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Although crafted with immense talent and precision, ornamental plaster cornices are often subject to deterioration over the years and can be rather difficult to repair. Fortunately, with the help of trusted ornamental restoration experts, it is possible to preserve historic features and restore the overall integrity of the designed structure. If you’re facing a damaged plaster cornice, Old World Plastering of Cincinnati, OH, breaks down the basics of what to expect during the repair process.

7 Steps to Repairing Ornamental Plaster Cornices

1. Clean & Prepare the Cornice

To make sure the cornice can be properly inspected and repaired, it should be carefully cleaned and detailed. This process may involve removing loose particles and stripping paint, if necessary. Since the main goal of historic preservation is to retain original design elements, affected ornamentation should be cautiously removed and stored for reattachment later in the process.

2. Assess the Damage

A plastering contractor should look at the cornice in detail to measure the full extent of the damage. While most cornice damage can be repaired, extensive wear may necessitate removing entire sections and crafting replicas for replacement.

3. Get a Profile of the Cornice

Using a tracing or rubber molding technique, an ornamental plaster expert will determine the exact shape of the damaged area of the cornice. This template will be used as a reference for the replacement sections.

ornamental plaster4. Craft Replacement Footage

After creating the template, your specialized craftsman will create skeleton of the damaged area with tin sheet metal. These bare bones are then molded with plaster materials to recreate a perfect match to replace the area of damaged footage.

5. Attach Replacement Footage

The freshly molded replica is carefully adhered to the original footage. During this phase, the plastering professional uses various resources—such as small mitering rods—to make sure the attachment is secure and flush with the surrounding surface.

6. Reattach Original Ornamental Fixtures

If portions of the original ornamentation were removed during the cornice preparation, these will now be reapplied to the restored plaster surface.

7. Finish the Cornice

Depending on the nature of the job, the cornice may need to be finished to blend in with the surrounding structure. For instance, it may need to be painted.  

Repairing ornamental plaster—particularly that of aged cornices—is not an easy job. As such, it is never recommended that you take on a historic preservation job without the help of professionals who are trained in plastering services. If you require cornice repairs or any other ornamental plaster work in Cincinnati, OH, there’s no better name to trust than Old World Plastering. Visit their website to see examples of their precision artistry or call (513) 481-1122 to schedule a consultation for your project.

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