External cornice mouldings are a must-have addition to any architectural project with an affinity for fine detail. They are both beautiful and functional. Their intricately textured edges and decorative overhangs distract from and cover up transitions from wall to roof. This trick doubles up as a function; channelling rainwater away from the structure’s surface and protecting its walls!
The only problem? Variety. With so many different designs, sizes, styles and profiles, choosing one to fit your home can be daunting. There are many different aspects to take into consideration here. So, let’s focus on the most important!
- Height Matters
Height is a serious consideration here. A well-placed exterior cornice moulding that is proportionate to the height of the walls elongates the structure. By drawing your eyes upwards, the decorative edges of the cornice make the building appear taller. Conversely, installing a larger cornice moulding on a smaller wall will shrink your structure. So, choose high-profile intricate exterior cornices for high walls, and vice versa.
- Materials
For those going for a more traditional, luxurious look, concrete mouldings would do the trick. Unfortunately, this isn’t as easy as it sounds. Concrete is not only the most elaborately ornate, but also the most expensive by far. These hidden costs are seen in the heavier weight, installation difficulties, mould manufacturing, and in their tendency to crack.
The next best choice would be wood. Traditional timber is less prone to cracking, easier to install, and adds value to the building. But, it’s not all rainbows and unicorns! It requires much more heavy-duty tools during installation and is prone to pests, water-damage and rotting.
With the more traditional materials being extremely costly and impractical in the long-term, today’s star child in the moulding industry is expanded polystyrene (EPS). Requiring little to no maintenance, EPS has proven to be the easiest to install, inexpensive and durable. While, still being able to recreate the most traditional, elaborate cornice mouldings. EPS has taken the construction world by storm, as it is:
- Pest and bacteria-resistant (non-organic)
- Non-toxic, 100% recyclable
- Lightweight, flexible
- Weather and moisture-resistant
- Impact-resistant, shock-absorbent
- Dense, strong
- Profile and Style
You may have already gotten your creative juices flowing, but don’t get ahead of yourself! Unless you’re building your space from scratch, its recommended that you match your mouldings to the architecture and period of your project. For example, using dramatic, grandeur decorative mouldings on a sleek, minimalistic building would ruin its continuity and look out of place. Instead, make use of more modern, simplistic cornices to tie together the exterior. Here are some styles to choose from:
Georgian Victorian Dentil Contemporary
(1750 – 1830): (1837 – 1901): bold (early 19th century): (1950s onwards):
classical feel, and intricately ornate simple cornices that modern, minimalistic,
fine details cornices, often creep further up the and clean straight lines
with Greek with elaborate roof than below, emphasising simplicity
and Roman floral motifs catering for lower
influences wall heights
Updating a precious memory or ready to break all the rules? Don’t be afraid to push the boundaries where appropriate; this is your space to inhabit. You can even take it a step further – using composite materials like EPS, you can custom design external cornice moulding profiles that are unique to you alone!
Can’t make the decision yourself? Creating custom designs proving to be harder than you thought? Here at HPAM, our team will take the burden off your shoulders. Contact us for expert design and installation advice at 07 5568 0036, or contact us at info@highprofilemouldings.com.au
