Heritage Plaster Cornice & Running Moulds
Specialist Heritage Restoration
RPV Construct’s certified tradesmen have the specialist skills needed to execute running mould projects to the most exacting standards of quality and aesthetics.
Moulding, also known as coving, is a strip of material with different profiles used to cover transitions between surfaces.
They are often used for decorative purposes. Running moulds in construction are a highly technical and demanding form of plastering.
Running Mould use cases
Modern moulding is typically made from wood and plaster, though plastic is common nowadays. However, in classical architecture, moulding was often carved in marble and other stones.
It was most popular in the 1930s, and was commonly used to decorate churches and civic buildings. Today, you are likely to see running moulds when it comes to cornice lines, arches, doors, windows, railings, skirting and special panels. When it comes to moulds, pretty much any shape can be created, it doesn’t necessarily have to form a continuous running pattern.
The mould usually starts out as a drawing on paper or computer. It is then transferred to a soft metal such as zinc or aluminium and then mounted on a wooden sledge which can glide along the facade using horizontal or vertical guides.
They can be made in different configurations depending on the shape and depth of the moulding. For interior walls, moulds are brought to life using lime plaster and finished with a coat of gypsum.
The simplest and the most natural use of moulding is for hiding or weather sealing joints created in the process of building a structure.
As a decorative component, moulds are a way to apply light and dark themed stripes to a natural structure without changing the material or applying pigments. It goes without saying that moulding adds an element of architectural beauty to any building they are applied to.
How to choose a specialist for running moulds, cornices, or covings
Mould running is a bit of a lost art these days, with only a few skilled tradesmen being capable of producing the necessary craftsmanship.
Designs typically tend to come in Victorian, Georgian and Modernist styles. Our craftsmen will offer you samples that you can see, touch, and inspect by hand, to help you select a design.
Costs vary widely depending on the length and decoration required in the running mould. The height of your ceilings, scale of your rooms, and the style of the existing decorative plasterwork are some of the important factors that affect costs.