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.
A small stable joint defect may be suitable for minor repair. Repeated opening, loose material or uncertain attachment changes that assessment. Describe when the defect appeared without assuming its cause; this service does not diagnose structural movement or certify a ceiling junction.
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.