Walls and Ceilings - How to make coved ceilings?

We're about to buy an old house that has coved ceilings in some rooms. They appear to be made of plaster and make a curve that connects the walls to the ceiling instead of a 90 degree inside corner. The question is how to replicate that? We need to move a couple of walls and would want to make them look like the old ones. Are there any gadgets to put up there and plaster over or anything like that? Thanks!

I am not aware of any "inserts" that can be installed easily. The hardest part of creating the curve will be the framing required to do it. After the structure that forms the curve is "installed" in the corner, it could either be plastered, or sheetrocked using a double layer of flexboard (a special drywall that is made to go around curves.)

As it doesn't sound as though you must have plaster, the sheetrock would probably be the easiest route.

The finishing will also be a little difficult at the transition from the new to old, as you are changing from a very stable thickness (drywall) to a variable thickness (the plaster), and you don't want to have a ditch, or a flat spot at the transition. I would cut away some of the plaster and sink the drywall in down the wall slightly. This will make finishing the transition easier.

(Please don't tell anyone, but you can get a piece of plastic (like a hacked up joint compound bucket) and make a template that will transition from the flat wall and into the curve, mix up some easy-sand 90 or something, and screed along the surface. This won't give you the clean-perfect transition, although it will get you pretty close. After that dries, use regular joint compound with mud knives and transition from the wall through the curve, and you will be close enough to finagle it from there.)

*Note: Many of those transitions are not constant curves, as they blend further back on the ceiling than they do going down the wall. In which case, sinking a split piece of pipe into the wall isn't a viable option.

I hope this helps

jeanieln,

This might help but usually these are built up systems. A pro can usually match existing quite well.

This is only an option,

http://www.bpb-na.com/us/english/cove_and_cornice/selector_cc.php

Hope this helps!

I say thats the ticket Doug. You can buy the pre made cove out of drywall or styrofoam. It shows the cove being put over the drywall but you need to install it before the drywall goes up to make a seamless transition. Make sure you shim it out to 1/2" or whatever your drywall size is.

coops28,

Thanks.

I have one project now that will require the product mentioned but I will try to capture more of the How-To if my schedule permits.

http://dougaphs.smugmug.com/gallery/1109378/6/55466688

There always more ways than one to do something - it's just trying to do it the fastest and easiest way!

Sorry about that guys!

I thought you were talking about the inside radius kind that blends about a foot back on a ceiling, and 8 inches or so down the wall, but is a seamless transition between the wall and ceiling. (like the bedroom I grew up in).

Big oops for MudSlinger :wall:

Thank you. This looks like just what we need!

jeanieln,

You're very welcome!

Good Luck!