Dumb cupola question

[Samh]

Thinking about building/installing a cupola(s) on the barn build for ridge ventilation. In everything I see, it always shows installing it after the roofing has been installed, and cutting back the material. Was wondering if that is the way to do it on new construction or not. My initial thought would it would be similar to framing a chimney through the roof.

Thanks in advance.

 

[rburke65]

Like shingles I assume....start at the bottom and work to the top, so it seems like it might be the last item.

 

[rayra]

I think it would depend if it is just passive ventilation or operable from below / remote.

 

[Kaizen]

Yes similar to chimney. They are a lot of weight though so account for it when doing the roof framing calcs. If you have a crane you can do it in the ground and install in one piece. Otherwise build it In sections. Size imo is important. I was going to do one on mine and found calcs that had it at one foot for every ten feet of the roof. Screen it to keep out bugs. Those things **** out huge amount of air so very good at cooling. Flash it over the roof material.


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[kaymccampbell]

Make it out of treated. Every stick of it. Or you'll spend your life nursing it.

 

[MushCreek]

Subscribed. I want to put a cupola on my barn, but I'm trying to figure out how to do it without going out on the roof. It's a metal roof and a 7/12 pitch. The 5/12 roof on my house gives me the willies, so I can't imagine going up on the barn roof, 27' off of the ground. I've figured out how to do the walls, but the roof of the cupola has me stumped so far. The best thing I've thought of so far is to build a LONG ramp, and winch the finished roof up from the outside. Set it up on the walls, and fasten from the inside. Or just see how much a crane operator would charge. Last time I hired one for a one hour minimum, it was $115- probably well worth it.

 

[mike93lx]

Subscribed. I want to put a cupola on my barn, but I'm trying to figure out how to do it without going out on the roof. It's a metal roof and a 7/12 pitch. The 5/12 roof on my house gives me the willies, so I can't imagine going up on the barn roof, 27' off of the ground. I've figured out how to do the walls, but the roof of the cupola has me stumped so far. The best thing I've thought of so far is to build a LONG ramp, and winch the finished roof up from the outside. Set it up on the walls, and fasten from the inside. Or just see how much a crane operator would charge. Last time I hired one for a one hour minimum, it was $115- probably well worth it.

Is this serious? You would rig up some ridiculous ramp to try and set a cupola 2+ stories off the ground over hiring a crane for a couple hundred bucks?

 

[pontiacjeff]

We put ours up much like a chimeney. Flash and shingle around it good to go.

 

[MushCreek]

I'm a really, really stubborn DIY'er.

 

[chargermann]

...Samh, what size cupola are you considering? Utilize the many cupola web sites for proper sizing to match your building. Depending on its size, finish & price, I would think about preparing (including painting) it on the ground (in sections), than as I did, assemble and finish on the rooftop.
My outbuilding has a 6/12 roof pitch and at my age, things get shaky up there. This was manageable by lifting up the separate sections and simply assembling, fastening and sealing.

 

[Dumber than lumber]

The cupola on house where I grew up is sheet metal. Galvanized
55 years old and still solid. Seems like a low maintenance way to go.
YMMV

 

[Samh]

...Samh, what size cupola are you considering? Utilize the many cupola web sites for proper sizing to match your building. Depending on its size, finish & price, I would think about preparing (including painting) it on the ground (in sections), than as I did, assemble and finish on the rooftop.
My outbuilding has a 6/12 roof pitch and at my age, things get shaky up there. This was manageable by lifting up the separate sections and simply assembling, fastening and sealing.

Trying to follow the 1" per foot recommendation, but splitting that into 3 cupolas. so probably 25"-30" for each. I am still in the roof sheathing process, so I would frame it out on the roof.

 

[Stuart in MN]

We put ours up much like a chimeney. Flash and shingle around it good to go.

Seems like the most appropriate way to do it to me.


If I had a cupola, I'd include an access ladder inside so I could get up there and sit inside it. If you have windows like that way up high, you may as well use them.

 

[captain14]

^^^^This^^^

Then make if big enough for a seat so you can relax and enjoy the view.

Don’t some cupolas have light mounted inside ?

 

[K'ledgeBldr]

I've seen it done several ways-

Prefab
Build in-place
Build on-site, lift into place

You didn't mention the type of roofing material you're going to be using- so that could make quite a bit of difference. I've seen prefab/on-site builds go up on steel roofs with just weatherstripping on the bottom edge- clean/tight and done. A shingle roof would must likely require traditional flashing- but I'd probably get creative with the step-flashing and hide it behind a trim broad (pre-built/prefab). Built in-place would just follow "critical path".

 

[Kaizen]

Trying to follow the 1" per foot recommendation, but splitting that into 3 cupolas. so probably 25"-30" for each. I am still in the roof sheathing process, so I would frame it out on the roof.

That would look strange imo. Like 3 little chimneys.


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[TurnipTruck]

Does anyone have condensation problems with a cupola in a cold climate?

 

[MushCreek]

I finally figured out how to weatherproof a cupola without having to go out on the roof. I'm going to put a raised curb around the opening, maybe 4" tall, and flash/waterproof that to the existing metal roofing. Then the cupola will fit over that like a boat hatch. Secure the cupola, and you're done. I'm still trying to figure out if I can build the cupola in place, or if it would be easier to have a crane lift the completed unit into place. The tricky part is releasing the lifting apparatus, but if I build it with operable windows, I can just open the window and reach out. I like the idea of windows and a light- it would look like a little lighthouse.

 

[Samh]

That would look strange imo. Like 3 little chimneys.


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

The thing that made me think of 3, was this pic.

And I thought it would look good if there was 1 over each wall section between each garage door.

What I'll probably do, is frame the first one in the middle, and see how it looks

 

[Kaizen]

The thing that made me think of 3, was this pic.

And I thought it would look good if there was 1 over each wall section between each garage door.

What I'll probably do, is frame the first one in the middle, and see how it looks

That does look cool. Bet that's at an expensive riding place.
Guessing that barn is 80x40 or so. And the cuppolas match that scale with their size. At some point as the size decreases it has to reach a point that doesnt make sense. Maybe a 3x3 and two 2x2's would be ok. Or might be too much. The height and the swooping roofs on the pictured ones give them their own presence and the way it eases the shingles into the barn roof makes it not look stuck on after the fact.

 

[spudley]

I finally figured out how to weatherproof a cupola without having to go out on the roof. I'm going to put a raised curb around the opening, maybe 4" tall, and flash/waterproof that to the existing metal roofing. Then the cupola will fit over that like a boat hatch. Secure the cupola, and you're done. I'm still trying to figure out if I can build the cupola in place, or if it would be easier to have a crane lift the completed unit into place. The tricky part is releasing the lifting apparatus, but if I build it with operable windows, I can just open the window and reach out. I like the idea of windows and a light- it would look like a little lighthouse.

That's my plan, but I'm thinking about 12" above the peak as northern Wisconsin gets a fair amount of snow. I left an unshingled opening on my build (covered by two layers of synthetic underlay). Now I'm ready for the "promised" cupola/observation tower/grandkids playhouse which I plan to build in the garage, disassemble and reassemble on the roof in manageable sections. Maybe...
Of course, no cupola is complete without a weather vane, and unless I win the lottery, I not going with copper roofing.
Glad to see this thread and the many replies, my wife thinks I lost my mind!