a finish looks damaged and needs preparation before painting. Repair suitable minor joints or fit an agreed short compatible cornice section, then prepare the accepted area for decoration.
Signs: a finish looks damaged and needs preparation before painting or a local area needs a bounded cosmetic repair rather than an assumed structural diagnosis. Causes: minor finish movement at a suitable stable surface or ordinary impact damage or local surface wear.
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.
Internal and external corners need compatible joints and a sound adjoining run. Show both sides of the corner in the enquiry. Filling a gap alone may not address a poorly fitted piece, while movement in the surrounding building requires a separate assessment.
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.