Wood-Cornice
Restoration, Part II
by Larry Jones
Decorative wood trim and moldings
often warp and pull away from the
surface of the cornice. Nails rust off
or the wood decays around the
fasteners, allowing them to pull out.
Loose trim can often be reattached
after you clean out the debris behind
it. After removing the trim, cut the
remaining original nails and
reposition the piece. If you use nails
to reattach the trim, blunt their ends
or predrill pilot holes to reduce the
chances of splitting. Renail through
new holes in sound wood.
Use only high-quality, long-lasting
fasteners to reattach loose pieces:
Hot-dipped galvanized finishing
nails, or brass or stainless-steel
marine wood screws.
Self-starting drywall screws. These
can rust, so use