Running new cornice to match an existing Victorian or Edwardian profile typically costs £45–£120 per linear metre in London in 2026, with a full mid-size room's reinstatement commonly landing at £600–£1,200. The single biggest thing to get right before any of that: if the damage is anywhere near a leak or a recently wet ceiling, fixing the leak and letting the ceiling dry out fully has to happen before any new plaster is bonded on, otherwise the repair fails again within a year. This guide breaks down what drives the price, the difference between the two main restoration methods, what actually happens on the day, and what to budget for redecorating afterward.
Cornice And Ceiling Rose Restoration Costs In 2026
Prices vary more in this trade than in most, because so much depends on whether a matching mould already exists or has to be cast from scratch, and how ornate the original profile is. As a general guide across London: a short crack repair or re-fix of a loose section runs £80–£300, running new cornice per metre to match an existing profile is £45–£120 depending on complexity, a full room's cornice reinstatement is £600–£1,200 (more for large or high-ceilinged rooms), and reinstating a bespoke ceiling rose from a new mould is roughly £600–£900 for the first casting, dropping to £150–£250 for each further rose cast from the same mould.
The table below summarises typical figures. These are general market guidance based on current London trade rates, not a fixed quote, actual pricing depends on profile complexity, access, room size and the condition of the ceiling behind the moulding.
Typical Cornice & Ceiling Rose Restoration Costs (London, 2026)
Item
Typical range
Notes
Crack repair / re-fixing loose cornice
£80–£300
Depends on length and whether re-scrimming is needed
New cornice, matched profile, per linear metre
£45–£120
Plain profile at lower end, ornate at upper end
Full room cornice reinstatement
£600–£1,200
Mid-size reception room; more for large/high rooms
Bespoke ceiling rose (new mould)
£600–£900
Includes one-off £250–£300 mould-making cost
Additional rose from existing mould
£150–£250
Per rose, once the mould already exists
Figures are general market guidance for London in 2026, not a fixed quote. Get a site-specific quote before budgeting for a fixed figure.
The Caveat Most Homeowners Get Wrong: Conservation Area vs Listed Building
A conservation area, on its own, generally controls the external appearance of a building and the demolition of structures within it. It does not, by itself, extend to internal decorative plasterwork like cornice or ceiling roses, so repairing or reinstating original detail inside a conservation area property rarely needs any consent.
Listed building status is different. If your property is statutorily listed (Grade II, II* or I), Listed Building Consent under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 applies to internal alterations that affect the building's special interest, and that can include removing or significantly altering original cornice and ceiling roses. Like-for-like repair and reinstatement is treated very differently from removal or replacement with a non-matching profile, but if you're unsure of your property's status or the scope of proposed work, a quick check with your local authority's conservation officer before work starts costs nothing and avoids a problem later.
The Three Common Jobs, And What Each Actually Involves
Crack Repair And Re-Fixing
Where the cornice profile is intact and the substrate behind it is sound, a crack repair involves re-bedding the loose section with proper plaster bonding, re-scrimming the joint where needed, and filling and sanding to blend with the surrounding run. This is the cheapest and quickest option, £80–£300, but only holds if the ceiling behind it is actually dry and stable, patching a crack caused by an active leak simply delays the same repair by a year or two.
Running New Cornice To Match
Where a section of cornice is missing entirely, commonly after a chimney breast removal or a previous modernisation stripped the original detail out, new lengths need to be produced to match the existing profile. This is done either by running it in-situ with a horsed mould for simpler profiles, or by casting it off-site as fibrous plaster where the pattern is more ornate or a consistent factory finish is needed. Pricing runs £45–£120 per metre depending on which method and how complex the profile is.
Casting A Bespoke Ceiling Rose
Reinstating a missing or badly damaged rose usually means casting a new mould from a surviving example elsewhere in the house, or from a matched period pattern, then producing and fixing the cast rose to the ceiling. The mould-making cost, roughly £250–£300, is the largest single component and is a one-off, meaning a second matching rose for another room costs considerably less, roughly £150–£250, once the mould already exists.
What To Expect On The Day
Expect dust sheets over floors and furniture, and if the room has high ceilings or an ornate cornice needing careful handling, a small podium or access tower rather than just stepladders. If a new mould is being cast, that happens off-site in the workshop before the on-site fixing day, so there's often a gap of a week or more between the initial site visit and the actual installation while casting and curing takes place.
Once fixed, new plasterwork needs time to cure and dry fully, usually 24-48 hours for filled joints depending on humidity, before it's ready for priming. Painting over cornice or a rose before it's fully cured is one of the more common causes of finish problems, blistering or discolouration showing up weeks later, so a contractor who won't rush straight to decoration on the same day is doing it right, not being slow.
Redecorating And What To Book Next
Once the plasterwork is fixed, filled and fully cured, the room is ready for painting and decorating to bring the new cornice or rose in line with the rest of the ceiling and walls. If the original damage was caused by a leak or a failing ceiling, it's worth confirming that the underlying plasterboard and ceiling repair or leak repair work is fully signed off and dry before committing to a decoration date, repainting too early over recently repaired plasterwork is a common and avoidable cause of finish problems.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does cornice restoration cost per metre in London?
Typically £45–£120 per linear metre, depending on how ornate the profile is and whether an existing mould can be used or a new one needs casting first.
Is it cheaper to repair cornice than replace a full room's worth?
Per metre, yes, a small repair is cheaper in isolation. But if a new mould needs casting for a single short section, that one-off £250–£300 cost makes a small job proportionally more expensive than reinstating a whole room where the cost spreads across more metres.
Do I need permission to repair or replace cornice in a conservation area?
Generally no. Conservation area status controls external appearance and demolition, not internal decorative plasterwork. Listed building status is different and does require Listed Building Consent for internal alterations.
How much does it cost to reinstate a missing ceiling rose?
Roughly £600–£900 for a bespoke first casting including the mould-making cost, dropping to £150–£250 for each further rose cast from the same mould.
Can damaged cornice be repaired instead of replaced entirely?
Yes, in most cases where the profile is intact and the ceiling behind it is dry and stable. A short crack repair or re-fix typically costs £80–£300.
How long does it take to cast a new mould for matching cornice?
Typically five to ten working days for casting and curing in the workshop, before on-site fixing can begin, longer for very ornate or large profiles.
Should I fix a leak before repairing cornice damaged by water?
Yes, always. Fixing the leak and letting the ceiling dry out fully needs to happen before any new plaster is bonded on, otherwise the repair typically fails again within a year or two.
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