Cupola size and style?

[glider]

I have wanted a cupola for years. Not something I see for sale locally. Was going by this formula for size. Basic vinyl shutter style with a metal roof.
Has anyone been through the process of adding a cupola to their building?

 

[Gutman]

Watching. House we bought has one on the attached garage. Even has a weathervane that appears to be aligned properly.

Only advice to you would be to wrap it or sheath it in metal or vinyl or such.

Ours appears to be plywood or some sort of wood panels. The problem is the paint needs attention, and I need to address it. I was thinking bending some metal and wrapping it, but first I've got to figure a way to get to it, as roof is steeper than I'd prefer to get at it.

 

[Stevee]

Yes, I added mine ~2 years after the fact. Knew I wanted an Azek (vinyl) one with windows so I could light it at night but could not stomach paying north of $2500 for a decoration! Then I happened to score a slightly damaged one on craigslist about an hour away from me for $650. Another ~$50 in repairs and it was like new. Installation was pretty easy (except for cutting a hole in my roof for power & access to the light bulb) as it went on in 3 pieces. And yes, I would follow the recommended formula for size. Mine looked huge on the ground, but fits the building perfectly. If I remember correctly, it is 42" on a 36ft roof.

 

[larry4406]

I had the framers build one on our barn. Made it up on the fly. If I recall its 2x2' and 2' above the peak not including the roof. The barn is 24' deep and 26' wide. Was framed, sheathed, then wrapped with ice guard at time of shingles. Later added pressure treated nailers and then trimmed in PVC.

I think it came out quite nice.

 

[yatg]

Was thinking of adding one or two to my shop when I reroof. Would make a good place to have rooftop electric, water, air outlets.

 

[dcg9381]

Here's a 2-car detached garage I did years ago... I can probably find the plans if you want to know the size...

 

[mike93lx]

Was thinking of adding one or two to my shop when I reroof. Would make a good place to have rooftop electric, water, air outlets.

Electric air and water on the roof? What for?

Feels mainly like another spot to have leaks


@larry4406 that looks great

 

[jives]

We had our put on at the time of garage building. We were given catalogs by the Amish builders for doors, windows, overhead doors, and cupolas -- Cloply I think. It looks great, though the weathervane is hard to see from the ground. Not like we would really need to look at it to tell wind direction. The cupola is functional, and when the garage ceiling gets insulated and covered it will be even more functional.

Get the biggest advised. As said in other posts, they look big on the ground, but small on the roof. You can see pics of ours in our build:

Barn-Garage-Shop-Gym-Party Pavilion

Construction on our multi-use structure began last week after a month delay. . . weather in the Northeast has been brutal. The barn/garage ("barrage") was started 5 years after we built our house because at that time we could not afford what we wanted. We wanted a garage, a workshop, a place...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[yatg]

Electric air and water on the roof? What for?

Feels mainly like another spot to have leaks

Electric - Mainly to use an electric blower to blow off the stupid pine needles.

Water - Probably not needed on this shop, but might as well while I'm at it. Maybe I'll build a platform and take an open air shower and give the neighbors a show.
At the previous house, built a small pedestal by the rooftop HVAC with electric and water.
Came in handy for washing out the condenser coils.

Air - For future work. Wish I had it now instead of having to move my portable compressor around.

Its only a few dollars in materials to run a line and put in an outlet for any of those.
Have most everything to do it on the shelf anyway.

Leak? Only if the cupola itself leaks. The outlets would be under the eave of the cupola.

 

[mike93lx]

Electric - Mainly to use an electric blower to blow off the stupid pine needles.

Water - Probably not needed on this shop, but might as well while I'm at it. Maybe I'll build a platform and take an open air shower and give the neighbors a show.
At the previous house, built a small pedestal by the rooftop HVAC with electric and water.
Came in handy for washing out the condenser coils.

Air - For future work. Wish I had it now instead of having to move my portable compressor around.

Its only a few dollars in materials to run a line and put in an outlet for any of those.
Have most everything to do it on the shelf anyway.

Leak? Only if the cupola itself leaks. The outlets would be under the eave of the cupola.

I mean the water and air line leaking.

If you are regularly going up there to blow the roof/gutters off, I would strongly recommend buying a cordless blower. It's a lot safer to not have the cord.

 

[billconner]

I helped my bil put one on. Was bought from Amish. All over material. Except for 4 screws, no roof penetration. Looked good.

 

[yatg]

I mean the water and air line leaking.

If you are regularly going up there to blow the roof/gutters off, I would strongly recommend buying a cordless blower. It's a lot safer to not have the cord.

I can see a air quick connect leaking over time, that's what they do.
But saying a faucet would leak because its up on the roof instead of being on the side of the house is silly.

Anyway, was planning on shutoff valves for both and being able to drain the water line for winter.

 

[Lassen Forge]

40-D and kinda lacy... but comfortable.

Oh, you said CupOLA... sorry!
I've always been a fan of the old Caboose Cupolas (we passed on buying a retired one, damn, another shoulda woulda, had all the goodies INCLUDING the pot belly stove and plumbable commode / shower), you get up there and you feel like the top of the world. And while small, they were pretty comfortable.

 

[mike93lx]

I can see a air quick connect leaking over time, that's what they do.
But saying a faucet would leak because its up on the roof instead of being on the side of the house is silly.

Anyway, was planning on shutoff valves for both and being able to drain the water line for winter.