
GRP Dentils & Corbels from Man Friday GRP Solutions
Dentils and corbels have long been used as traditional building items to break up large and dull looking soffits to form attractive eaves details. They are also often
found as brackets fitted to the underside of porch and door canopies.
In classical architecture a dentil (from Latin dens, dentis - a tooth) is a small block used as a repeating ornament in the mould of a cornice. In Roman architecture it was used on tombs, temples, porticos and palaces representing the reproduction of timber construction in stone. Whilst dentils are purely decorative, the term corbels refers to load bearing blocks which are then often finished in a decorative manner.
Edwardian and Victorian buildings used this classical style with great effect to emphasise their grandeur using wood, stone and, more latterly, concrete. All
these though required substantial sub-structures to carry their weight.
Today's modern materials allow us to make them in GRP, a lightweight, pre-coloured material that requires no painting and is virtually maintenance free allowing you to 'fit and forget', whilst adding elegance and sophistication to your property.
There is no fixed quantity, both large and small numbers are welcome as we manufacture to order. Our dentils are fitted with a 9mm plywood footplate which can be used
to secure to the soffit with secret screw fastenings (see our dentil fitting diagram).
Standard colour is white, although black is also popular, and we can match to any RAL or BS colour code on request.
If you are unable to find a design that is suitable for your project from our range we will produce bespoke dentils to your drawing or sample.
Dentil Cornice
The cornice is a decorative feature used to cover the joint between wall and roof whereby it forms a soffit and fascia that projects out from the eaves of a building.
Traditionally stone or plaster was used for the cornice but by manufacturing in GRP we have formed a lightweight product that does not require a substantial substructure, is therefore easy to fit, and being self-coloured, is maintenance free. Decoration of the cornice is often with breaklines, curves and motifs. The grander the building the more the decoration. Dentils and corbels are a traditional part of the decoration. By incorporating these dentils into the cornice moulding we have produced a simple product saving time and money by fitting both soffit and dentils as one piece.
Our current dentil cornice range is as listed below. We can manufacture to match any Ral or BS colour. Lengths come in 2m long with an integral overlapping joint on one end to facilitate joining. Stopends and corners can be made to order to put the finishing touches to your bespoke design.
PRODUCT | DETAIL | CODE |
---|---|---|
![]() |
Small Dentil Cornice Strip Angle strip 100mm x 60mm in 2m lengths. Dentils 83mm high x 75mm wide x 35mm depth Screw or bond into fascia board under eaves to create your own distinguished decorative cornice. Easily mitred with a hand saw to form angles and corners. |
DC01 |
![]() |
Textured Dentil Cornice Strip - View Diagram Bathstone textured finish with corbel style dentils at 225mm centre to centre spacing. Comes in 2m lengths with a jointing spigot on one end. |
DC02 |
![]() |
Smooth Dentil Cornice Strip - View Diagram Smooth surface finish with small rectangular dentils at 335mm centre to centre spacing. Comes in 2m lengths with a jointing spigot on one end. |
DC03 |
Dentils are sometimes known as Modillions which are small mouldings in an architrave to a building. They can also be described as Corbelling, Corbelled, Dentil Course, Dentil Coving, Eaves Brackets, Cornice Detail, Cornice Blocks, Eaves Mouldings, Brickwork Dentil Slips, Soffit Supports, Soffit Brackets or even Cornice Tooth Mouldings!
Useful Information
Download a dentil fixing diagram