The difference between a building that reads as considered and one that reads as generic often comes down to the details. Quoins at the corners, pilasters articulating the facade, cornices defining the roofline, arches framing openings — these are the elements that give a structure visual weight and character. They’re also the elements that have historically been among the most expensive and labor-intensive to specify and install.
Reinforced EPS core products from Patterson Whittaker change that calculation in meaningful ways. The same architectural details that once required heavy precast concrete, costly GFRC fabrication, or time-consuming wood millwork can now be achieved with a material that is lighter, more design-flexible, and significantly more cost-effective — without compromising the finished appearance or long-term durability.
Quoins
Quoins are the interlocking corner blocks that define and accentuate the edges of a building’s exterior. They have a long history in classical and traditional architecture, where they were used both decoratively and structurally — giving corners visual prominence and, in masonry construction, additional stability.
In contemporary construction, quoins are primarily a design element, and the challenge has always been how to achieve the look without the weight and cost of the materials traditionally used to produce it. Precast concrete quoins are heavy, require substantial structural support, and are expensive to fabricate and ship. Wood quoins require ongoing maintenance and are vulnerable to the moisture cycles that characterize most exterior environments.
Patterson Whittaker’s EPS quoins deliver the same finished appearance with a fraction of the weight and none of the maintenance concerns. The reinforced cement coating provides the hard, durable surface that makes the product suitable for exterior use on commercial and residential projects alike, while the EPS core makes handling and installation straightforward — no crane lifts, no specialized structural provisions, no extended lead times waiting for custom fabrication.
Pilasters
Pilasters are flat, column-like elements that project slightly from a wall surface, typically incorporating a base, shaft, and capital in the manner of a freestanding column. They add vertical rhythm to a facade, define bays between windows or openings, and give a building a sense of order and proportion that flat wall surfaces alone can’t achieve.
The complexity of pilasters — particularly those with detailed capitals or fluted shafts — made them expensive to produce in traditional materials. GFRC fabrication requires molds, curing time, and specialized production capacity. Stone carving is a craft-level process. Wood pilasters can achieve good results in protected exterior conditions but are limited in profile depth and long-term performance in exposed settings.
EPS core pilasters address these constraints directly. The design flexibility of the material allows for profile detail that would be cost-prohibitive in other materials. The finished surface takes paint cleanly and holds it well. The weight is a fraction of equivalent concrete or stone elements, which simplifies both shipping and installation. For architects and contractors who want to specify pilasters on projects where budget matters — which is most projects — the EPS alternative opens up design possibilities that simply weren’t practical before.
Cornices, Arches, and Beyond
Quoins and pilasters are two of the more prominent applications, but the range of architectural details achievable with Patterson Whittaker’s reinforced EPS core products extends across the full vocabulary of exterior ornamentation.
EPS cornices define the transition between wall and roof and add significant visual presence to a building’s profile — particularly on commercial facades and institutional buildings where that horizontal termination reads from a distance. EPS arches frame openings and entrances with curves that would require skilled formwork or expensive precast fabrication in concrete. EPS brackets and corbels add three-dimensional detail at eave lines, balconies, and porch structures. EPS wall panels create surface texture and pattern across larger facade areas.
What these products share across all their applications is a consistent set of characteristics that make them practical to specify and install:
- Lightweight Construction — EPS core products are a fraction of the weight of equivalent concrete, stone, or GFRC elements, which reduces shipping costs, eliminates the need for specialized structural provisions, and makes installation manageable without heavy equipment.
- Reinforced Cement Coating — The exterior surface is a hard, durable, reinforced cement finish that resists chipping and cracking and performs reliably in exterior conditions across a wide range of climates.
- Design Flexibility — Profiles can be produced in custom shapes and dimensions without the mold fabrication costs that make custom GFRC or precast concrete prohibitive on smaller projects. No molds means shorter lead times and the ability to respond to design changes without significant cost penalties.
- Consistent Surface Quality — The manufacturing process produces a uniform surface finish without the voids, surface defects, or inconsistencies that can affect cast materials.
- Broad Application Range — The same product line serves residential, commercial, and institutional projects, which means architects and contractors working across project types can work with a single supplier across their full project portfolio.
These characteristics hold across the full product range — from the smallest trim profile to large-scale cornice and wall panel applications.
What This Means for Architects and Contractors
The practical benefit of EPS core architectural products isn’t just that they’re lighter or less expensive in isolation — it’s that they make architectural detail viable on projects and budgets where it otherwise wouldn’t be specified at all. A commercial building that couldn’t support the structural requirements for precast concrete cornices can achieve the same visual result with EPS. A residential project where detailed quoins would have pushed the exterior package over budget becomes feasible.
For contractors, the installation advantages are equally significant. Lighter elements mean faster installation with smaller crews. No mold fabrication lead times mean tighter project schedules. Products that cut cleanly with standard tools and adhere with compatible adhesive systems simplify the installation process compared to alternatives that require specialized skills or equipment.
Patterson Whittaker has been supplying reinforced EPS core architectural products to architects and contractors across North America for decades. The product line covers the full range of exterior architectural detail — from standard catalog profiles to custom shapes produced to project-specific drawings.
To discuss a project or request samples and specifications, call (604) 285-6550 or reach out through the contact page. The full product range is available through the product categories page, and the ordering page covers everything you need to know to get started.
