DENTIL MOLDING- A sight of Visual Interest

When a person enters a home or an apartment which has been originally trimmed with beautiful architectural molding, for a while s/he will feels that s/he has stepped in the world of grace and timeless elegance. The architectural molding previously had been the best distinguishing highlight of the finest homes throughout the history of the world especially in the American’s history. But architectural molding is less common in the recent years because of the wide variations in new home styles. There are many types of molding available today. Among them dentil molding is one of the most common type which are found in homes today.


Dentil molding is common in the Corinthian architecture. Generally as a fanciful millwork this type of molding is basically nailed along with the fascia. Sometimes this type of molding can be used in a traditional home beneath the cornice. Sometimes it may also be installed as a crown molding type of a ceiling of the room around the perimeter.

Dentil molding around
the corner of a house

Before the start of discussion about dentil molding at the term dentil and dentil molding should be understood separately.

A dentil is mainly a type of series which is closely spaced. It is a rectangular blocks which form a molding called dentil molding. The term ‘dentil’ comes from the Latin word ‘dent’ which means ‘tooth’.

Usually dentil molding projects under the cornice, together with the roofline of the building. The most unique feature of it is that it can easily form the decorative band anywhere on the total structure. This gives decorative trim to the house.

First introduced in the 16^th century in the France, dentil molding is now a common feature of homes all over the world. In the past the dentil molding was made tediously. It was made piece by piece. The raw materials were wood and plaster. Still today wood and plaster are its main material and it is also made in the same way as it was made in the past. But because of the technological improvement we can get the same look in a very short span of time. Today one can buy the lengths polyurethane foam of single piece or the vinyl molding to get advantage. These molding are more affordable as well as less prone to decay.