What is a Cupola?

Even though they appear on houses throughout the country, many people would be hard pressed to accurately describe a cupola. Cupolas are in the building peak family, along with belfries, turrets, spires, and towers, and while many people lament the condition of bats in your belfry, a perhaps equally common malady perhaps is crows in your cupola.

 

Technically, cupolas are ornamental structures at the top of a large roof or dome, and at times the entire building itself is known as a cupola. Cupolas are most easily recognized, however, by their shape rather than by their purpose or position. They have a slanted multi-faced top that draws up to a peak. For the most part, this cooper roof sits atop a square wooden base, but in small buildings, such as gazebos, the entire ceiling of the building draws up to a peak and thus is known as a cupola. 

 

Traditionally, however, cupolas are self-contained structures that are one to three feet wide and rise only a few feet above the roof of a building. Often confused with birdfeeders and often merely the base for a weathervane, cupolas are ornamental decorations in their own right.

 

In addition, even these basic cupolas can serve more purposes than merely ornamentation. Most cupolas have louvers on each side and thus can serve as air vents for your home or building. In addition, some cupolas also have windows, which provide extra light to your home. Finally, a few cupolas are accessible from the inside and can provide added headroom for an attic or loft.

 

Most cupola have wooden bases (often made from pine or cedar) and have a copper top. They are virtually maintenance free and can be a favorite decoration of your home for years to come.