5 Tips For Choosing And Using Coving

4 Tips For Choosing And Using Coving

Many period properties, particularly ones built in the 19th and early 20th centuries, originally had coving and cornicing in many of the rooms. Whether you are using the coronavirus lockdown to implement some home renovations or making plans for after the crisis, we have some tips for how to use coving.

1. Styles of coving changed over the years, so try to match any coving you buy to the period of your home. If you have coving in some rooms, this is the best indication of the style, or your neighbours’ homes may have original coving you can copy.

2. A room without coving can look bare - the difference it makes can be amazing. As well as being decorative, coving is a good way to hide hairline cracks and other imperfections. It also makes it easier to get a neat line between a different wall and ceiling colour when painting.

3. Period coving is made of plaster, and many coving specialists make and fit plaster coving, but it is not recommended to put it up yourself because it’s a highly skilled job. DIYers should play safe and stick to gyproc coving which is easier to work with.

4. As well as getting coving that’s the right period for your home, it’s important to get the right size for the room. Big rooms with high ceilings can take large, more elaborate designs, while smaller rooms with lower ceilings are better suited to narrower, plainer coving.

Always use the adhesive recommended for the coving you’ve bought and have some panel pins to hand - you may need them to keep the coving up while the adhesive dries.

For the best results, professional coving specialists in London have all the knowledge and expertise, so get in touch today.

Cornice, Cornice, Cornice

In a world where everything we want is so accessible it can be easy to forget the origin of certain aspects of work. I often see various new plaster designs which have moved away from the original architectural rules which formed the foundation of our craft (I’m all for new designs, that isn’t a dig!)

I wanted to write another short blog aiming to educate anyone who never realised there are generic rules and guidelines involved in the design process before we manufacture anything. In the image above you can see a diagram slicing through a cornice profile. Did you realise there were so many names for each section?!

Now some of you may have noticed the name Ovolo and put 2 + 2 together. You’re absolutely right in thinking that is where the inspiration came from for Ovolo London. When brainstorming before Ovolo’s journey began there were so many different ideas - Ovolo stuck out mainly because it is original and maintains an element of tradition still.

As you work through the various periods (Edwardian, Victorian and so on), you can begin to notice small similarities in your plaster designs which we use to make suggestions for your project. One obvious example in the diagram above is the ‘drip’ section. The Georgian era was renowned for using this feature on cornice work. If you own a period property and have some original plaster features then why don’t you try and do some research to figure out the period of your home!

Of course, if you have a project in mind requiring any of our decorative plaster or lath & plaster services then please do feel free to get in touch.

Lath and Plaster

Lath and Plaster is a skilled technique which dates back to the early 18th century.  Due to the necessity to produce homes quickly Lath & Plaster has been deemed an ineffective method of plastering and has subsequently been replaced by Gypsum plasterboard in the 20th century.

Now, Ovolo London only seems to undertake Lath and Plaster work when a project is listed and so the lath & plaster method is demanded. I’d like to understand better why lath & plaster is no longer in demand when it provided such an assured quality for such a long period of time.

Cost. The main reason for the downward slide is cost. The laths are extremely expensive for a start; our friends at OldHouseStore have a fantastic range of quality hand riven(split) oak and chestnut laths and offer competitive prices however they cost far more than plasterboard sheets.

After the wooden laths are attached (via nails or screws) you then need a pricking coat of coarse lime plaster. This coat is imperative for a strong ceiling. We always used a horse haired coarse plaster which provides an excellent key for the next floating coat. The float coat is used to level and flatten the ceiling before a final coat of lime and sharp sand is applied.

 Sounds like a long process right? Because it is. The time element also adds to the cost of a job. Both of which are important factors to consider in a modern building project which is always driven by a challenging handover deadline.

Not really selling it to you am I? Well how about some positives. Firstly, how many of you live in a home with original features? If yes, it isn’t uncommon for your plaster work to have a shelf-life of 100 years+ which begs the question when do quality and price meet. Yes a plasterboard ceiling costs less, however which will look better in 100 years?

 The argument must go deeper. Plaster-boarding onto old joists is so common now and is something I absolutely hate. Why on earth ceilings are installed to be bumpy and out of level surely goes against everything a plasterer is meant to be?

If you’ve read through my website then you’ll see that I lived in Australia for a while and worked for OldMelbournePlaster. Here I received an education in drylining, metal formwork and plaster-boarding. Every ceiling we worked on had a brand new laser level ceiling installed. The plaster board sheets were glued to the metal studs and the boards were cleated to each other. We then installed cornice after and screwed into the metal studs which were intentionally set out at the correct places for each cornice.

This education showed that plaster-boarding can be used to a much better effect than is often used in the UK. Unfortunately we seem to have taken the cheaper method and practise it badly too. I must say I can see the sense in both arguments (boring I know). Not everyone can afford lath & plaster and plaster boarding is a great alternative when carried out correctly.

How Is The Pandemic Affecting The Architecture Profession?

How Is The Pandemic Affecting The Architecture Profession?

The coronavirus pandemic has had a serious impact on how we all lead our lives and how businesses now operate - but what sort of effect has it had on the architecture profession?

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has just published the results of a two-week survey looking into how the current situation is affecting the sector, finding that many are now finding it hard to work because of school closures.

Some 30 per cent say that family disruption and altered caring responsibilities are now having an impact on their ability to work, with 81 per cent now working entirely remotely or from home.

This has led to some concerns regarding the ability to take work on because of the suitability of the infrastructure that’s available at home, coupled with changes to how communication takes place.

Individual income has also been affected, with 45 per cent of survey respondents saying they have seen a drop - with many now uncertain about what the future holds. And a fifth of those asked said they had seen a reduction in their working hours, with extra pressure piled on because of increased uncertainty and additional responsibilities.

In terms of actual projects, 79 per cent are now reporting delays in this regard, with 37 per cent saying they have started seeing cancellations. Delays are being caused by factors including site closures, new delays within the planning system and disruption caused by having to work from home.

Head of policy and public affairs Andrew Forth recently explained how the RIBA has been working with the government to help support architects at this difficult time, saying how the team have been working with MPs and civil servants on a daily basis to raise the concerns of those in the sector.

For example, the government was urged to consider ways to provide support to individuals who do not fit the current criteria for the new Self-Employed Income Support Scheme, such as smaller, newer architecture practices.

A letter was also written to secretary of state for business and industry Nadhim Zahawi, outlining how architecture skills can be used to help create personal protective equipment, which is now needed urgently.

Some architecture practices have the machinery in place, such as 3D printing and rapid prototyping, skills and software to produce necessary equipment and the hope is that the government will take the RIBA up on its offer of support and expertise.

The need for support to arrive faster was also highlighted in a conversation with the Treasury, emphasising the challenges faced by those who right now don’t qualify for support. It was also stressed that in order for the package to be effective, it must be extended to include other groups, such as those paid via dividends rather than salaries.

If you’re doing restoration work in Croydon and need help with lime plaster, get in touch with us today.

Liverpool Victorian Pub Gets Grade I Listing

Liverpool Victorian Pub Gets Grade I Listing

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, on the advice of Historic England, has awarded Grade I historic building status to The Philharmonic Dining Rooms in Liverpool, reports World Architecture News.

The Philharmonic, regarded as a ‘cathedral among pubs’ for its opulence, was completed towards the end of the 19th century, the ‘golden age’ of pub building. It now ranks with Buckingham Palace, Chatsworth House and Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral Church of Christ in the top 2.5 per cent of protected historic buildings in England.

A list of pubs was proposed by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) Pub Heritage Group, as part of a collaboration between CAMRA and Historic England to protect historic pubs and their interiors.

Paul Ainsworth, Chairman of CAMRA’s Pub Heritage Group, said: “So few of England's 40,500 pubs retain interiors which have not suffered major alterations over the years. CAMRA has identified 280 pubs whose interiors it considers to be of national historic importance, and we feel it is vital for these precious survivors to be preserved for future generations to enjoy.

“The majority of these pubs are listed and the new detailed listing descriptions will enhance their protected status and give the public more information about the delights they contain.”

The Philharmonic Dining Rooms was first awarded Grade II* back in 1966, then known for its opulent interior, including rich work in copper, mahogany, plaster and glass. The gentlemen's toilet also survives from its original Victorian design and features high-quality decoration.

The exterior features elaborate carvings, Art Nouveau elements including metal gates by the architect and designer Henry Bloomfield Bare, and stone sculptures of musicians and musical instruments in low relief.

Built from 1898 to 1900 in an exuberant freestyle, it has become an iconic landmark in Liverpool, and a striking example of Victorian architecture in the city centre. It was awarded its upgrade to Grade I for its incredible architectural quality and amazing interiors.

If you are wanting to repair or restore Victorian coving and plasterwork in London, then get in touch.

Covid-19 Update

To all our followers, clients and peers, I am writing to offer an update on Ovolo London’s current situation and what will be happening in the future.

Is Ovolo London still open?

Yes, for now we are still operating.

What is Ovolo doing in light of difficult working situations?

We are now taking strict action in order to keep operating.

ALL on-site residential work will be carried out by the company owner, Dan.

Work stations will be set up for regular hand washing as well as other agreeable measures which vary depending on the project.

Other measures include:

●     Latex gloves worn on site at all times

●     If the home is occupied, work areas will be cordoned off

What else?

Public transport will no longer be used to access any project and hasn’t been for 10 days.

This goes without saying, but there will be no hand shaking and the 2 metre distance will be adhered to as it has been for the last two weeks.

What next?

We are expecting difficult times ahead just like everyone else, however, we are confident we will survive this as a company and push on again.

We urge everyone reading this to follow all guidelines released by the government.

If there be any questions over our clients health, all work and payments will be suspended without charge.

Should you have any projects which you were considering before this pandemic, please do get in touch via email to see what we can do to help.

To encourage business we will be offering discounts on all residential work.

To conclude, the only important thing to us is your health, our health and our families’ health. Please do stay safe and take care.

Ovolo London is a small business with a big heart. We are going to offer a complimentary package of cornice and a ceiling rose to one randomly selected and London/Surrey based NHS member of staff on the front line, at a time suitable for them. If you can recommend someone you think deserving of our services, please email us and we will get back to you shortly.

What Makes A Victorian Home Stand Out?

What Makes A Victorian Home Stand Out

The UK is lucky to have many different examples of period properties. One of the most iconic, however, is the Victorian home, but do you know what features make it obvious that a house is from this period?

A recent article for Anglotopia highlighted some of the main defining features of Victorian properties, with entrance porchways and stained glass doorways among some of the external signs that a home is from this era.

Within a Victorian property, it’s often the high ceilings that people notice first. But you should also make sure you pay attention to the mouldings and other plasterwork on the ceilings and round the tops of the walls.

According to the news provider, “the quality of wall and ceiling ornamentation was directly related to the status of the house”.

That means grand homes would typically feature more ornate and elaborate moulding details, including intricate ceiling roses and ornate coving.

Another feature of Victorian properties is having a fireplace in every room. Even though most of these won’t be in use any longer, they can make a striking central feature to your decor.

It’s been more than a century since the Victorian era came to an end though, so if you purchase a property from this period now you may find that it’s worth spending money on restoring Victorian coving in London, as well as the other ceiling features.

In fact, research from Halifax last month found that renovating or restoring period features was one of the top ten most lucrative home improvement projects to undertake. It came in at number five in the list, adding an estimated £4,731 to the value of a property.

Expert Guide To Traditional Plaster Mouldings

Expert Guide To Traditional Plaster Mouldings

If you want to restore the period charm of your home, knowing and understanding which mouldings and plasterwork to choose to suit the era of the property is essential.

As well as adding to the aesthetic appeal of your home, they help to define the period styles and the status of homes, or even individual rooms. Most mouldings also have practical uses too.

Skirting protects the foot of the wall, and dado rails were originally installed to protect walls from the backs of chairs scraping the wall finishes, Mouldings around doorways, or architraves, also add protection and can turn a mundane opening into a welcoming entrance.

Coving or cornicing mirrors the skirting, and hides joints and cracks between the ceiling and the wall. Ceiling roses and domes tidy the area around the mounting of a light fitting and are generally quite large and circular, placed in the centre of the ceiling.

How to choose mouldings to suit your home

Mouldings can be as ornate or clean as you require, but the key to staying true to the period of your home is to create a balance in the proportions of the mouldings. Large imposing mouldings in a small room will look cluttered, but in a large room, there’s more free reign to be bolder.

It can be worth looking for any signs that might indicate where original mouldings might have been used, for example, finding patched nail holes or parallel lines of paint on the original plaster underneath wallpaper may indicate the position of dado rails.

Georgian

Georgian mouldings can vary considerably. A noticeable feature of this era would be cornices that project as far down a wall as they do across. Wall friezes were also a popular feature. The most ornate mouldings in a home are found in the areas seen by visitors, such as hallways and sitting rooms, as these were designed to impress. 

Victorian

From the 1850s ‘fibrous plaster’ (strengthened with hessian fibres) allowed for large, complex cornices to be cast in one piece prior to fitting. Also used were cheap, lightweight papier mâché ornamental mouldings. Cornice was very ornate, featuring flowers, fruit and vines. Ceiling roses were at their height during this period.

Post-WWI

World War I marked the end of decorative plasterwork in most homes, paving the way for starker, simpler lines, often with a simple cornice and perhaps a matching centrepiece.

Art Deco

Bold, chunky designs are typical of Art Deco, and decorative mouldings are no exception. Strong, stepped designs feature heavily in both skirting boards and cornicing, whilst sweeping yet solid curves were also popular. The materials may also reflect trends of the time, with polished black and white finishes being much sought after.

Materials for mouldings

In Victorian times fibrous plaster became the traditional material for producing mouldings, and it is still popular today for its superior appearance and texture. Plaster is perfect for mouldings, as it can be used for both mass-produced and bespoke designs, and can easily be resized and shaped in the production process.

If you need Victorian coving specialists in London, then get in touch today.