match for a Patch

A layered cornice and deep window casings add depth and classical proportion to a projecting bay with multiple windows and mullions.

eed to Sometimes called a profile comb or moulding profiler, a contour gauge is a row of steel or plastic pins, held parallel and tightly packed together inside a housing. The gauge permits each pin to move independently within the same plane. When shopping for a match for existing mouldings, take the tool with you to the store. • For best results, that’s free of excess paint. Gently push the needles in by hand to capture every contour. Lock the gauge and lay it on a piece of paper to trace. To make a patch, trace the profile on both ends of a piece of suitably sized stock lumber, which then can be planed, carved, or otherwise shaped to replicate the original moulding. Once the patch is in place, sand or file it to remove variations between the new and old moulding. Fill any gaps with caulk.