Coving painting in Exeter
Professional coving painting services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60-£160
Typical Duration
1-3 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Coving painted fresh and clean with sharp edges where it meets walls and ceiling. Cracks filled, detail preserved, and the whole room lifted by bringing this feature back to life.
That Grubby Yellow Coving...
You've noticed it, haven't you? Fresh paint on the walls and ceiling, but the coving's still that yellowy-cream colour from decades of dust and age.
Coving is one of those details that dates a room instantly when it's grubby. Paint it properly and suddenly the whole room looks finished.
💡 Pro tip: Coving shows dust and cobwebs more than flat surfaces. A quick dust before painting means the new paint goes on clean and stays looking fresh.
Why Coving Needs Care
It's not just slapping paint on - there's technique to this:
| ✅ Done Right | ❌ Done Wrong |
|---|---|
| Sharp edges both sides | Paint bleed onto walls/ceiling |
| Cracks filled and invisible | Gaps visible after painting |
| Smooth, even coverage | Thick drips in the moulding |
| Detail preserved | Paint clogged in ornate sections |
The cutting-in is everything - wobbly lines look terrible at eye level.
What You Get
🔧 The Process
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Prep | Dust removed, cracks filled, edges ready |
| Cut In | Sharp lines painted where coving meets ceiling/walls |
| Detail Work | Ornate sections carefully covered without clogging |
| Second Coat | Even finish across all moulding |
📦 You're Left With
- Crisp white coving (or colour of choice)
- Filled cracks invisible
- Clean lines both edges
- Refreshed period feature
Pricing Guide
| Room/Coverage | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Small bedroom | 1-1.5 hrs | £60-£85 |
| Average living room | 1.5-2 hrs | £85-£110 |
| Large reception/bay window | 2-3 hrs | £110-£160 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Ornate Victorian plasterwork adds time. Repair of damaged sections quoted separately.
Perfect For Your Project If...
✅ Post-decoration - walls and ceiling done, coving looks grubby now
✅ Period property - restore those original features properly
✅ Selling up - buyers notice these details
✅ Cracked coving - fill and paint looks like new
✅ Whole room refresh - ceiling, walls, coving all fresh together
Why Choose Us for Coving painting in Exeter?
Sharp cutting-in both edges
Smooth fill of any cracks or gaps
Brings period features back to life
Blends seamlessly with ceiling and walls
What to Expect
Step 1: Prep & Fill
I dust the coving, check for cracks and gaps, fill anything that needs it with decorators caulk. This is what makes the difference between okay and professional.
Step 2: Cut In & Paint
Careful brushwork along both edges - sharp lines where coving meets ceiling and walls. Then the moulding itself gets smooth coverage without drips.
Step 3: Second Coat & Finish
Once the first coat's dry, second coat goes on for proper coverage. Clean lines, smooth finish, brings the whole room together.
🔧 DIY Tips
Coving isn't the hardest decorating job, but the cutting-in takes a steady hand:
🔧 Tools you'll need
- 2" angled cutting-in brush
- Small roller for broad coving
- Decorators caulk and gun
- Step ladder or hop-up
- Matt emulsion paint
🎨 Prep is everything
- Dust the coving thoroughly first
- Fill every crack and gap with caulk
- Smooth the caulk with a wet finger
- Let it dry (couple of hours minimum)
- Light sand if needed
✂️ The cutting-in technique
- Load the brush but not too much
- Steady hand, smooth stroke
- Follow the line where coving meets wall/ceiling
- Don't rush this bit - wonky lines are obvious
- Wipe mistakes immediately while wet
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Skipping the crack filling - paint highlights every gap
- Too much paint on the brush = drips in the moulding
- Rushing the cutting-in = wobbly lines
- Only one coat on yellowed coving = still looks dingy
💡 Pro trick: If you've got ornate Victorian plasterwork, use a small brush to get into the detail first, then smooth over with a larger brush. Don't let paint pool in the grooves - wipe out excess while it's wet.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🎨 Decorating the whole room? Do ceiling first, then coving, then walls. The coving bridges the two so it makes sense in the middle. Saves time on cutting-in too.
Multiple rooms? Coving throughout the house looks best when it's all the same fresh colour. Do them together and save on the per-room cost.
Old Exeter house with fancy plasterwork? I've worked on loads of Victorian and Edwardian properties with ornate cornicing. It takes care and time but the results are worth it - those features were expensive when they were fitted, nice to see them properly restored.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does coving always have to be white?
No - most people do paint it white because it blends with the ceiling, but you can paint it the same colour as the walls for a modern look, or even a contrasting colour if you're feeling bold. I've done coving in greys, creams, even dark colours for dramatic rooms. It's your house!
Can you fill the cracks in my coving first?
Yes - old coving always has cracks where sections meet or where it's pulled away from the ceiling/wall slightly. I fill these with decorators caulk before painting so they disappear. Makes a huge difference to the finished look - fresh paint over cracks just highlights them.
Do I need to do the coving if I'm painting the ceiling?
You don't have to, but honestly it looks weird if you don't. Fresh white ceiling next to yellowed, grimy coving really shows. If you're doing the ceiling, do the coving too - it's not much extra time and the room looks properly finished.
How long does coving take to paint?
Depends how much you've got. Average living room with coving around the edges is usually 1-2 hours. More if there's loads of cracks to fill first. Ornate Victorian plasterwork takes longer because there's more detail. I'll give you a time estimate when I see it.
What if some of my coving is damaged or missing?
I can repair small damaged sections or fit replacement pieces (that's a carpentry job rather than just painting). If whole sections are missing, I'd need to source matching coving - sometimes tricky with older profiles, but usually doable. Mention it when you call so I can quote accordingly.
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Got multiple jobs?
Make the most of your first hour - I can often tackle several small tasks in one visit. List everything you need done when you call!
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