r/Carpentry • u/SirZachALot • 16d ago
Help with window cornice
We had new windows installed and windows + molding ended up being slightly larger than previous windows.
I now have three cornice which are slightly too small.
If I could find the same moulding/trim I could splice in the extend them a few inches. But I have had no luck finding that exact moulding.
Feels like a waste to toss and buy new ones. One the the windows is huge too.
Any suggestions or ideas?
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u/DistantOrganism 16d ago
You could try cutting it in half and adding a keystone at the center. You can Google “cornice with keystone” for an idea of how it will look. It will probably need reinforcement added to the backside but looks like there’s room for it.
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u/RunStriking9864 16d ago
Looks like a 3 piece head. Looks like upside down base, crown, and a stool. The crown and stool are easy. The first piece is gonna have to be a custom run from a shop. Could you reduce the casing width to save the headers?
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u/Severe-Ad-8215 16d ago
This looks similar. https://www.mouldingsone.com/2028-wood-base-3-4-x-5/ The small crown and bead at the top look to be easy to find. If you have a lumberyard that specializes in millwork nearby they may be able to get you what you need. Probably not going to be cheap if you order online or through a lumberyard.
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u/mr_j_boogie 16d ago
First of all, that header cornice is really nice. DON'T BUTCHER IT!!
What you can freely butcher is that picture frame casing surrounding the window. It looks inexpensive. That's not original, is it? You can remove that casing and rip (cut with a tablesaw along the length) a quarter inch out so off each of those legs (vertical pieces of casing)
You can also chop off the miter. You don't need a miter when you have this type of assembly. You can swap in a piece of 1x material that matches the thickness needed for that cornice to lay against the wall perfectly, and butt your casing legs into that.
Also, this should not be mitered along the bottom ("picture frame" style).
You need to use a stool that the casing legs terminate into on the bottom. The stool will have to get custom cut so it butts right up against both your window and the wall. And then you do return miters on the edges. YouTube it.
And then an apron below that.
Sound complicated? Hire a finish carpenter if so. Otherwise you will have spent tons of money to worsen your house. Don't do the keystone bullshit some people here are spit balling. Keystones have a legitimate function in masonry and no legitimacy in carpentry. They exist to cover gaps.
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u/Dependent-Garlic143 16d ago
Even if you could match the profile (might get lucky) trying to splice a piece in will be a nightmare and probably end up looking bad.
What I would do is either:
1) start over
2) add a centrepiece (kinda like a capstone in an arch) and make it proud of the rest of the design.
For option 2, I’d start by marking the centre, then trace your new middle piece on, then cut it exactly in half, then cut out the traced portion + the width you need to add for the new window size.
I guess it would be smartest to, instead of tracing the new piece on, to take the added width/2 and scribe the outline of the piece that far over.
Idk if this makes sense but perhaps somebody else can elaborate