Rust stains running down the facade
Water inside the cornice rusting it from the back.
Sheet metal cornice repair on New York, NY buildings
Pressed-metal cornices crown many older city walk-ups. Behind the ornament is a hollow metal box on a wood or steel frame, and when water gets inside it, the frame rots and the anchors let go.
- We answer 24/7
- Resecure, patch, rebuild
- Roof edge sealed behind
Quick answer: Sheet metal cornice repair in New York, NY starts at the roof edge, where the top of the cornice meets the roof and most water gets in. Rusted sections are patched or fabricated to match, loose sections are re-anchored to the framing, and the cornice top is capped and flashed into the roof so it stops collecting water.
What the job involves
What is behind the ornament
A pressed-metal cornice is thin galvanized or tin-coated sheet formed into moldings and brackets, fastened to a wood or steel framework cantilevered from the top of the wall. It is light and hollow, which is why it lasts only as long as it stays dry inside.
Water gets in at the top, where the cornice meets the roof, through open seams, and wherever paint has failed. Inside, it rusts the metal from the back and rots the lookouts that hold it, and a cornice that has lost its anchors can pull away from the building.
Cost factors
What cornice repair costs depends on
Access
Scaffolding, a lift or rope access, plus sidewalk protection.
Extent of rust
Patching holes versus fabricating whole sections.
Framing condition
Rotted lookouts or rusted steel inside the cornice.
Profile matching
Custom-bent moldings and brackets to match.
Roof edge work
Capping and flashing the top into the roof.
Paint
Priming and painting the repaired and existing metal.
Variations of the job
Cornice work we do
Rusted cornice sections
Rust holes are cut out and patched with new metal, or whole sections are fabricated to match the profile and soldered or riveted in, then primed and painted.
Loose anchors
Sections that have pulled away are re-secured to sound framing. Rotted wood lookouts are replaced or reinforced, and new anchors are fastened into the masonry.
Cornice and roof edge leaks
The top of the cornice is capped with sloped metal that laps into the roof membrane or flashing, so water drains onto the roof instead of into the cornice.
Local conditions
A part of the facade no inspection program covers
New York City's facade inspection program leaves out low-rise buildings, so on a four- or five-story walk-up no periodic facade inspection is required to look closely at the cornice. Loose sections are left for owners to catch themselves, and a failing cornice usually shows it first through rust stains, open seams and sagging. That is why a cornice check belongs in every roof visit we make.
What is included
What a cornice repair should include
- Close inspection from staging, a lift or rope access
- Sidewalk protection while work is overhead
- Framing and anchors checked and repaired
- Rusted metal patched or replaced to match the profile
- Soldered or riveted seams, not caulked ones
- A sloped cap over the top, flashed into the roof
- Primer and paint on all exposed metal
- Photos of the framing before it is closed up
How it runs
How cornice repair runs
- 1
Inspect up close
From staging, a lift or rope access, with photos.
- 2
Protect the sidewalk
Protection in place while work is overhead.
- 3
Secure the frame
Lookouts and anchors repaired or replaced.
- 4
Patch or replace metal
Rusted areas patched, missing sections fabricated.
- 5
Cap, flash and paint
Top capped into the roof, metal primed and painted.
Warning signs
Signs a cornice needs attention
Open seams or missing pieces
Water now gets straight inside.
Sagging or a gap at the wall
Anchors or framing letting go.
Peeling paint on the cornice
The metal is exposed to weather.
Birds nesting in the cornice
Holes large enough to let rain in too.
Stains near the front wall inside
Water from the cornice top reaching the building.
Questions we hear
Sheet metal cornice questions
Often. Rust holes can be patched and damaged sections fabricated to match. Replacing the whole cornice is only needed when rust and rot are widespread.
Usually from the top, where the cornice meets the roof without a proper cap, and through open seams and failed paint.
It can be. A section that pulls away from the building can fall to the sidewalk, which is why loose cornices are treated as urgent and the sidewalk is protected during work.
Sometimes, but it changes the building's face, and in a historic district removal generally needs Landmarks approval. Repair is usually preferred.
Whenever the paint starts to fail. Paint is what keeps the thin metal from rusting, so bare spots should not be left for years.
Related services
Related roofing work
Shingle Roof Repair
Missing tabs, valley leaks and lifted ridge caps on pitched roofs, matched as closely as the age of the roof allows.
Learn moreShingle Roof Replacement
Tear-off to the deck, ice barrier at the eaves and valleys, and architectural shingles fastened to the maker's nailing pattern.
Learn moreSlate Roof Repair
Slipped and broken slates replaced one at a time with matching stone and proper hooks or nails, so a slate roof keeps its long life.
Learn moreCornice rusting or pulling away?
Call and we will inspect it up close and secure it before it gets worse.