7. Where does the word come from?
A way to remember this architectural detail is to know where the
word comes from—the etymology or origin of the word.
Cornice comes from the Latin word coronics, meaning curved
line. The Latin is from the Greek word for a curved
object, koronis.
8. What comes in your mind when you
hears the words cornices?
9. When one hears the words cornice, one can easily
imagine an elegantly crafted building made in the late
1800’s.
What really is a cornice, and why was it so commonly
used?
10. Definition:
Uppermost division of a Classical entablature. A cornice is
basically a form of horizontal decorating sculpture or moulding,
it generally lies on the roof, doors, or windows.
Cornices can provide great texture and embellishment to your
building’s appearance.
11. Any molded projection which crowns or finishes the part to which it
is affixed.
2. The third or uppermost division of an entablature, resting on the
frieze.
3. An ornamental molding, usually of wood or plaster, running round
the walls of a room just below the ceiling; a crown molding; the
molding forming the top member of a door or window frame.
4. The exterior trim of a structure at the meeting of the roof and wall;
usually consists of bed molding, soffit, fascia, and crown molding.
12. Crowning projecting molded horizontal top of a building or some part of a building,
such as a pedestal (where it is the cap), or a wall.
In the latter case it is called a wall-cornice or cornicione (if very large and crowning
the main façade of e.g. a palazzo).
It is an eaves-cornice if it occurs where a roof overhangs a wall and forms eaves with
a Classical molding
one faced with e.g. terracotta or some other material is an encased cornice.
On a pediment the cornices are differentiated as raking if on the sloping sides.
A block-cornice is a wall-cornice with very simple blocks instead of modillions
projecting from rudimentary bed-moldings.
13. The third or uppermost division of an
entablature, resting on the frieze.
18. The molding forming the top member of a
door or window frame.
19.
20. A cornice continuing around a corner or in
a different direction is a cornice return.
21.
22. Cornices has also be used to carve the
year of erection of a building.
23.
24. Materials:
Wood
Metal
Brick
Concrete
Terra cotta
Modern materials
Fiberglass
Lightweight cements
25. Materials:
Wood frame commercial buildings from the 19th and early
20th centuries are likely to have cornices of wood or sheet metal.
These cornices were milled or formed into a variety of shapes
such as brackets or modillion blocks.
Brick commercial buildings may have corbelled cornices rows of
brick that project from the wall in various bonding patterns.
In the early 20th century, other materials became popular for
cornices, including cast concrete and terra cotta.
26.
27. Why cornices were provided?
One of the main reasons why cornices were introduced was
utilitarian role i:e to ensure that the rainwater would not hit the
walls of the building as this over time would create
discolouring of the stone buildings.
This style of architecture was most common in Greece, where
most of the temples and significant buildings would have
elaborately carved cornices.
The function of the cornice overhang is to protect the
structure's walls.
28. Cornices as the window treatment:
The term cornice may also be used to describe a form of
hard window treatment along the top edge of a window. When
used in this context, a cornice represents a board (usually
wood) placed above the window to conceal the mechanism for
opening and closing drapes. If covered in a layer of cloth and
given padding, it is sometimes called a soft cornice rather than
a hard cornice.
29. Cornice Maintenance and Repair:
Like any architectural element, cornices can deteriorate through
lack of maintenance or water infiltration.
We should inspect our building cornices on a regular basis to
make sure the materials are in good condition and do not have
any water penetration.
30. Repair and replace damaged or missing dentils and brackets when
necessary.
A wood cornice are particularly prone to deterioration. They needs regular
scraping and painting.
A sheet metal cornice requires scraping and painting.
Galvanized sheet metal has its own protection. It is, however, altered as soon
as rust sets in; it is important to prevent rust with a regular coat of paint.
Wood and sheet metal cornices are typically attached to the building with
wood or metal anchors that can decay or rust if they are not maintained.
Cornice Maintenance and Repair:
31. The rear of a cornice is often directly attached to the roof material. You
should inspect the joints where these two materials come together on a
regular basis.
Cast concrete and terra cotta cornices are anchored into the masonry of
the building. It is especially important to keep water out of these types of
cornices to prevent them from rusting or detaching from your building.
You should repair cast concrete and terra cotta cornices with materials to
match. Alternative materials such as fiberglass or fiberglass-reinforced
concrete may be appropriate for some buildings.
Cornice Maintenance and Repair:
