Fitting coving is a tough enough task for most DIY home owners. When it comes to cutting the mitres on coving, there are a few options. These are coving mitre boxes, coving mitre tools and cornice jigs.
We have an article on how to install coving, which is worth reading. As mentioned this can be tricky enough, and that is if you know exactly what you are doing. You will also know that you may need a mitre saw or a mitre box to make the important angled and compound cuts.
A coving mitre box along with a fine tooth hand saw is the cheapest and best combination for cutting mitres in coving. These were invented due to the popularity of fitting coving. They basically take the complications out of making the wrong cuts and that avoids many hours of frustration.
You just need to be sure that the mitre box you purchase is wide enough for the type of coving that you have bought. A lot of coving is 127 mm and most mitre boxes don't cater for that size. We have listed below those that do.
Coving and Cornices Explained
People may choose coving to add a decorative touch to rooms. Coving is attached where the walls meet the ceilings usually by an adhesive. They come in a range of materials, profiles and sizes. The actual choice that you make will always be down to personal preference and to the amount of money you want to spend.
UK Coving Brands
There are a number of brands who make coving and we have listed the most popular just below:
- Arthouse
- Knauf
- Wickes
UK Coving Material Types
There are 5 popular materials used to make coving which are:
- Plaster
- Paper faced plaster
- Polystyrene
- Duropolymer
- uPVC
UK Coving Profile Types
There are 3 popular profiles for coving which are:
- C-shaped
- S-shaped
- Fluted profile
UK Coving Sizes
The size of coving that you pick is really down to your personal preference. When it comes to measuring coving it can get a little confusing. The information provided just below is the easiest method to understand.
Coving is given by two key measurements:
- The height of how far the coving extends down the wall from the ceiling.
- The projection of how far the coving extends across the ceiling from the wall.
These often get confused as it is sold as the diagonal size of the coving. The height and the projection are actually the two most important sizes to understand.
- 65 mm cove
- 90 mm cove
- 100mm cove - Height = 8cm, Projection = 6.5cm
- 127mm cove - Height = 8cm, Projection = 8cm
- 134 mm cove
The standard height of a ceiling is 2.4 – 2.6 metres
As a general guideline we recommend:
- 200mm coving for ceiling 4.3 metres or higher.
- 120mm coving for ceilings 2.75 metres
- 70mm coving for ceilings lower than 2.75 metres.
Stanley STA120600 Clamping Mitre Box and Saw
- This is a mitre block with 90° , 45° and 22.5° slots
- It is 350mm length with a patented storage system for the saw
- It measures 310 x 170mm
- Maximum depth of cut: 80mm
- It has an extended lip on base to hold mitre box in place while cutting
- Built-in saw stop helps to prevent cutting into mitre box
- 2 mounting holes in the base for easy, staple use
Check Availability at Amazon UK. Average Price: £22
Linic UK Made Master Mitre Block Box
- This is a mitre block that is 102mm wide x 102mm high x 320mm long
- It is good for square profile coving where you have to make straight cuts rather than angled cuts is coving such as Supercove 127 mm coving
- The sides of the box are high and the coving will fit perfectly and the 45 degree and 90 degree square cuts will be perfect every time
- You can also clamp this to a bench or a Workmate to keep it stable.
Check Availability at Amazon UK. Average Price: £11
Faithfull Coving Mitre Box
- This is a mitre block that is suitable for for cutting both internal and external coving up to 125 mm in width
- The sides are made out of seasoned beech and the base is some type of MDF which will make it longer lasting when compared to other thin plastic mitre boxes.
- There are instructions underneath how to use this box.
Check Amazon UK for Availability. Average Price: £18
The main purpose of these is that they will save you a lot of time having to figure out the right cut. In addition to that it will save you on stock as they help you avoid the likelihood of making mistakes. With coving that is an easy thing to do.
How to Make Your Own Coving Tool - Jig?
We have included a video below showing you how to make your own coving jig. This can be really useful if you happen to have some spare wood sitting around.
How to cut coving step by step guide
Coving, also known as crown moulding, requires precision and careful measurements to achieve accurate angles and a seamless fit. Here are the steps I recommend to cut coving:
Materials and Tools Needed
- Coving/crown moulding
- A measuring tape
- Pencil
- Mitre saw, or a mitre box or coping jig
- Safety glasses
- Step ladders
Steps
- Use a measuring tape to work out the length of the wall where the coving will be installed. Make accurate measurements, as this will help determine the length of the coving needed.
- Just remember that walls and corners are not always perfectly square. You can use a bevel or angle finder to determine the angles where the coving will meet. Most inside corners are cut at a 45-degree angle, but walls may have slightly different angles.
Cutting with a Miter Coving Box
- Set up in a well-lit and spacious area.
- Place the coving in the box and hold it securely. Make sure to cut the coving with the correct angle (left or right) based on the wall's angle.
- Cut the coving at the determined angle. Then repeat the process for each piece of coving needed for the corners.
Coping Method (Optional):
- For inside corners, some people prefer coping instead of using a mitre cut. Use a coping saw or a coping jig to create a coping cut.
- Cut the first piece of coving at a 45-degree angle. Then, use the coping saw to cut along the profile of the coving, following its contour.
- This method allows one piece of coving to fit neatly against the profile of the first piece, providing a more seamless joint.
After cutting the coving pieces, test-fit them in place. Make any necessary adjustments to the angles or lengths for a precise fit. Sand or trim any rough edges if needed.
Apply adhesive to the back of the coving and press it into place. Use finishing nails or a nail gun to secure it in position. Fill any gaps or nail holes with wood filler or caulk.
Putting up coving takes time and patience. That's not always easy, but a coving mitre box will help make the job a great deal less frustrating to achieve.
0 comments