A repair scope every contractor can bid.
A written scope so every mason and sheet-metal shop bids the same repair.
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Why get an engineer before a cornice repair bid?
Because each contractor otherwise bids their own idea of the problem. A written scope from an engineer who is not selling the repair lets you compare like with like, and tells you what the work has to achieve.
When you need it
- Two bids describe two different repairs
- A contractor recommends tearing the cornice off
- The building is in a historic district
- A lender, insurer, or buyer wants the repair documented
What the engineer looks at
- The cornice, parapet, and wall behind them
- Any bids or contractor notes you already have
- What has to be repaired, what can be kept, and what must be replaced
- Where materials should match the original, if historic review applies
What you get
- A written repair scope, item by item
- Notes on sequence: what to make safe, then repair, then finish
- A stamped letter or drawing when a permit office asks for one
- A second look at the finished work, if you want it
Common questions
Do you recommend contractors?
The engineer does not sell or profit from the repair, and the scope is written so any qualified mason can bid it.
Will the scope satisfy historic review?
That is the city's decision. The scope gives its staff something specific to review, which usually makes the conversation shorter.
Can you check the work afterward?
Yes. A follow-up visit can confirm the repair matches the scope.
Read first
Cornice repair: who to call firstWhat an engineer, mason, roofer and sheet-metal shop each do, and why diagnosis comes first.
Historic review and cornice repair in St. LouisHow historic review relates to a structural assessment, and what to ask the city before work.
Brick, terra cotta, stone and metal cornicesHow each common cornice material is built and the ways it usually fails.
Related services
Cornice condition assessmentAn engineer's inspection of the cornice and the wall behind it, with a written report.
Parapet and chimney evaluationThe walls and chimneys above the roof line, which weather fastest and lean first.
Review before you buy or sellWhat the top of the facade needs, before the price is settled.