Corbels Guide

Corbels and brackets have been utilized in many types and styles of architecture. Colonial homes and public buildings are a good example of this. Colonial buildings are often covered in decorative corbels and stylish brackets. Victorian architecture also used these elements to much acclaim. Their use went out of style for about a century, but then came back strong in the late 20th century with Craftsman style homes. These elements often appear in the eves of Craftsman houses. You’ll still find them being used today in new construction, as well, though not as often as in the past. Today, people want features that are more functional than decorative.

However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t still a place for corbels and brackets in the world of modern architecture. The crash of the housing market has actually had a hand in bringing them back into style. With fewer people buying houses, and even fewer building new ones, architects and designers have had to get competitive with each other by increasing the curb appeal–the outward appearance–of their houses. Using decorative elements on the facade of the house is one way of accomplishing this.
Fortunately, it’s also much cheaper to make corbels and brackets for decorative purposes than it used to be. They aren’t all hand–forged anymore. Instead, they’re made from PVC materials and are often hollowed out to make them more lightweight and economical. If they’re solid, they can be a bit more expensive, but less likely to blow over in a hurricane. The modern versions are non-structural, meaning they’re not weight-bearing. They’re simply attached to the outside of the home to look pretty.

However, they’re modern PVC construction essentially means they’ll last forever. They won’t rust like antique versions, and corrosion is a practical impossibility. These new models can be mass produced quickly and easily, for very little money, so their comeback on the architectural scene may be a trend that sticks around for quite a while. If you’re a fan of architectural beauty and decorative elements with no real function other than being pleasing to the eye, this should be good news for you.