A facade review before you buy or sell.
What the top of the facade needs, before the price is settled.
Request this service
Should a cornice be inspected before buying an old building?
Yes, because it is the part a general inspection sees least and it is expensive to put right. An engineer's review tells you what the cornice, parapets, and upper walls need, while you can still negotiate.
When you need it
- You are under contract on an old brick building
- The inspection report mentions the cornice or parapet
- You are listing a building and want no surprises
- A lender or insurer asked about the facade
What the engineer looks at
- Cornices, parapets, and chimneys
- Upper walls, lintels over windows, and earlier repairs
- Signs of water getting into the top of the wall
- Anything overhead that should be made safe first
What you get
- A written report you can share with the other side
- What is urgent, what is maintenance, and what is cosmetic
- A repair scope to price with a mason
- A phone call to walk through the findings if you want one
Common questions
Is this a full building inspection?
No. It covers the masonry at the top of the building and the walls it sits on. A general inspector covers the rest.
Can it be done inside an inspection period?
Tell us the deadline when you send the request. We reply within one business day and say plainly whether it fits.
As a seller, why would I pay for this?
A known condition with a written scope is easier to price than a buyer's guess at the worst case.
Read first
Cornice inspection before selling or buying a buildingHow a written engineer's opinion on the cornice helps both sides of a sale.
Signs a cornice or parapet may be unsafeWhat to look for from the ground, and what to do if something looks loose over a sidewalk.
Historic review and cornice repair in St. LouisHow historic review relates to a structural assessment, and what to ask the city before work.
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.
Repair scope for bidsA written scope so every mason and sheet-metal shop bids the same repair.