Look at the ceiling
Where it is cracking, whether it moves, and whether it is boarded or lath and plaster. That decides repair or replace.
What ceilings and coving is, and when you need it
A ceiling that has cracked once and been filled is a ceiling that will crack again in the same place, because filler does not hold a failed board or a failed fixing together.
The jobs in our work section run from a bedroom ceiling with a crack across it to one that had already come down with the insulation hanging through the hole. The second one is why the first one is worth dealing with.
When a ceiling has to come down
Sagging between the joists, a crack that keeps returning after filling, or a ceiling that moves when you push it are all telling you the board or the fixings have gone.
Old lath and plaster ceilings reach this point eventually: the plaster keys that hold it to the laths break off, and after that the ceiling is held up by habit. Taking it down and re-boarding is the honest answer.
Re-boarding and skimming
New boards fixed to the joists, every joint taped, and two coats of finish over the top. The kitchen ceiling in our work section was taken right back to the joists and done this way.
Having it open is also the only cheap moment to look at what is up there: wiring, pipework, insulation, and whether anything has been leaking.
Coving
Coving covers the wall to ceiling joint, which is the joint that moves most, so on a rebuilt ceiling it is doing a job rather than only decorating.
It goes on after the skim and is mitred at the corners. Plain or moulded, whichever suits the room.
How we do it
Start to finish
Clear and protect the room
Everything out or covered, and the floor protected, because a ceiling job covers a room.
Take down and inspect
Old ceiling out, joists checked, and anything found up there pointed out to you while it is still open.
Board and tape
New boards fixed to the joists, joints taped.
Skim and cove
Two coats of finish, then coving run in at the wall line and mitred at the corners.
Three ways to start
Ring, message, or send the details
Ring 07501 844432
You get Fraser. Tell him the wall and he will tell you what it probably needs.
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A photograph of the wall tells us more than a paragraph of description can.
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Fill the form in at the bottom of this page with a photo or two and we will come back to you.
Go to the formPast work
Ceilings and coving jobs we have done
Media wall, skimmed walls and a lit coffer ceiling
Plastering and skimming, Artex removal
See this job
Collapsed ceiling rebuilt, skimmed and coved
Ceilings and coving, Plastering and skimming
See this job
Patching a kitchen ceiling on site
Ceilings and coving, Plastering and skimming
Before and after
The same wall, both ways
Collapsed ceiling rebuilt, skimmed and coved. Drag the handle to see the before.
Media wall, skimmed walls and a lit coffer ceiling
Artex removed, walls skimmed and a media wall finished with a lit coffer cei
Kitchen ceiling re-boarded and skimmed
Kitchen ceiling taken down to the joists, re-boarded and skimmed
Cracked bedroom ceiling put right
Cracked bedroom ceiling taken down and skimmed
Straight answers
Questions about ceilings and coving
My ceiling has a crack. Does the whole thing need replacing?
Not always. A single crack in a sound ceiling can be taped and skimmed. A crack that has been filled before and come back, or a ceiling that gives when you push it, is a different conversation.
What is lath and plaster and how do I know if I have it?
It is the older construction: thin timber laths with plaster pushed through them from above. Tap it and it sounds dull and solid rather than hollow like plasterboard, and it is common in older properties round here.
Can you do a ceiling without emptying the room?
Small repairs, yes. Taking a whole ceiling down, no. Everything that can leave the room should leave, and what cannot gets covered.
Do you fit coving on its own?
Yes, if the ceiling and the walls are sound. It often makes sense to do it at the same time as skimming so the whole room is finished in one visit.
Get in touch
Get a price for your ceiling
Tell us what the wall or the room looks like now and we will come back to you with a price and a straight answer about what it needs.
Call us for your instant, no obligation quote
07501 844432. Or send a photo of the wall on WhatsApp.