Rake A
rake is an architectural term for an eave or cornice that runs along the
gable of the roof of a modern residential structure. It may also be called a
sloping cornice, a
raking cornice. The trim and rafters at this edge are called
rakes,
rake board,
rake fascia,
verge-boards,
barge-boards or
verge- or
barge-rafters. It is a sloped timber on the outside facing edge of a
roof running between the
ridge and the
eave. On a typical house, any gable will have two rakes, one on each sloped side. The rakes are often supported by a series of
lookouts (sometimes also called
strong arms) and may be trimmed with a
rake fascia board (which is not a true
fascia) on the outside facing edge and a
rake soffit along the bottom.
Types The cornices of a modern residential building will usually be one of three types: a
box cornice, a
close or
closed cornice, or an
open cornice.
Box cornice Box cornices enclose the cornice of the building with what is essentially a long, narrow box. A box cornice may further be divided into either the
narrow box cornice or the
wide box cornice type. A narrow box cornice is one in which "the projection of the rafter serves as a nailing surface for the soffit board as well as the fascia trim." The cavetto cornice, often forming less than a quarter-circle, influenced Egypt's neighbours and as well as appearing in early
Ancient Greek architecture, it is seen in Syria and
ancient Iran, for example at the
Tachara palace of
Darius I at
Persepolis, completed in 486 BC. Inspired by this precedent, it was then revived by
Ardashir I (r. 224–41 AD), the founder of the
Sasanian dynasty. The cavetto took the place of the cymatium in many
Etruscan temples, often painted with vertical "tongue" patterns, and combined with the distinctive "Etruscan round moulding", often painted with scales. A typical example may be seen at the
reconstructed Etruscan temple at
Villa Giulia. Additional more obscure varieties of cornice include the
architrave cornice,
bracketed cornice, and
modillion cornice.
Cornice return A
cornice return is an architectural detail that occurs where a roof's horizontal cornice connects to a gable's rake. ==As window treatment==