How to apply coving

Coving is a great way to add a little extra charm to your home. It not only adds character to a room, but it smooths the transition between walls and ceilings, hiding unsightly cracks or gaps to give a clean, classic look. The good news? You don’t need to hire a professional to install it! 

With some patience and basic tools, you can install coving yourself. We're sharing everything you need to know to get the job done right. Our guide for how to apply coving will walk you through the process, share some handy tips, and highlight the potential pitfalls to avoid.

Coving is a decorative moulding installed at the joint between walls and the ceiling. It's no longer only found in large, luxurious spaces, but coving, or ceiling mouldings, are accessible to everyone. It can transform a plain room into something more refined and can even increase the value of your home. Plus, it's a simple, satisfying project that you can tackle over a weekend. 

Coving exists in multiple styles including decorative baroque, art deco which utilises curves and straight lines, and modern coving that offers simple, sharp details. Regardless of your style, there is coving available to suit all aesthetics so you can get a clean finish, whatever the interior. 

As well as different styles of coving, there are multiple types that you can add to your ceiling space, including:  

• Coving and cornice which run around the whole of the ceiling to camouflage the joints between the wall and the ceiling 
• Rosettes or domes which are placed in the centre of the ceiling and are used to dress a chandelier or ceiling light 

Choosing the right coving 

There are different qualities of coving to choose from depending on your budget, the environment its being applied in, and the ease of installation. Three of the most popular materials for coving is: 

• Polystyrene - Lightweight and inexpensive so easy to install but can be fragile. 
• Polyurethane - More durable than polystyrene coving and arebut still lightweight and affordable. 
• Plaster - Heavy and robust, giving a more traditional look but are harder to install and inevitably are the most expensive out of the three. 

Before you get to work applying your coving at home, take note of the common mistakes that can occur, so you can avoid them. 

• Incorrect measurements: Double check all measurements before cutting. Remember the saying, "measure twice, cut once". 
• Wrong angle cuts: Mixing up internal and external corner cuts is a common mistake. Label your mitre box and pieces to keep track. 
• Skipping surface preparation: Ensure walls and ceilings are clean and dry. Remove any old wallpaper or flaking paint that might prevent the adhesive from sticking. 
• Rushing the job: Allow sufficient time for each step. Rushing can lead to mistakes and less professional finish. 

Before you dive in, make sure you have all the necessary tools and materials to apply the coving correctly. 

• Strong Stuff Fast-Set, Strong Stuff Ultimate, Strong Stuff Waterproof, Liquid Nails Interior - our best adhesives for coving 
• A cartridge gun 
• Coving strips (polystyrene, plaster, or polyurethane) 
• Measuring tape 
• Pencil and ruler 
• Mitre box and saw (or a coving mitre tool) 
• Sandpaper 
• Spirit level or laser level 
• Damp cloth or sponge 
• Utility knife 
• Primer and paint (if necessary)   

It's important to take the time to plan before you start cutting and sticking anything. Start by measuring the length of each wall so you know how much coving you’ll need. It's recommended to buy a little extra, 10-15%, in case of mistakes or tricky corners. 

Pro tip: Always check that your walls and ceilings are straight. If they’re uneven, you might need to apply extra adhesive in some spots or use fillers to smooth things out after. 

Once you have your coving ready, prep the wall and ceiling area by checking it's smooth, clean, and dry. If there are any rough areas or small holes, lightly sand the problem areas and fill the holes with filler. Then, wipe the surfaces with a damp cloth to remove any dust and once dry, you can move onto step 2. 

For a neat job, you’ll want to mark a guideline on your walls where the coving will sit. Measure the height of the coving and mark this distance down from the ceiling onto the wall, then draw a faint pencil line. 

You'll want to use a spirit level or laser level to ensure your line is even all around the room. 

Cutting coving is one of the most daunting parts, especially for inside or outside corners. Here’s how to make it easier: 

Understand the angles 

• Internal corners: Where two walls meet to form an inward angle. 
• External corners: Where the walls form an outward angle. 

Practice makes perfect 

• We recommend cutting small sections at a time and to always cut the coving a little longer than you think you need and trim it down. It's easier to trim than to start over! 
• Where available, use offcuts to practice your cuts before working on the actual pieces. This will give you confidence and help to prevent any waste. 
• Label each piece after cutting to avoid confusion during installation. 

Use the mitre box 

• Place the coving in the mitre box upside down (the part that will be against the ceiling goes against the base of the box). 
• Ensure it is snug against the side to mimic how it will sit on the wall and ceiling. 
• For internal corners, cut at a 45-degree angle so the pieces fit together neatly. 

Pro tip: For each corner, one piece will be cut at a 45-degree angle to the left, and the adjoining piece will be cut at 45 degrees to the right. 

Applying the adhesive 

Using your utility knife or similar sharp object, cut the top of the cartridge being careful not to damage the thread, then screw the nozzle onto the cartridge. Cut the nozzle at an angle to your desired width.  Insert the cartridge into the gun. Gently squeeze the trigger to apply the adhesive evenly along the back edges of the coving that will touch the wall and ceiling. 

Positioning the coving 

Gently press the coving into place along the marked lines you made in step 2 and hold for 30 seconds. Immediately wipe away any excess adhesive with a damp cloth. 

For heavier objects, maintain pressure for 8 hours using adhesive tape to ensure a long-lasting, secure bond. In some cases, you might need to use small nails or pins to hold it in place while the adhesive dries. 

Filler & sanding 

Filler is your best friend when fitting coving, especially for smoothing out any gaps where pieces meet at the corners or along uneven walls. It helps create a seamless look by covering joints, dents, or small imperfections. Just apply, smooth it down, and leave to dry. Then, with a fine-grain sandpaper, lightly sand any excess filler once it's dry. 

Painting 

If you're looking to paint your new coving, ensure that your coving is either pre-primed or apply a primer yourself. You may want one or two coats of primer, depending on the product. 

Then, paint the coving. Most people paint coving the same colour as the ceiling to give the room a clean, expansive feel. Alternatively, choose a contrasting colour if you're looking for your coving to stand out and make a statement. 

There you go! Your coving is installed, and your ceiling decorated. All that's left to do is enjoy that little extra charm in your room.