— Cornices —
Historical Cornice Replacement and Restoration
Metal cornices rebuilt in prefinished aluminum to match the original profile, for schools, colleges and historic commercial buildings.
Historic cornice reproduction and cornice replacement
When a historical cornice has reached the end of its life, Décor Architectural Products duplicates the existing profile and fabricates a replacement cornice in prefinished aluminum. Historic cornice reproduction is a specialty of ours. The aim is to keep the original architecture while using current materials and methods, so the building gets back its roofline with years of maintenance-free life ahead of it.
We work with architects, contractors and building owners, and provide consultation and drawings as part of the job. If your project is new construction, see our standard and custom aluminum cornices.
Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH
BGSU replacement cornice section in our shop before shipping
Agnes Scott College, Decatur, GA
Original cornice from Agnes Scott College, before replacement
Cameron Elementary, Chicago, IL
Cameron Elementary, Chicago, IL
More projects are in the project gallery.
How a cornice replacement works
1. Send what you have
Photos, dimensions, architectural drawings or a piece of the original cornice.
2. Measure and draw
The building is field-measured and shop drawings are made so the new cornice fits.
3. Fabricate
The cornice is formed in prefinished aluminum. Dentils and brackets are made from high-density urethane and installed in our shop.
4. Ship ready to install
Corners and peaks are cut to length, mitered and assembled in the shop, which cuts down field time.
Built to stay flat and move with the building
Long runs of sheet metal can wrinkle or wave, known as oil canning. Our cornices use a snap-trim clip system that lets the cornice float on the building, built-in expansion and contraction joints, and a urethane foam backer laminated behind wide flat areas. The details are on the cornices page, and PDF and DWG drawings of our standard profiles are on the spec sheets and CAD page.
Common questions
Can you match an existing historical cornice?
Yes. Duplicating existing profiles is a specialty. We work from photos, field measurements, drawings or a section of the original cornice, and build the new cornice to keep the original architecture.
What is a replacement cornice made of?
Prefinished aluminum sheet with a Kynar 500 (PVDF) finish. Dentils and brackets are high-density urethane with an industrial paint finish, installed in our shop.
How long does a historical cornice project take?
Larger projects such as cornice replacements normally take 4 to 6 weeks to fabricate.
Do you ship cornices outside Ohio?
Yes. We ship by LTL freight all over the United States, and have fabricated cornices for buildings in Georgia, Illinois, Michigan and Ohio.
Have a building in mind? Attach photos or drawings to the contact form, call (419) 537-9493 or email decorap@sbcglobal.net.