Coving! I must be mad!

[ACurlyWurly]

So today's challenge when I get home from work is to put up coving!
Never done it before but as we have taken down a wall it was either match the existing coving, remove it all and be without or replace it all. We have found a match! Existing is polystyrene so lightweight and tonight I will learn on the job how to fit it.

Before I start has anyone got any useful tips?!

Have you got a mitre box? If not then get one.

If you find yourself really struggling you can often get packs of pre-cut corners to match your lengths of coving.

Think about it before you replace it , unless it's an old building it's a pretty dated concept , I much prefer rooms with None

I have a mitre box, just purchased for the job. I agree its quite dated but it suits the room its in and in the new open plan room it will cover a multitude of sins near the ceiling so hoping it will be a good move. Its not expensive so if we grow to hate it we can remove it but that wont be until i can afford to have a full replaster of walls and replace the kitchen. I am very much seeing it as a short term solution at the moment.

Don't expect corners to be square, houses aren't built that way I'm afraid. Trial fit a mitre with an off cut and use a scribblings block to mark the required line, this either tells you how much adjustment to allow for or with a free end could be transfered to the work piece. I wouldn't try to bridge short sections (I.e wherea wall has been removed) take a full section down instead so that you can hold a good line. I use a chalk line to set the bottom line, then I use pannel pins driven onto the wall on the line do the section sits on top of those. Shape the section trial fitting dry. Once happy apply adhesive (solvent free grip fill is OK for polystyrene) and gently push into place. Pull the pins out when dry. Its a fiddly job and is one of those that has to be spot on or it just doesn't look right.
I don't think of it as old fashioned wall to ceiling will always crack eventually and once cracked it will do so regardless of how many times its filled. But I'm a pessimist!

I have 2 external mitres and 3 internal so am more worried about the former.
Massive box of panel pins at home so armed with those, thanks for that tip!