Restoration Primer: Wood-Cornice Restoration

Wood-Cornice Restoration by Larry Jones A cornice adds architectural interest to an old building. In fact, on many commercial buildings and urban rowhouses, the cornice is the only notable detail. Nobody likes to maintain cornices, though, because they’re so big and out of reach. So inevitably the cornice has to be restored. A good restoration might involve design modifications (as well as flashing, woodworking repairs, and a paint job-all of which we’ll discuss) and will last for decades. Cornice Types Wooden cornices have been built in every size and shape, but there are only three basic methods of attaching them to buildings. The parapet cornice is probably the most common type, and is used on both wood and masonry structures. of being attached to the