Concrete Corbels and Decorative Beams: Guide for Eaves and Porches
An eave with corbels has a traditional-house look that is hard to achieve any other way. The drawback of real timber is well known: sun, rain and damp punish it, and it needs stains and repainting. Concrete corbels and decorative beams with a wood texture solve the look without the upkeep. In this guide we go through Vetonek's four corbels, three panels and the curved ceiling unit, with their real dimensions and weights, and how to choose for your eaves, porch or facade.
What a corbel is and what it is for
The corbel is the beam end that projects under the eaves or cornice. On a traditional house it supports or accompanies the roof overhang; on a modern home it is usually a decorative element that sets the rhythm of the facade. The corbels in our range are solid pieces of decorative concrete with an Oregon wood texture and colour. According to their data sheets, they are water-repellent treated, suitable for permanent outdoor exposure (including rainy and frosty areas) and can be used indoors and outdoors.
It is worth being clear from the start: these are decorative pieces. What substrate receives them, how much overhang they allow and how they are anchored to the wall is for the project technician to decide, not the catalogue.
Concrete corbels: four profiles
All four come in two lengths, 100 and 120 cm, and in Oregon colour. What changes is the profile and the section:
- Fitero corbel: carved beam end with a classic profile, 8.5 × 17.5 cm section. Weighs 28 kg (100 cm) or 35 kg (120 cm).
- Nalda corbel: straight, plain profile, 8.5 × 12.5 cm section. With its slim section, it weighs 23 kg (100 cm) or 28 kg (120 cm).
- Albelda corbel: traditional carving with pronounced grain, 11 × 15 cm section. Weighs 22 kg (100 cm) or 28 kg (120 cm).
- Sorzano corbel: sturdy 12 × 14.5 cm section, designed for deep overhangs and stone facades. Weighs 27 kg (100 cm) or 33 kg (120 cm).
Wood-effect panels: the complete eave
Between one corbel and the next, the traditional eave is closed with boards. For that soffit boarding there are three panels in the same wood-textured concrete:
- Hormilla panel: 3.5 × 40 × 70 cm and 20 kg per piece, in Oregon. Used for boarding eaves over corbels, slab fronts and undersides, and porch ceilings.
- Hormilla corner panel: 3.5 × 40 × 100 cm and 30 kg, with the angle already formed to turn the corner of the eave without mitre cuts. Available in Oregon and Grey.
- Hormilla front panel: 2.5 × 17.5 × 61.5 cm and only 6 kg, to finish the edge of the slab or the eave. Oregon colour.
Canillas curved ceiling unit: the vaulted ceiling between beams
If you are after the ceiling of a wine cellar or country house, the Canillas curved ceiling unit (revoltón) is a curved concrete piece of 14 × 65 × 25 cm and 11 kg that rests between beams or corbels and forms the vaulted infill between them. It comes in Sand, White, Cream, Grey and Salmon, and its data sheet lists it for indoor use and covered outdoor use. It works well on porches and summer houses with exposed beams, and pairing a light vault unit with a dark corbel is what gives the ceiling its traditional look.
How to choose: profile, section, length and weight
- Profile: the Fitero and Albelda are carved; the Nalda is straight and suits plain facades or new builds better; the Sorzano stands out for its section.
- Length: 100 or 120 cm depending on the eave overhang. The hidden part is built into or rests on the wall, so allow for it when setting out.
- Weight: from 22 to 35 kg per corbel. This is key to deciding how it is handled, propped and anchored.
- Spacing: the data sheets say that traditional eaves usually have 60 to 90 cm between centres.
- Overall look: if you will clad the eave, choose corbels and panels in the same Oregon colour, or the corner in Grey if you want contrast.
Installation and fixing: what the data sheets say
- Set out the spacing between corbels and mark the bearing in the wall.
- Bed each piece in high-strength mortar or with a chemical anchor and threaded rod, depending on the substrate.
- Prop until fully set and check the level and projection of each corbel.
- For the panels, bed them in high-strength mortar or fix them mechanically depending on the substrate; the lighter front panel accepts C2 flexible tile adhesive or high-adhesion mortar.
A warning from the data sheets themselves: with pieces weighing tens of kilos, the corbel works by weight and anchoring, not by glue, so do not rely on tile adhesive alone. For the right substrate, resin and rod, consult your project's technician.
If you are planning the whole facade, also see our guides to reconstituted stone cladding, wood-effect stone cladding and corners, mouldings and cornices.
You can see the whole range in the Prefabricated concrete and Roofing and Roof Accessories collections.
Frequently asked questions
What is a corbel?
It is the beam end that projects under the eaves or cornice. At Vetonek they are solid pieces of decorative concrete with an Oregon wood texture and colour, for indoor and outdoor use.
Which length and section should I choose?
All four models come in 100 and 120 cm, with sections from 8.5 × 12.5 cm (Nalda) to 12 × 14.5 cm (Sorzano). Choose the length according to the eave overhang and the section according to the presence you want on the facade.
How is a concrete corbel fixed?
The data sheets list high-strength mortar or a chemical anchor with threaded rod, with propping until set. You should not rely on tile adhesive alone; for your specific substrate, consult the project technician.
Can they be used indoors and outdoors?
Yes. The corbels and panels are listed for indoor and outdoor use, and the Canillas curved ceiling unit for indoor and covered outdoor use.
What is the difference between a corbel and a panel?
The corbel is the beam end that projects under the eave; the panel is the flat piece that lines the soffit between corbels, the slab edge or the porch ceiling. They are combined to form a complete eave.
To get started, take a look at the Fitero corbel, the Nalda corbel and the Hormilla panel.
