A cornice do-over

Joanne Gouws of Riebeek West writes I have given my kitchen and dining room an update and I want to replace the old, unsightly cornices to complete the look. Is this something I can do myself, or do I need a professional?

Cobus Lourens of Swartland replies Adding new cornices can give your interior spaces a whole new look. In the past, it was a job best left to the professionals but with lightweight polystyrene cornices from Swartland, installation is quick and easy – just measure, cut and glue into place.

You will need the following:

• cornices in the style of your choice

• acrylic cornice adhesive

• sponge or clean cloth

• caulking gun

• mitre box

• chalk or pencil

• putty knife

• a very fine saw

• extra-fine sandpaper

• ladder

Firstly, measure the room to determine the lengths of the moulding required. Our cornices come in standard lengths of 2m. Add 10–15% to the total length to accommodate cutting wastage. Move all your furniture out of the way and cover it with old fabric for protection. Make sure the walls and ceiling are clean and completely dry before you begin.

1 Test fit a piece of moulding in place and use chalk or a pencil to mark where the moulding meets the wall below the ceiling, and where it meets the ceiling. Then, using a spirit level or a laser level, extend this mark along the entire wall. If you find that your ceiling or wall is not perfectly straight, measure from the lowest point and straight across. You can install the cornices along the straight line and fill the gap with glue.

2 Cut all the mouldings to length and mitre all the necessary corners. Using a caulking gun, apply a continuous bead of adhesive along the backside top and bottom edges of the moulding as well as along both butt joint ends. Then gently press each piece of cornice into place and hold until the adhesive sets. For longer pieces, you may need some help holding the cornice in place while you wait for the adhesive to set. However, if you are on your own, you can always use masking tape to hold each piece in position.

3 Wipe away any excess adhesive from the edges or seams with a slightly damp sponge or cloth. Once all the cornices have been glued into place, you will be able to spot where all the gaps are. Use the adhesive to fill in these gaps – simply apply it to the area in question and smooth out any excess with your finger or a putty knife. If the finish is slightly rough when dried, you can sand it down for a smooth result.

4 Once the adhesive has dried completely, you can paint the cornices. However, you can only use acrylic paints or solvent-free water-based enamel paints.