What we found
From scaffolding, the actual condition was worse than from the sidewalk — but still within standard repair scope rather than full replacement.
The Work
We scraped the failed paint and surface rust back to sound metal. Where the rust had penetrated the substrate, we treated with a phosphoric-acid converter to chemically stabilize the underlying steel. Localized patches of severely thinned metal were soldered in. The seams between cornice sections were re-caulked with a UV-rated elastomeric sealant.
Two coats of high-build epoxy primer went down on all exposed metal. The finish coat was custom-tinted to match the building’s original color, mixed on-site against a sample from a protected area of the cornice.
The result
The cornice now reads as continuous with the original finish, the rust streaking has stopped, and the underlying metal is protected for the next maintenance cycle. With basic monitoring, this work should hold for 25+ years.
Project gallery
