Much of New York City's pre-war character lives in its terra cotta — the ornate fired-clay cornices, surrounds, and medallions that crown older facades. When that ornament fails, Mohan's Precast reproduces it in matched cast stone, restoring both the look and the durability of the original.
Why Terra Cotta Fails
Architectural terra cotta was used across NYC from roughly the 1880s through the 1930s. Over time, the glaze crazes, units spall and crack, and the internal metal anchors corrode and expand — pushing pieces loose. On buildings over six stories, these conditions become the "unsafe" and "SWARMP" findings documented during Local Law 11 / FISP facade inspections, which means the ornament has to be repaired or replaced.
How We Replicate Terra Cotta
We reproduce deteriorated terra cotta ornament in cast stone, cast from custom molds built from the original unit, a physical sample, or drawings. The replacement is matched in profile, texture, and color so it blends with the surrounding original facade. Cast stone gives the new units a dense, low-permeability body engineered for New York's freeze-thaw climate — so the restored ornament holds up through future inspection cycles.
What We Reproduce
- Cornices and projecting facade ornament
- Window and door surrounds
- Medallions, cartouches and decorative panels
- Belt courses, coping and trim
- Custom ornamental units matched to the original
Built for Landmark & FISP Work
Replication is matching work: a replacement that doesn't blend is as much a problem as the damage it fixes. We build custom molds and color-match each unit to the original terra cotta for Landmarks Preservation Commission and historic-district restorations, and we supply the matched pieces — with shop drawings for approval — to the restoration contractors handling the facade. Mohan's is an approved precast vendor for major NYC agencies.
