This was my first project involving carpentry. I had done the built-in gutters on my own house, and labored for another contractor in the district to gain some experience the year prior so I felt confident.
If the original roofers had used Euro methods, and the porch had never been wrapped it is likely that this entire assembly could have been saved. Instead we found ourselves replacing the main beam, and all of the “lookouts”.
After the lookouts are installed, and the gutter pitched: it was time to design the new cornice. It was duplicated from the original using measured drawings.
The dentils were removed when the aluminum trim was installed, so this was the only element that needed new design. I picked the proportions based on a simplified/composite order.
The fairing strips are used to make the beam the same width as the column necks (another classical detail most modern builders miss). Since we were using new lumber, the nominal thickness compared to the old beams required this spacing to keep everything consistent.
I could kick myself a few times for never getting finish photos… Not shown in the photos was the arrival of the new appropriate columns, and capitols.
Google view from 2018, shows the whole composition. What an inviting porch!
Trad Building 