Terra Cotta Cornice

From the ground, the architectural terracotta cornices that adorn notable government buildings, churches, and historic homes look like continuous ledges. If you could examine typical terracotta cornices up close and actually see inside, however, you would find a myriad of steel straps and interlocking pieces. Many assemblies leave at least some steel unprotected, which leads to rusting, swelling, and eventually deterioration when water gets inside.

Fiberglass Reinforced Terra Cotta Cornice: Flawless Reproduction, Perfect Fit

No matter how badly your historical terra cotta cornice has been damaged, TerraGlas can help. Our advanced terra cotta composite and our restoration process allow us to make seamless repairs and renovations.

  • We can take a mold from the terra cotta cornice as it exists today to craft replacement pieces that are virtually identical in appearance to the original terracotta cornice. Our special silicone rubber molds can be used to capture every last detail of the traditional terra cotta cornice and reproduce the element in modern TerraGlas.
  • A company at the forefront of terra cotta restoration, TerraGlas also has the technologies and expertise necessary to recreate historic terra cotta cornice using photos and drawings. Models are painstakingly crafted and used to create custom molds.
  • One of the major differences between producing cornice made from traditional terracotta and crafting fiberglass reinforced terracotta cornice is that the latter does not involve firing. This is a key advantage if cornice is being repaired or renovated, or if new cornice is being manufactured. Cornice made from traditional terra cotta can shrink by as much as 10% during drying and firing. Fiber reinforced terra cotta cornice will not shrink – that means no unsightly gaps and no often imprecise model re-sculpting. A seamless fit is assured.
  • Because there currently aren’t many suppliers of glazed terra cotta, finding a match for historic terra cotta cornice is often problematic or even impossible. Our experts can engineer glass fiber reinforced terracotta cornice to match existing sections, replicating everything from the weathering and texture to the glaze of the original terra cotta cornice. In this way, traditional terracotta cornice can often be restored rather than replaced.

TerraGlas: Simplify Your Cornice Design

Interlocking pieces and joints make the design of many terra cotta cornices complex. Involved cornice designs are unfavorable because they make installation more cumbersome (and often more costly) and can increase the likelihood of water infiltration. Using fiberglass reinforced terracotta, we can often simplify the design of terracotta cornices. During one terracotta renovation project, for instance, we replaced a section of terracotta cornice that would have normally consisted of 50 to 120 individual units with a single piece of TerraGlas without sacrificing the overall appearance or any of the intricate details.

TerraGlas: A Terra Cotta Replacement Engineered by the Leaders in Composite Technology

Design simplification and more accurate reproductions are two crucial advantages of using fiber reinforced terra cotta to repair, renovate, or recreate architectural cornice. Other advantages of TerraGlas include:

  • Glass fiber reinforced terra cotta is lighter than traditional terra cotta, so cornice crafted with this advanced replacement will place less strain and stress on historic structures.
  • Fiberglass reinforced terracotta is easier to handle, and elements can typically be produced more quickly. This can translate into shorter lead times and faster installation.
  • Fiberglass reinforced terra cotta is more cost effective than traditional terra cotta. Because installing fiber reinforced terra cotta cornice is often a relatively straightforward process, you may save even more.
  • Glass fiber reinforced terracotta is durable, long lasting, and weather resistant.
  • Fiber reinforced terracotta is more impact resistant, stronger, and less brittle than traditional terra cotta.
  • Glass fiber reinforced terra cotta has all of the aesthetic appeal of traditional terra cotta. Made with real terra cotta clay, TerraGlas is a replacement that provides the authentic look our clients desire.

TerraGlas: At Your Service

With decades of experience in the industry, the largest capacity of any supplier, and cutting edge fabrication technologies and techniques, we are able to take on projects of any size, scope, and degree of complexity. We will work painstakingly to achieve an exact match of your terra cotta cornice in terms of design, color, texture, and glaze. We can also use your instructions and specifications to manufacture a new custom cornice that is virtually indistinguishable from the traditional terra cotta that was once a popular choice for an array of architectural elements. Contact us for more information.