Victorian Plaster Cornice Restoration in London: Fibrous Plaster, In-Situ Repair, and Heritage Lime

THERE ARE TWO FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT CONSTRUCTION METHODS FOR VICTORIAN PLASTER CORNICES IN LONDON PROPERTIES — AND THE CORRECT RESTORATION APPROACH DEPENDS ON WHICH METHOD WAS USED ORIGINALLY.

METHOD 1 — RUN-IN-SITU CORNICE (THE TRADITIONAL METHOD FOR MOST VICTORIAN TERRACES BUILT BEFORE APPROXIMATELY 1890): A RUNNING MOULD (A THIN ZINC OR SHEET METAL TEMPLATE CUT TO THE CROSS-SECTION PROFILE OF THE CORNICE — FITTED TO A WOODEN RUNNING RULE THAT SLIDES ALONG A FIXED GUIDE BATTEN) IS RUN ALONG THE WALL-CEILING JUNCTION IN FRESHLY APPLIED LIME PUTTY MORTAR — THE MOULD SCRAPES AWAY EXCESS MORTAR AND SHAPES THE PROFILE AS IT IS DRAWN ALONG THE RUN. SUCCESSIVE COATS OF LIME PUTTY MORTAR ARE APPLIED AND RUN (TYPICALLY 2-3 PASSES — FLOATING COAT OF COARSE STUFF, THEN FINISHING WITH FINE LIME PUTTY) UNTIL THE REQUIRED PROFILE IS BUILT UP. TYPICAL PROFILES IN LONDON VICTORIAN TERRACE GROUND FLOOR RECEPTION ROOMS: CYMA RECTA (S-CURVE — THE MOST COMMON SIMPLE CORNICE PROFILE IN SMALLER VICTORIAN TERRACES — TYPICALLY A SINGLE CURVED BAND OF 50-75MM PROJECTION). OVOLO AND CAVETTO (QUARTER-ROUND AND CONCAVE QUARTER-CIRCLE — USED IN COMBINATION WITH FILLETS AND BEADS IN MORE ELABORATE GEORGIAN AND EARLY VICTORIAN CORNICES). EGG-AND-DART (CLASSICAL DETAIL — ALTERNATING EGG AND TONGUE ORNAMENT — OFTEN USED IN THE UPPER BAND OF AN ENRICHED CORNICE — CANNOT BE RUN IN-SITU BUT IS A PLANTED OR CAST DETAIL ADDED AFTER THE MAIN CORNICE IS RUN).

METHOD 2 — FIBROUS PLASTER CORNICE (WIDELY USED FROM APPROXIMATELY 1880 ONWARDS — THE DOMINANT METHOD FOR MORE ELABORATE OR REPETITIVE CORNICE PROFILES): FIBROUS PLASTER (ALSO KNOWN AS STAFF) CONSISTS OF GYPSUM PLASTER REINFORCED WITH NATURAL HESSIAN (BURLAP) SCRIM — CAST IN MOULDS TO THE REQUIRED PROFILE — AND THEN FIXED TO THE WALL AND CEILING WITH PLASTER AND MECHANICAL FIXINGS (NAILS, SCREWS, OR TIMBER GROUNDS EMBEDDED IN THE PLASTER SUBSTRATE). FIBROUS PLASTER ALLOWS MUCH MORE ELABORATE AND CONSISTENT PROFILES THAN HAND-RUN CORNICE — INCLUDING COMPLEX ENRICHMENT DETAILS (EGG-AND-DART, DENTIL COURSE, MODILLION BRACKETS, LEAF-AND-TONGUE BANDS, ACANTHUS LEAF DETAILS) THAT CANNOT BE ACHIEVED BY RUNNING IN-SITU. IN LONDON VICTORIAN TERRACES, ELABORATE FIBROUS PLASTER CORNICES (WITH ENRICHED BANDS, DENTIL COURSES, AND MODILLION BRACKETS) ARE FOUND IN: LARGER VICTORIAN TERRACES (DOUBLE-FRONTED PROPERTIES — 5+ BEDROOMS); PROPERTIES BUILT IN THE LATER VICTORIAN PERIOD (1880-1900) WHEN FIBROUS PLASTER MANUFACTURE HAD BECOME CHEAPER AND MORE WIDESPREAD; THE GROUND FLOOR RECEPTION ROOMS OF MORE EXPENSIVE VICTORIAN DEVELOPMENTS (CAMBERWELL, ISLINGTON, KENSINGTON, HAMPSTEAD).

IDENTIFYING WHICH TYPE YOUR CORNICE IS: TAP THE CORNICE GENTLY WITH A KNUCKLE — A SOLID SOUND SUGGESTS RUN-IN-SITU LIME PLASTER ON A SOLID SUBSTRATE; A HOLLOW SOUND SUGGESTS FIBROUS PLASTER FIXED TO GROUNDS WITH AN AIR GAP BEHIND. LOOK FOR JOIN LINES IN THE CORNICE PROFILE (FIBROUS PLASTER SECTIONS ARE TYPICALLY 1.2-1.8M LONG — BUTT JOINTS BETWEEN SECTIONS ARE OFTEN VISIBLE AS HAIRLINE CRACKS RUNNING PERPENDICULAR TO THE CORNICE RUN — PARTICULARLY AT CORNERS WHERE MITRED SECTIONS MEET). LOOK BEHIND A DETACHED SECTION — IF YOU CAN SEE HESSIAN SCRIM EMBEDDED IN THE BACK OF THE PLASTER, IT IS FIBROUS PLASTER.

VICTORIAN CORNICE DAMAGE IN LONDON PROPERTIES TYPICALLY FALLS INTO FOUR CATEGORIES — AND THE CORRECT REPAIR APPROACH DIFFERS FOR EACH.

CATEGORY 1 — SURFACE CRACKING (HAIRLINE CRACKS IN THE PLASTER SURFACE — NO STRUCTURAL MOVEMENT): THE MOST COMMON FORM OF CORNICE DAMAGE IN LONDON PROPERTIES — TYPICALLY CAUSED BY: DIFFERENTIAL THERMAL MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE PLASTER AND THE SUBSTRATE; SLIGHT SETTLEMENT OF THE PROPERTY OVER TIME; MINOR IMPACT DAMAGE. REPAIR APPROACH: LIME PUTTY REPAIR — LIME PUTTY (AGED LIME PUTTY — MINIMUM 6 MONTHS SLAKED — IDEALLY AGED LIME PUTTY FROM A HERITAGE LIME SUPPLIER SUCH AS LIME GREEN PRODUCTS OR ANGUS'S LIME COMPANY — FINER AND MORE WORKABLE THAN FRESHLY SLAKED PUTTY) IS APPLIED INTO THE CRACK AND TOOLED TO MATCH THE EXISTING PROFILE — USING A FLEXIBLE STEEL OR BOXWOOD TOOL. DO NOT USE CAULK, FILLER, OR GYPSUM PLASTER TO REPAIR A LIME PLASTER CORNICE — GYPSUM EXPANDS ON SETTING (UNLIKE LIME) AND WILL CREATE A RIGID REPAIR THAT WILL RE-CRACK AT THE REPAIR EDGES WITHIN 2-3 YEARS IN LONDON'S SEASONAL TEMPERATURE CYCLE.

CATEGORY 2 — STRUCTURAL CRACKING (CRACKS FOLLOWING A CONSISTENT PATH — INDICATING DIFFERENTIAL MOVEMENT OF THE SUBSTRATE OR THE CORNICE FIXING): MUST BE INVESTIGATED BEFORE REPAIR — THE CAUSE OF MOVEMENT (BUILDING SETTLEMENT, FAILING CORNICE FIXINGS, SUBSIDENCE, OR WATER DAMAGE) MUST BE IDENTIFIED AND ADDRESSED BEFORE THE CRACK IS FILLED — OTHERWISE THE REPAIR WILL FAIL IMMEDIATELY. FOR FIBROUS PLASTER CORNICE: CHECK WHETHER THE SECTION IS STILL ADEQUATELY FIXED TO ITS GROUNDS — INSERT A PROBE BEHIND THE CORNICE AT THE CRACK LOCATION TO CHECK FOR AIR GAP AND LOOSE FIXINGS — FAILED FIXINGS SHOULD BE REPLACED (NEW STAINLESS STEEL SCREWS INTO EXISTING TIMBER GROUNDS — OR NEW TIMBER GROUNDS FIXED TO THE WALL AND CEILING — BEFORE LIME PUTTY REPAIR OF THE SURFACE CRACK).

CATEGORY 3 — MISSING SECTIONS (PARTIAL SECTIONS OF CORNICE LOST — TYPICALLY 100-600MM IN LENGTH): REPAIR OPTIONS: (A) CAST REPLACEMENT SECTION (FOR FIBROUS PLASTER CORNICE — THE MOST DURABLE AND ACCURATE REPAIR WHERE THE PROFILE MATCHES AN EXISTING FIBROUS PLASTER RANGE FROM A HERITAGE PLASTER SUPPLIER — CAST FROM THE EXISTING UNDAMAGED SECTION AS A MOULD TEMPLATE — FIXED WITH PLASTER AND STAINLESS SCREWS TO THE EXISTING GROUNDS). (B) IN-SITU LIME PUTTY REPAIR (FOR RUN-IN-SITU LIME CORNICE — A RUNNING MOULD MATCHING THE EXISTING PROFILE IS MADE AND USED TO RUN THE MISSING SECTION IN FRESH LIME PUTTY MORTAR — THE TRADITIONAL REPAIR METHOD). (C) FIBROUS PLASTER INFILL PIECE (FOR FIBROUS PLASTER CORNICE — A SPECIALIST PLASTERER CASTS A NEW FIBROUS PLASTER SECTION FROM A MOULD TAKEN FROM THE EXISTING UNDAMAGED CORNICE — THE MOST ACCURATE MATCH FOR ELABORATE ENRICHED PROFILES).

CATEGORY 4 — EXTENSIVE LOSS (MORE THAN 50% OF THE CORNICE IN A ROOM IS MISSING OR BEYOND REPAIR): FULL ROOM RE-CORNICING — EITHER RUN-IN-SITU (FOR SIMPLE PROFILES) OR CAST FROM A HERITAGE PLASTERER'S STANDARD RANGE (FOR PROFILES THAT CAN BE MATCHED FROM A CATALOGUE — SEE BELOW).

RUNNING A NEW CORNICE IN-SITU (THE TRADITIONAL HAND-RUN METHOD) IS THE MOST APPROPRIATE TECHNIQUE FOR RESTORING A SIMPLE RUN-IN-SITU LIME PLASTER CORNICE IN A LONDON VICTORIAN TERRACE — AND IS THE PREFERRED APPROACH IN CONSERVATION AREAS AND LISTED BUILDINGS WHERE MATCHING THE ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION METHOD IS REQUIRED.

RUNNING MOULD CONSTRUCTION: THE RUNNING MOULD IS A THIN SHEET OF ZINC (TYPICALLY 0.8-1.2MM THICK ZINC SHEET — AVAILABLE FROM HERITAGE BUILDERS MERCHANTS OR CUT BY A SHEET METAL FABRICATOR) SHAPED TO THE NEGATIVE (REVERSE) OF THE CORNICE CROSS-SECTION PROFILE. THE ZINC PROFILE IS MOUNTED IN A WOODEN RUNNER (HARDWOOD GUIDE BLOCK WITH THE ZINC FACE AT THE LEADING EDGE) — THE RUNNER SLIDES ALONG A FIXED GUIDE BATTEN SCREWED TO THE CEILING AT THE CORRECT DISTANCE FROM THE WALL TO PRODUCE THE REQUIRED PROJECTION DEPTH. MAKING THE RUNNING MOULD: TRACE THE CROSS-SECTION PROFILE FROM AN UNDAMAGED SECTION OF THE EXISTING CORNICE (USING A PROFILE GAUGE — ALSO KNOWN AS A CONTOUR GAUGE OR MULTI-PIN GAUGE — AVAILABLE FROM HERITAGE TOOL SUPPLIERS) — TRANSFER TO ZINC SHEET — CUT WITH SNIPS OR BANDSAW AND FILE SMOOTH.

LIME PUTTY MORTAR MIX FOR CORNICE RUNNING: COARSE STUFF (FLOATING COAT — FOR BUILDING UP THE MAIN BULK OF THE CORNICE): LIME PUTTY 1 PART: SHARP SAND 2.5 PARTS: ANIMAL HAIR (COW HAIR — THE TRADITIONAL REINFORCING FIBRE FOR LIME PLASTER CORNICE — AVAILABLE FROM HERITAGE PLASTER SUPPLIERS INCLUDING ANGUS'S LIME COMPANY, CONSERV' MORTAR, OR LIME GREEN PRODUCTS): 0.5KG/M³ — ADD GOAT HAIR AS ALTERNATIVE IF COW HAIR IS UNAVAILABLE. FINE STUFF (SETTING COAT — FOR THE FINAL PASS): LIME PUTTY ALONE OR LIME PUTTY + FINE SILVER SAND AT 1:1 — NO COARSE SAND — NO ANIMAL HAIR IN THE FINAL COAT. DO NOT USE GYPSUM IN ANY COAT FOR A LIME PLASTER CORNICE RESTORATION ON A LISTED BUILDING OR CONSERVATION AREA PROPERTY — GYPSUM CAUSES SULFATE ATTACK AND CRACKING IN COMBINATION WITH LIME PUTTY OVER TIME IN DAMP CONDITIONS.

RUNNING SEQUENCE: STEP 1 — KEY THE SUBSTRATE (HACK THE BACKGROUND WALL AND CEILING SURFACE WITH A LATH HAMMER OR ANGLE GRINDER TO PROVIDE A MECHANICAL KEY — OR APPLY A BONDING LAYER OF PVA AND GRIT WHERE THE SUBSTRATE IS VERY SMOOTH). STEP 2 — FIX THE RUNNING GUIDE BATTEN TO THE CEILING. STEP 3 — APPLY THE FIRST COAT OF COARSE STUFF AND RUN THE MOULD OVER IT TO CUT THE APPROXIMATE PROFILE. STEP 4 — ALLOW TO STIFFEN (NOT DRY — LIME SETS BY CARBONATION NOT EVAPORATION — BUT THE COARSE STUFF SHOULD BE FIRM ENOUGH TO HOLD ITS PROFILE). STEP 5 — APPLY SECOND COAT AND RUN TO A TIGHTER APPROXIMATION OF THE PROFILE. STEP 6 — FINAL PASS WITH FINE STUFF — THE RUNNING MOULD CUTS THE SURFACE SMOOTH. STEP 7 — REMOVE GUIDE BATTEN AND FILL THE RUNNING GROOVE WITH LIME PUTTY — PROFILE STOP ENDS AND MITRED CORNERS REQUIRE HAND FINISHING WITH A BOXWOOD TOOL. INTERNAL MITRES (IN-SITU MITRES AT INTERNAL CORNERS — WHERE THE CORNICE TURNS A CORNER): MADE BY HAND-RULING THE ANGLE AFTER THE MAIN RUNS ARE COMPLETE — THE MOST SKILLED PART OF A RUN-IN-SITU CORNICE JOB.

WHERE THE ORIGINAL CORNICE IS FIBROUS PLASTER (GYPSUM + HESSIAN SCRIM) AND SECTIONS ARE MISSING OR DAMAGED, THE MOST COMMON AND MOST DURABLE REPAIR APPROACH IS TO CAST REPLACEMENT SECTIONS FROM A MOULD — EITHER TAKEN FROM THE EXISTING UNDAMAGED CORNICE (FOR EXACT MATCH) OR FROM A STANDARD HERITAGE PLASTER SUPPLIER'S RANGE (WHERE THE EXISTING PROFILE MATCHES A CATALOGUE ITEM).

LEADING UK HERITAGE FIBROUS PLASTER SUPPLIERS WITH STANDARD VICTORIAN CORNICE RANGES (2025): STEVENSONS OF NORWICH (THE LARGEST UK HERITAGE FIBROUS PLASTER MANUFACTURER — EXTENSIVE CATALOGUE OF STANDARD VICTORIAN CORNICE PROFILES INCLUDING EGG-AND-DART, DENTIL, MODILLION, ACANTHUS LEAF, WATERLEAF, AND GREEK KEY ENRICHMENT BANDS — AVAILABLE IN STANDARD 1.2M AND 1.8M LENGTHS). HAYLES AND HOWE (BATH/BRISTOL — SPECIALIST HERITAGE PLASTERER — CUSTOM PROFILES FROM SITE-TAKEN MOULDS — NOT A STANDARD CATALOGUE SUPPLIER — BESPOKE ONLY). MASTER PLASTERS (LONDON — EAST LONDON HERITAGE PLASTERER — FIBROUS PLASTER CORNICE AND ENRICHMENT CASTINGS — LOCAL TO LONDON VICTORIAN TERRACE RESTORATION PROJECTS). GEORGE JACKSON AND SONS (LONDON — THE OLDEST UK FIBROUS PLASTER MANUFACTURER — ESTABLISHED 1780 — LARGE CATALOGUE OF GEORGIAN AND VICTORIAN PROFILES — PREFERRED BY ENGLISH HERITAGE AND HISTORIC ENGLAND FOR LISTED BUILDING CORNICE RESTORATION). ORNAMENTAL PLASTER (STANDARD HERITAGE RANGES — LOWER PRICE POINT THAN GEORGE JACKSON AND SONS — SUITABLE FOR NON-LISTED CONSERVATION AREA RESTORATION).

FIXING FIBROUS PLASTER REPLACEMENT SECTIONS: THE REPLACEMENT SECTION IS OFFERED UP TO THE ADJACENT UNDAMAGED SECTIONS — CUT TO LENGTH (WITH A FINE-TOOTHED HAND SAW OR PANEL SAW — NOT A CIRCULAR SAW — TO AVOID BLOWING THE FIBROUS PLASTER FACE). THE BUTT JOINT BETWEEN THE NEW AND EXISTING SECTION IS FILLED WITH GYPSUM BOARD FINISH (THISTLE BOARD FINISH — GYPSUM IS APPROPRIATE FOR JOINING FIBROUS PLASTER SECTIONS — UNLIKE THE LIME PUTTY RULE FOR RUN-IN-SITU LIME CORNICE RESTORATION). THE BACK OF THE NEW SECTION IS STABBED WITH PLASTER RIBS (SMALL BLOBS OF FRESH GYPSUM PLASTER SQUEEZED INTO THE HESSIAN SCRIM ON THE BACK OF THE SECTION BEFORE FIXING — THESE FORM THE KEY BETWEEN THE BACK OF THE SECTION AND THE SUBSTRATE). STAINLESS STEEL SCREWS THROUGH THE SECTION INTO TIMBER GROUNDS (WHERE GROUNDS EXIST) OR TOGGLE BOLTS (WHERE THE CEILING OR WALL SUBSTRATE IS HOLLOW OR UNKNOWN — NOT TRADITIONAL BUT ACCEPTABLE FOR SECONDARY FIXING WHERE DIRECT GROUNDS ARE NOT ACCESSIBLE). THE FACE JOINT IS FILLED WITH BOARD FINISH AND TOOLED WITH A FLEXIBLE STEEL TOOL TO MATCH THE PROFILE — PAINTED AFTER DRYING.

CORNICE RESTORATION AND REPLACEMENT WORKS IN A LONDON CONSERVATION AREA OR LISTED BUILDING ARE SUBJECT TO SPECIFIC PLANNING AND HERITAGE REQUIREMENTS — PARTICULARLY WHERE THE WORKS INVOLVE REPLACEMENT OF ORIGINAL FABRIC RATHER THAN LIKE-FOR-LIKE REPAIR.

IN A CONSERVATION AREA: INTERNAL WORKS (INCLUDING CORNICE REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT) DO NOT REQUIRE PLANNING PERMISSION UNDER THE TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1990 — INTERNAL ALTERATIONS ARE NOT DEVELOPMENT REQUIRING CONSENT IN AN UNLISTED BUILDING IN A CONSERVATION AREA. EXCEPTION: IF THE CORNICE RESTORATION IS PART OF AN EXTERNAL WORKS PROJECT (E.G., REPAIRING EXTERNAL STUCCO CORNICES ON A GEORGIAN TERRACE — WHERE THE CORNICE IS ON THE EXTERNAL ELEVATION — THE EXTERNAL WORKS MAY REQUIRE PLANNING PERMISSION UNDER CONSERVATION AREA PROVISIONS).

IN A LISTED BUILDING: ANY ALTERATION TO THE INTERIOR OF A LISTED BUILDING (INCLUDING INTERNAL CORNICE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT) THAT WOULD AFFECT ITS CHARACTER AS A BUILDING OF SPECIAL ARCHITECTURAL OR HISTORIC INTEREST REQUIRES LISTED BUILDING CONSENT (LBC). FOR CORNICE WORK IN A LISTED BUILDING: LIKE-FOR-LIKE REPAIR (LIME PUTTY INTO CRACKS — NO REMOVAL OF ORIGINAL FABRIC — MINIMUM INTERVENTION) DOES NOT GENERALLY REQUIRE LBC — BUT THE LISTED BUILDING OWNER SHOULD ALWAYS CONFIRM WITH THE LOCAL AUTHORITY CONSERVATION OFFICER BEFORE COMMENCING WORK. REPLACING A SECTION OF ORIGINAL CORNICE WITH A NEW CAST SECTION: REQUIRES LBC WHERE ORIGINAL MATERIAL IS REMOVED. USING THE WRONG MATERIAL (GYPSUM PLASTER OR CEMENT-BASED REPAIR IN A LIME PLASTER CORNICE): IS LIKELY TO BE A BREACH OF LBC CONDITIONS IF CARRIED OUT WITHOUT CONSENT IN A LISTED BUILDING.

HISTORIC ENGLAND GUIDANCE: HISTORIC ENGLAND (THE GOVERNMENT HERITAGE ADVISORY BODY) PUBLISHES GUIDANCE ON INTERNAL PLASTERWORK IN HISTORIC BUILDINGS (CONSERVATION AND REPAIR NOTES SERIES). THE KEY PRINCIPLE: MINIMUM INTERVENTION — REPAIR WHAT IS THERE; DO NOT REPLACE UNLESS REPLACEMENT IS ESSENTIAL; USE COMPATIBLE MATERIALS THAT DO NOT DAMAGE THE ORIGINAL FABRIC. SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF ANCIENT BUILDINGS (SPAB) NOTE 17: INTERNAL PLASTERWORK — THE MOST WIDELY REFERENCED TECHNICAL GUIDANCE FOR LIME PLASTER REPAIR IN HISTORIC BUILDINGS IN THE UK — FREELY AVAILABLE ON THE SPAB WEBSITE. THE KEY PRINCIPLE IN SPAB NOTE 17: LIME PUTTY IS THE ONLY ACCEPTABLE REPAIR MORTAR FOR IN-SITU LIME PLASTER CORNICE — GYPSUM AND CEMENT ARE INCOMPATIBLE AND SHOULD NOT BE USED.

VICTORIAN PLASTER CORNICE RESTORATION COSTS IN LONDON (2025) FOR A TYPICAL VICTORIAN TERRACE FIRST-FLOOR FRONT RECEPTION ROOM (ROOM PERIMETER APPROXIMATELY 12M — CORNICE ON ALL FOUR WALLS — APPROXIMATELY 12 LINEAR METRES OF CORNICE TOTAL).

LIME PUTTY CRACK REPAIR (IN-SITU — HAIRLINE AND MINOR STRUCTURAL CRACKS — NO MISSING SECTIONS): HERITAGE SPECIALIST PLASTERER (ABLE TO WORK WITH LIME PUTTY — NOT ALL PLASTERERS ARE): APPROXIMATELY £40-80 PER LINEAR METRE OF CRACK REPAIRED — DEPENDING ON DEPTH AND WIDTH OF CRACKS AND DIFFICULTY OF PROFILE TOOLING. FOR A ROOM WITH 3-4M OF CRACKED CORNICE REQUIRING LIME PUTTY REPAIR: £120-320. FIBROUS PLASTER SECTION REPLACEMENT (CAST FROM SUPPLIER CATALOGUE OR FROM SITE-TAKEN MOULD — FOR MISSING SECTIONS 200-600MM IN LENGTH): CATALOGUE SECTION SUPPLY (STEVENSONS OF NORWICH OR ORNAMENTAL PLASTER): £10-30/LINEAR METRE (SIMPLE PROFILE — DENTIL COURSE OR OVOLO) TO £40-100/LINEAR METRE (COMPLEX ENRICHED PROFILE — EGG-AND-DART, MODILLION BRACKET). HERITAGE PLASTERER LABOUR TO FIX AND MAKE GOOD JOINTS: £50-100/HOUR — ALLOW 1-2 HOURS PER 1.2M SECTION. BESPOKE CAST SECTION FROM SITE-TAKEN MOULD (HAYLES AND HOWE, GEORGE JACKSON): MOULD MAKING: £200-600 (ONE-OFF COST FOR THE FIRST MOULD OF A PROFILE NOT IN ANY CATALOGUE — AMORTISED IF MULTIPLE SECTIONS ARE NEEDED). CAST SECTION FROM THE MOULD: £20-50/LINEAR METRE.

FULL RE-CORNICING (NEW CORNICE IN AN ENTIRE ROOM — WHERE THE ORIGINAL IS ENTIRELY ABSENT OR BEYOND REPAIR): RUN-IN-SITU NEW LIME PUTTY CORNICE (SIMPLE CYMA RECTA PROFILE — 80MM PROJECTION): SPECIALIST HERITAGE PLASTERER: £80-150/LINEAR METRE (SUPPLY AND FIT — INCLUDING RUNNING MOULD PREPARATION, COARSE STUFF, FINE STUFF, INTERNAL MITRES). FULL ROOM RE-CORNICING (12M RUN): £960-1,800. FIBROUS PLASTER NEW CORNICE (STANDARD CATALOGUE PROFILE — SUPPLY AND FIX): SIMPLE PROFILE: £40-80/LINEAR METRE + SUPPLIER SECTION COST (£10-30/M) = £50-110/LINEAR METRE TOTAL. FULL ROOM RE-CORNICING (12M): £600-1,320. ELABORATE ENRICHED FIBROUS PLASTER CORNICE (EGG-AND-DART + DENTIL + MODILLION — GEORGE JACKSON OR STEVENSONS OF NORWICH): SUPPLY: £80-200/LINEAR METRE. HERITAGE PLASTERER FIXING: £60-120/LINEAR METRE LABOUR. TOTAL: £140-320/LINEAR METRE — FULL ROOM: £1,680-3,840.