Want to add polystrene coving/cornices to my lounge but don't want to repaper can I place it on top of wallpaper

[JG1965]

Can I put polystrene coving/cornices on top of wallpaper as wallpaper is fine so don't want to redecorate.
Thanks in advance.

[Canary42]

Yes

[VHG]

This web site says you should remove it

http://www.diy-extra.co.uk/fitting_coving.html

[RATTER15]

Yes but when you strip the wall paper off at a later date the cornice will come off.

I didnt know you could still get that due to the toxic gasses it gives off during a fire.

[Old_Geezer]

You can paste it on top of the existing wallpaper but I'd not recommend it. What happens when you next want to paper the room ? You'll either be obliged to always have the old stuff left up and paper over, or you are then forced to cut the paper in order to remove it, which you can easily do now.

Surely not that difficult to use a steel rule and work knife to cut the top of the wallpaper away and allow you to past the coving to the plaster ?

[Old_Geezer]

*PASTE* THE COVING >:-(

[buildersmate]

Polystyrene coving really doesn't look very good - it is impossible to hide the joints.
Far better putting the proper plaster stuff up

[The Builder]

Just what I was going to say BM :o)

[craft1948]

I've had all the polystyrene coving removed from my house and replaced with plaster coving too..............the polystyrene looked cheap and seemed to get dirty very quickly.

[katdarn79]

What about the polystrene coving thats covered with paper that look better.

[theshedman]

Got to agree with others on this one poly coving looks terrible. It's not that much harder to put up the proper plaster stuff. As for putting it over the wallpaper, I wouldn't personally do it.

[douglas9401]

If the polystyrene stuff is put up with pre-mixed cement designed for the job rather than just wallpaper paste it allows any small inconsitencies in plasterwork to be compensated for. It also does a decent job of filling any gaps between sections.
If the existing paper is smooth then I can't see any reason not to apply over the top but bear in mind that you'll have to be very careful when cutting along the bottom of the coving should you decide to change the wall covering in future.
It's also considerably cheaper than the plaster alternative if cost is a factor.
Each to their own though.

[tenrec]

Agree with Douglas. My polystyrene coving looked damned good! But if you put it over wallpaper, you may need to stanley knife the edge of wallpaper to get wallpaper off cleanly at later date.