The Unfortunate Downside To Adding Coving To Your Home

If you're looking for a quick and affordable way to spice up your living space, you may have considered installing coving. Cove moulding, or coving for short, is a trim that is usually used to cover the joint between the wall and ceiling so that they blend seamlessly, thanks to its iconic inward bowing curve. This is one trim type that is bound to improve the appearance of any room. It typically comes in two types: ones made from plaster and others made from polystyrene or other polymers. A lot of people would rather work with the polystyrene coving because it is a lot more affordable than the plaster version, and it is also lightweight, therefore easier to install. However, depending on some factors, it might not be the best option for your home.

We'll start with the installation. While it's true these trims are lightweight, they are unfortunately not very durable. Even during the installation process, it can be dinged and dented fairly easily. Coving is also more susceptible to cracking in areas with temperature fluctuations. Compared to other trims like plaster cornices and even plaster coving, polystyrene coving needs to be changed more often.

Before you decide to install lightweight coving in your living space, you should be sure of what you want to achieve. If you're searching for a simple way to make your walls and ceilings look seamless, then this coving might not be a bad idea. However, if you need a way to add some character to your ceiling, you're better off looking elsewhere. Most of the other trim types have more eye-catching and decorative options than the simple curves of polymer-based coving. They are also not as customizable as traditional cornices. Even with plaster coving, you can get many intricate and bespoke designs that fit your taste and preferences.

Lightweight polystyrene coving also tends to have a less refined finish than other trims and can be quite absorbent. What this means is that it would require multiple layers of paint to get a smooth finish. There are tons of ways you can spice up a boring ceiling, but installing coving might not be one of them. If you have an eye for detail and want the best quality trim for your home, then you should consider alternatives like crown molding or plaster cornices. Even plaster coving might be a better fit.