Advice re Coving Issue

[victoriadl]

Hi,

I hope you can help me!

Within the last 2 - 4 weeks I've had GTEC plaster cove fitted and as of yesterday I can see that it's splitting / shrinking at the joints. We've told our builder and he has responded with the following: ''..hairline cracks are common in newly plastered areas, which are prone to shrink and are very sensitive to movement. Houses will move with the climate, heat and moisture which will make them expand, cold and dryness will make them contract. It only takes the slightest bit of movement for cracks to appear'.

I'd be grateful if plasterers can advise as to whether I should expect the coving to behave in this manner and whether I ought to expect this shrinkage at all? Plus what in your opinion will likely cause the coving to shrink and split at the joins as mine has done?

I've attached images of the 4 areas of coving for perusal.

Many thanks,
Victoria

 

[Mike googlebottom]

Decorator should be able to get that squire..cant see much wrong tbh

 

[Retired Spread]

I had to google 'perusal'

 

[Deleted member 32554]

I had to google 'perusal'

And what did you construe

 

[Topspread16]

Not the type of crack I was hoping Victoria.

 

[Retired Spread]

And what did you construe

eh?

 

[Stevieo]

eh?

Construed daboobaloo

Durr

 

[Olican]

Hi,

I hope you can help me!

Within the last 2 - 4 weeks I've had GTEC plaster cove fitted and as of yesterday I can see that it's splitting / shrinking at the joints. We've told our builder and he has responded with the following: ''..hairline cracks are common in newly plastered areas, which are prone to shrink and are very sensitive to movement. Houses will move with the climate, heat and moisture which will make them expand, cold and dryness will make them contract. It only takes the slightest bit of movement for cracks to appear'.

I'd be grateful if plasterers can advise as to whether I should expect the coving to behave in this manner and whether I ought to expect this shrinkage at all? Plus what in your opinion will likely cause the coving to shrink and split at the joins as mine has done?

I've attached images of the 4 areas of coving for perusal.

Many thanks,
Victoria

The cracks look very hairline and so very easy to rectify. If there was some sort of product/applicator error/failure the results would be more apparent.
Out of interest is there any movement to the coving? If you press it gently does it move?

 

[Wayners]

I seal cut coving joints as I cut them then fill so it ozzes out when fitted. Joints sealed and filled don't crack. Learnt this at a coving training day back in the 90s

 

[zombie]

The cracks look very hairline and so very easy to rectify. If there was some sort of product/applicator error/failure the results would be more apparent.
Out of interest is there any movement to the coving? If you press it gently does it move?

Neurotic customer syndrome!!!!

 

[John j]

f**k coving . Great till second cut then its just painfully boring

 

[TonyM]

What did they put the coving up with?
I’ve had five adhesive fail on plaster before. Did they cove over paint?

 

[Wayners]

What did they put the coving up with?
I’ve had five adhesive fail on plaster before. Did they cove over paint?

Gyproc cove adhesive has never failed me.
Easyfill seems ok but I'm unsure over painted surfaces.
I've used the following and it's failed.
Artex
Artex and multi mix
Wickes cove adhesive which is just board adhesive
Board adhesive
Various fast set powders
Plaster Paris
All failed above failed, although mostly over emulsion.

 

[Lastlaff]

BAL - tile adhesive...

 

[Lastlaff]

The position of her spot-light is awful...way too close to the wall

 

[victoriadl]

Gyproc cove adhesive has never failed me.
Easyfill seems ok but I'm unsure over painted surfaces.
I've used the following and it's failed.
Artex
Artex and multi mix
Wickes cove adhesive which is just board adhesive
Board adhesive
Various fast set powders
Plaster Paris
All failed above failed, although mostly over emulsion.

Hi,
Not sure what was used....all I know is that the wall & ceiling were already painted before it was fitted. All but one person has advised that it appears the cause of the shrinkage is down to the materials used....Victoria

 

[victoriadl]

The position of her spot-light is awful...way too close to the wall

...there are spotlights illuminating a kitchen island and that wall you see is a support beam.

 

[victoriadl]

Neurotic customer syndrome!!!!

neurotic...how do you explain this happening after just two weeks of being fitted plus, when comparing a job we had done in 2017 whereby the same coving never shrunk or split or needed any touching up?

 

[victoriadl]

Decorator should be able to get that squire..cant see much wrong tbh

it was a painter & decorator who fitted it - not a plasterer...

 

[victoriadl]

What did they put the coving up with?
I’ve had five adhesive fail on plaster before. Did they cove over paint?

yes they coved over paint...

 

[zombie]

Perfectly normal, sometimes it does sometimes it doesn't.

Movement in floors /ceilings, materials drying out, new works settling the lists endless.

It's a 2 minutes snag fresh filler and repaint.

Though I'm guessing you know this anyway but are just on a witch hunt.

 

[Stevieo]

Hi,
Not sure what was used....all I know is that the wall & ceiling were already painted before it was fitted. All but one person has advised that it appears the cause of the shrinkage is down to the materials used....Victoria

Doesn't look like anything a fingerful of caulk won't get.

 

[Spray]

Hi,

I hope you can help me!

Within the last 2 - 4 weeks I've had GTEC plaster cove fitted and as of yesterday I can see that it's splitting / shrinking at the joints. We've told our builder and he has responded with the following: ''..hairline cracks are common in newly plastered areas, which are prone to shrink and are very sensitive to movement. Houses will move with the climate, heat and moisture which will make them expand, cold and dryness will make them contract. It only takes the slightest bit of movement for cracks to appear'.

I'd be grateful if plasterers can advise as to whether I should expect the coving to behave in this manner and whether I ought to expect this shrinkage at all? Plus what in your opinion will likely cause the coving to shrink and split at the joins as mine has done?

I've attached images of the 4 areas of coving for perusal.

Many thanks,
Victoria

Your really being over the top posting this on here ! It’s nothing it’s a 10 min fix ? What do you thinks happening? Your house will move and settle we have no magic wand

 

[TonyM]

yes they coved over paint...

It’ll be on the floor soon then, unless they have scored the wall and used pins too.

 

[MIXERMAN]

I'm sure the painter will pop round with his calk gun and fix it .

 

[Wayners]

@victoriadl
Use electric multi saw or Stanley knife. Cut along cracks. Seal. Powder filler. Sand. Paint.

Easy fix.

 

[themucky1]

it was a painter & decorator who fitted it - not a plasterer...

There you go there’s your answer, can I suggest you visit this website they may be able to help you more over there
Www.ifyoucanpissyoucancoveforum.co.uk
Your welcome

 

[Stevieo]

There you go there’s your answer, can I suggest you visit this website they may be able to help you more over there
Www.ifyoucanpissyoucancoveforum.co.uk
Your welcome

Link is broken.

 

[jamesthefirst]

neurotic...how do you explain this happening after just two weeks of being fitted plus, when comparing a job we had done in 2017 whereby the same coving never shrunk or split or needed any touching up?

There was your answer all along!
Ask the Decorater if he scored the surface ( I would also apply weak pva or artex sealer) before he started, if he did then it should stay up just needs some more filling and sanding.