Rowhome Cornice Repair in Philadelphia
The cornice along the top of a Philadelphia rowhouse front is decoration and weather protection at once. When its paint, metal or wood fails, water gets into the cornice, the roof edge and the wall below.
Cornice repair on Philadelphia rowhomes covers the painted metal or wood trim along the top of the front wall, its brackets, and the flashing that ties it into the roof. Most failures start with water getting in behind peeling paint or through the roof joint above. We repair or replace damaged sections, rebuild brackets, reflash the tie-in and repaint.
What a Cornice Does and Why It Fails
A rowhouse cornice projects out from the top of the front wall, throwing rain clear of the brick below. Many are pressed sheet metal over a wood frame; others are carved or built-up wood with brackets. Behind them sits the roof edge, and on many houses the front roof drain passes through the cornice to the downspout.
The metal rusts where paint has failed, the wood behind it rots, and the joint between cornice and roof opens up. Leaks then show as stains high on the front wall inside, or as a sagging line along the street facade.
What Sets the Price of Cornice Work
- Length and heightCornice runs and street-side access with lifts.
- MaterialMetal, wood and ornamental work differ.
- Hidden rotFraming behind the cornice is repaired first.
- Brackets and ornamentRebuilding or recasting details adds time.
- Roof tie-inFlashing and gutter work behind the cornice.
Cornice repairs depend heavily on what is found behind the face, so we price them after opening a section and checking the framing.
Restore, Cover or Remove?
Each option changes how the house looks and how long the fix lasts.
| Option | What it involves | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
| Restore in kind | Repair metal or wood, rebuild brackets, repaint | Keeps the original look; needs repainting |
| Cover with aluminum | Wrap the cornice in formed aluminum | Low upkeep; hides ornament and can trap moisture |
| Remove | Take the cornice off and finish the wall top | Ends upkeep; changes the facade and may need approval |
Painted Metal Cornice Repair
Pressed metal cornices fail where paint has worn through and rust has started, usually at seams, the top edge and the bottom soffit. We clean back to sound metal, patch or replace rusted sections with new formed pieces, re-secure loose panels to the wood frame, and prime and paint with coatings made for metal. Where a section is too far gone, a new piece is formed to match the original profile so the cornice reads as one piece from the street.
Wood Cornice and Bracket Repair
Wood cornices and their decorative brackets rot where water sits: on top surfaces, at joints and where brackets meet the wall. Soft wood is cut out and replaced with matching profiles, brackets are rebuilt or recast, and the whole cornice is refastened to solid framing. Sagging cornices are supported back into line from behind before they pull away from the brick. Paint is renewed afterward, because a sound paint film is what keeps the new wood from rotting the same way.
Cornice Flashing and Roof Tie-In
Many cornice leaks start behind the cornice, where the roof meets it. On flat rowhome roofs the membrane should run up and over the back of the cornice or parapet and be capped; on pitched roofs, the gutter or box gutter sits there. We reflash that joint properly, clear or reline any gutter built into it, and check that the front roof drain passing through the cornice is sealed on both sides. Built-in gutters are covered on our box gutter repair page.
Cornice sagging over the sidewalk?
Call and we check it before anything comes loose.
What We See on Philadelphia Roofs
The City's Philadelphia Rowhouse Manual shows a South Philadelphia row where two original painted metal cornices survive, one has been covered in vertical aluminum siding and another removed down to the bare brick that once held it. On properties listed on the Philadelphia Register, exterior changes to a cornice need Historical Commission approval, so repair in kind is usually the expected route.
How a Cornice Repair Runs
- 1
Inspect from lift and roof
Face, brackets, framing and roof joint checked.
- 2
Photos and options
Restore, cover or remove, with prices.
- 3
Permits and approvals
Sidewalk access and any historic review arranged.
- 4
Repair the structure
Rotted framing replaced, cornice refastened.
- 5
Restore the face
Metal patched or wood replaced, brackets rebuilt.
- 6
Reflash and paint
Roof joint sealed, cornice primed and painted.
Cornice Repair Questions
It can be, over a sidewalk. Have it checked promptly.
Usually, if the framing can be repaired. Restoration keeps the original detail.
It can shed rain, but it hides problems and can trap moisture behind it.
On properties on the Philadelphia Register, yes, from the Historical Commission.
Whenever paint starts to fail; metal cornices rust quickly once bare.
More Masonry & Rowhome Details Work in Philadelphia
Keep the Cornice and the Wall Below It Dry
Call and we check the cornice, the brackets and the roof joint behind it.