A practical cornice repair decision starts with the affected item, its condition and the surrounding materials. Repair suitable minor joints or fit an agreed short compatible cornice section, then prepare the accepted area for decoration.
Signs: a stable local hole, dent, crack, patch edge or surface mark is visible or a local area needs a bounded cosmetic repair rather than an assumed structural diagnosis. Causes: ordinary impact damage or local surface wear or a previous patch or coating that needs preparation.
A repaired cornice section may need sealing and paint after drying. Local paint can look different from aged surrounding surfaces. List decoration separately so a cornice repair does not silently become a room repaint or promise an invisible colour match.
The remaining cornice and adjacent surfaces must be sound enough for ordinary work. Large loose or heavy sections are outside this minor service. Do not pull at a suspect section for photographs; describe the concern so suitable next steps can be discussed.
Allow finishing materials to dry and agree the paint boundary. Report recurring separation rather than repeatedly covering a moving joint. Limits: Minor ordinary stable cornice repairs and short matching sections only. No ornate heritage restoration, large loose sections, structural movement diagnosis or hazardous materials.