to remove excess ASAP, its easier then sanding. Make a jig - a right angle corner with the actual corner ( 1/2" 12mm) cut off with a mark on it 1/4" / 6mm MORE then the distance you expect the coving to come to. Mark off using this from the ceiling downwards. the extra 6mm is so your marks can be seen below the glue that will be squeezed out when you fit the coving. Beware of bends in the walls and ceiling, its difficult to hold the coving against a bent surface unless you have 3 very tall helpers who don't mind standing for a couple of hours.
Frank
 
Whilst in B&Q you might also want to pick up a coveasy mitre block - makes cutting the coving much easier.
 
Thanks again to both - what do you recommend for cutting with the mitre? I am a bit worried about getting the angle in the corners to fit! How do you go about it? I have never done this before so please explain in idiot language because I don't want to add my name to the list of rubbish worksmen I have had!!!
 
I would normally use a hand saw with fine teeth. Coving is not easy if you haven't done it before so will need a bit of practice. Remember there are FOUR possible cuts for angles, Internal left/ right, external left/right. Btw, some coving manufacturers also sell mitred corners, a bit expensive but saves having to work the angles out. Remember also that corners are not always 90 degs so adjustments have to be made.

I understand that you are not happy with the work he has done but was it made clear to start with that you wanted the old coving removed and replaced? Does he know that you are not happy? Could you get him back to do the coving?
 

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