Who knew brick could be so beautiful? Exploring the allure of corbelled brick cornicesToday’s article is part of a multi-part series on unique architectural details of historic masonry facades. Some of the details that we will look at are made from materials other than masonry, but they are part of the fabric of the overall masonry facade of historic buildings. We see these elements throughout many historic neighborhoods in Washington, D.C. These elements are often deserving of the credit for the historic charm and unique aesthetic that we attribute to historic masonry buildings. Although here at Infinity Design Solutions, we happen to love brick, it isn’t always the brick itself, not the field areas of common bonds or even the Flemish bonds that we find in the field of the facades, that gives the building its flare. Normally it’s actually the elements at the openings, architectural details, friezes, cornices and corners of the facades that give the majority of the building character. These are integral parts of masonry front facades, but they’re not brick or stone, in most cases, these elements are made from other materials and set onto or integral with the masonry to add design details and flare. We will look at a long series of these elements one by one. Similar to the Historic Masonry Encyclopedia on our website, this series of blogs is a place where someone can learn a lot about masonry and architecture from a type of perspective like a guide. These elements are only slightly grouped but not presented in an alphabetical or chronological type of order. Today, we are looking at a corbelled brick cornice. Corbelled Brick CorniceThe cornice on the front facade of historic brick rowhomes in neighborhoods like Capitol Hill, Dupont Circle, and Georgetown in Washington, D.C., serves both functional and aesthetic purposes. Historically, cornices were an integral part of architectural design, adding character and detail to the building’s exterior while also serving practical functions aimed at long term preservation. Aesthetic and Architectural SignificanceThe cornice acts as a decorative crowning element at the top of a building, providing visual interest and enhancing the overall appearance of the structure. It often reflects the architectural style prevalent during the time of construction, contributing to the historical charm of the neighborhood. Water Management: One of the primary functions of a cornice is to manage water runoff from the roof. By extending beyond the vertical face of the facade, it helps keep rainwater away from the building’s exterior walls. This feature is particularly important in areas, like Washington, DC with regular rainfall, as it prevents water from cascading directly down the facade and potentially causing water damage, erosion, or deterioration of the brickwork. When we talk about brick pointing, tuck pointing and repointing, we are referring to long-term deterioration and damage caused by exposure to the exterior elements. One of the major exterior elements that affects the mortar between these bricks, especially at the surface of the wall is residual rainfall as the majority of the exterior wall is protected from non-wind-driven rain, by the architectural details such as the cornice and other protruding facade elements, those mortar joints below are protected to survive longer. If this explanation, in itself, does not seem intuitive, think about the base of the wall and the extreme deterioration that happens within a few feet of the ground. In other articles on our website we’ve talked about the accelerated deterioration that happens at the base of a masonry and brick wall as a result of splashback. That area of the wall receives the least amount of protection from the cornice and other architectural details. Without the cornice there at all, the remainder of the wall would have significantly higher amounts of deterioration in shorter periods of time, just like the base of the wall. The only distinction though is that the base of the wall faces specific challenges. One of those challenges is the higher amount of exposure to rainfall where it is far away from the cornice, and splash back from water bouncing off the ground. The second type of potential exposure that applies specifically to the base of the wall which is different from the upper areas of the wall is that the base of the wall can also be exposed to rising damp. Corbelling is a technique in which bricks are layered in successive courses, each extending slightly beyond the course beneath it. This creates a stepped or staggered effect which is part of the engineering of historic brick footings, as well, with corbelled bricks, but for a different purpose. (The corbelling at the base of the wall, for example at historic brick footings, spreads the load to gain a stronger foothold onto the load path through the earth below.) In the context of cornices, corbelled bricks are strategically arranged to form a projecting edge. This not only adds visual interest but also strengthens the structure by distributing the load more gradually. The corbelled design serves to support the overhanging portion of the cornice. This construction method allows for the creation of intricate and decorative patterns while providing structural stability. By incorporating corbelled bricks, the cornice achieves a gradual and visually appealing transition from the vertical facade to the horizontal projection. While a projecting roof beyond the vertical face of the facade may not shield it entirely from heavy wind-driven rains, the corbelled bricks play a crucial role in minimizing water contact with the facade. The stepped design helps divert rainwater away from the building, reducing the impact of rainfall on the exterior walls. This protection is especially important for the longevity and preservation of historic brickwork. Historic masonry upkeep and preservationTo properly maintain, repair, and care for these historic buildings, a knowledge, interest and understanding of historic building principles is required. Here in Washington DC, historic masonry buildings are extremely expensive, and the amount of financial loss caused by improper repointing and low-quality construction is staggering. However, in addition to the direct financial value of the property, there is also a cultural loss when historic buildings are damaged. By comparison, consider neighboring poor cities, when historic buildings are damaged, it’s not just the loss of value to the property owner, there’s also a loss to all inhabitants and visitors of a city, present and future, who care about architecture, history, and culture. We encourage all of our clients, and all readers of this article and to our blog in general, to prioritize the historic built environment of Washington DC and neighborhoods such as Capitol Hill, Dupont Circle, and Georgetown and become educated on on the difference between proper historic preservation versus improper work which leads to significant damage to the historic fabric of a building. From a conservation and preservation perspective, several approaches can be taken to improve conditions related to deteriorated historic brick masonry. Primarily, lime mortar brick joints and low temperature fired soft red clay bricks should be inspected and checked on a routine maintenance schedule, either seasonally or at least annually. If brick masonry is kept in good condition, the life of these facade elements can be significantly extended. Hire a professional contractor which specializes, understands and appreciates historic construction elements and buildings. You can learn a lot more on our blog. Feel free to check it out. If you have questions about the historic masonry of your building in Washington DC, fill out the webform below and drop us a line. We will be in touch if we can help. The items below will NOT be part of blog 0171, they will be part of a future article Soldier Course Brick Headers with Lintel Historic masonry upkeep and preservationTo properly maintain, repair, and care for these historic buildings, a knowledge, interest and understanding of historic building principles is required. Here in Washington DC, historic masonry buildings are extremely expensive and the amount of financial loss caused by improper repointing and low quality construction is staggering. However, in addition to the direct financial value of the property, there is also a cultural loss when historic buildings are damaged. By comparison, consider neighboring poor cities, when historic buildings are damaged, it’s not just the loss of value to the property owner, there’s also a loss to all inhabitants and visitors of a city, present and future, who care about architecture, history, and culture. We encourage all of our clients, and all readers of this article and to our blog in general, to prioritize the historic built environment of Washington DC and neighborhoods such as Capitol Hill, Dupont Circle, and Georgetown and become educated on on the difference between proper historic preservation versus improper work which leads to significant damage to the historic fabric of a building. From a conservation and preservation perspective, several approaches can be taken to improve conditions related to deteriorated historic brick masonry. Primarily, lime mortar brick joints and low temperature fired soft red clay bricks should be inspected and checked on a routine maintenance schedule, either seasonally or at least annually. If brick masonry is kept in good condition, the life of embedded wood elements can be significantly extended. Hire a professional contractor which specializes, understands and appreciates historic construction elements and buildings. You can learn a lot more on our blog. Feel free to check it out. If you have questions about the historic masonry of your building in Washington DC, fill out the webform below and drop us a line. We will be in touch if we can help. In this coming week’s article, we’ll take a look at ______________________________________________. Cornice under Water TableJack Arch HeaderCorbels Under Window SillWrought Iron Historic Fire EscapeDecorative Structural Cast IronHistoric masonry upkeep and preservationTo properly maintain, repair, and care for these historic buildings, a knowledge, interest and understanding of historic building principles is required. Here in Washington DC, historic masonry buildings are extremely expensive and the amount of financial loss caused by improper repointing and low quality construction is staggering. However, in addition to the direct financial value of the property, there is also a cultural loss when historic buildings are damaged. By comparison, consider neighboring poor cities, when historic buildings are damaged, it’s not just the loss of value to the property owner, there’s also a loss to all inhabitants and visitors of a city, present and future, who care about architecture, history, and culture. We encourage all of our clients, and all readers of this article and to our blog in general, to prioritize the historic built environment of Washington DC and neighborhoods such as Capitol Hill, Dupont Circle, and Georgetown and become educated on on the difference between proper historic preservation versus improper work which leads to significant damage to the historic fabric of a building. From a conservation and preservation perspective, several approaches can be taken to improve conditions related to deteriorated historic brick masonry. Primarily, lime mortar brick joints and low temperature fired soft red clay bricks should be inspected and checked on a routine maintenance schedule, either seasonally or at least annually. If brick masonry is kept in good condition, the life of embedded wood elements can be significantly extended. Hire a professional contractor which specializes, understands and appreciates historic construction elements and buildings. You can learn a lot more on our blog. Feel free to check it out. If you have questions about the historic masonry of your building in Washington DC, fill out the webform below and drop us a line. We will be in touch if we can help. In this coming week’s article, we’ll take a look at ______________________________________________. Contact USInfinity Design Solutions is a historic restoration specialist contractor specializing in both historic masonry restoration such as tuck pointing our repointing, and brick repair. If you have questions about the architectural details or facade of your historic building in Washington DC,reach out and say hello and if we can help we’ll be glad to assist you. You can email us or call us on the telephone at the following link: contact us here. <p>The post Architectural Details in Masonry Facades – Corbelled Brick Cornices first appeared on Infinity Design Solutions.</p> Via https://www.ids-dmv.com/masonry/architectural-details-in-masonry-facades-corbelled-brick-cornices/
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About UsInfinity Design Solutions LLC (IDS) is a full service general contracting company in the heart of the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, DC. We focus on repair and renovation of buildings and facilities in both historic designated neighborhoods and the commercial-zoned central business district of the city. Follow Us
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