Oxford Cornice Restoration
Hello, my name is Gavin - first of all, thank you for visiting my website! If you’re looking for an experienced cornice restorer, fix fibrous cornice or cornice run insitu for heritage, listed buildings I definitely fit the bill. My father was a plasterer before me and he introduced me to the trade when I was still a young man. I now have 35 years of experience under my belt in all aspects of plastering work, mainly in Oxford and the surrounding area. More recently, I have become increasingly specialised in the work I take on, and I now concentrate on restoring cornice work and ceiling roses. It’s always a very satisfying experience to see the beauty of an original rose or cornice re-emerge, often after many years, and customers frequently express delight at how this enhances the appearance of the whole room.
I’m also very aware that there is no-one else in this locality who undertakes this kind of work. I am based in the village of Kidlington, just north of Oxford, and I’m available to take on restoration / repair / cleaning projects anywhere in Oxfordshire. This includes private residential properties, university and college buildings, commercial organisations based in historic properties, churches and other religious buildings. Do contact me to discuss your requirements, whether you have a small cleaning project in mind or more extensive repair and restoration. I’m always happy to advise potential clients and can provide a written quote if you would like to proceed.
Every project is different, of course, and I tailor my work to the individual requirements of each particular job. Whatever the specific nature of the work, though, my overall objective is work of a consistently high standard and complete satisfaction for the customer. My general approach is outlined below.
I always aim to be as thorough as possible in the initial assessment process because it’s vital to ensure that any work undertaken is not going to cause damage. I carry out thorough checks before planning any cleaning or restoration work and I’m experienced in running cornice in situ and fitting fibrous cornice. This means adopting the traditional methods of craftsmanship that were used in Victorian and Georgian times to ensure that the end results are as pleasing as possible.
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Just to reassure you, I also aim to be kind to the environment in embarking on any restoration work. For this reason I use steam rather than paint stripper or other chemicals to remove paint from a cornice. Not only is the steam method more environmentally friendly, it is also more effective.
It dissolves the paint thoroughly and also deals with any build-up of distemper or white wash. The cornice remains undamaged - without any of the pitting effect which so often happens with chemicals - and it’s then ready for repainting.
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Of course, such thorough cleaning can sometimes expose damage to the underlying structure of the cornice and it may even be that some of the structure may be missing completely. I am experienced in tackling this kind of specialist repair work and am committed, as far as possible, to restoring period cornice-work to its former glory for future generations to enjoy.
Do get in touch if you think I can help - I look forward to hearing from you!
Get in Touch
Oxford cornice restoration is committed to exceeding your needs. Questions, comments or special requests? We’d love to hear from you, so don’t hesitate to reach out today.
Oxford, UK
07471625290