Painters and Decorators dictionary
There’s more to walls, especially old fashioned walls, than you think. When the London Painters and Decorators are painting a room, ceilings always comes first to make sure the walls are not getting stained before they are painted. Then walls if they are to be painted, then the woodwork. If the walls are to be wallpapered, then they come last, after all the paintwork is completely dry.
Ceiling rose, made of plaster cast
Cove or coving, generally made of plaster cast or paper covered foam.
Cornice, similar material to Cove but the design is more complex.
Picture rail, made of wood, MFD or plaster
Dado rail, made of wood, MDF or plaster
Chamfered skirting boards, made of wood or MDF
Moulded skirting boards, a more complex design than Chamfered skirting
Architrave, made of wood or MDF
MDF or Medium density fibreboard is an engineered wood product formed by breaking down hardwood or softwood residuals into wood fibres.
You can read more about Building Terms Glossary here.
With any plaster repairs, hack away any loose or damaged material with a bolster and hammer, brush away dust, damp broken surfaces and area using a PVA mix with water. Pick up plaster on the underside of the trowel and press into hole, adding more until not quite level with surrounding good plaster. Leave to harden, scratching lines to make key for top layer. This is best put on with flat face of a stripping knife, finishing by smoothing with the knife wet. Plaster will stick to a dry blade.
