Finding and Installing Cupolas in the Present

Finding and Installing Cupolas in the Present

Few homes still standing are designed with cupolas, and those with them are either green homes or historical properties. Cupolas, with straight sides and small roof pointing up into the sky, are symbolic of ascent and success, and some government buildings, such as town halls or schools, have these small towers for this purpose. Now predominately an aesthetic rather than functional feature, cupolas have a window or vent style, and if you are curious about this piece of outdoor dcor, here are some places where cupolas are found and how you can add one to your home.

Although cupolas have been seen on older European castles and churches, they are generally considered a regular fixture of pre-20th century American architecture. The first homes built with them were on the coast, and the cupola, designed with windows, was a lookout point and large enough for multiple people to fit inside. For this purpose, however, cupolas were a symbol of fate, dubbed the "widow's walk," as wives waiting for their husbands to return from sea would catch a sight of them from their homes.

Although primarily seen in New England and Mid-Atlantic cities and towns, cupolas spread inland and also southward but were not a place for watching. Rather, in the days before air conditioning, homes were designed with vents, which were added to the sides of a cupola. Air could enter and circulate throughout the house.

Although cupolas became more of a decorative fixture over the past 100 years, they have recently returned in green home design as replacements for central air conditioning. Environmentally-friendly homes are now being built with one or two cupolas, which allow air to enter and cool the home in warmer weather.

If you like the look or symbolism of a cupola, adding one does not mean demolishing part of your roof and putting together building plans. Instead, already-assembled cupolas can be purchased and installed directly onto your roof. Although you cannot walk inside one or use it for cooling, a cupola gives a roof a stately appearance from the outside.

Two types of decorative cupolas are available: vinyl and wood. The latter can be finished in a color of your choice and blends in better with your roof and the rest of the exterior of your home. Wood, however, can rot and needs maintenance. Vinyl, which can be painted but not finished, needs minimal maintenance. Both types are capped with a copper roof and are given a window or vent design.

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