After much anticipation, I’ve finally finished and installed the permanent cupola on the Sapia – Built, Mares Hill barn. Cupolas can be built in many different ways. To each design there is always more than one way to build it. Many typical cupolas get built in three sections, our was done in two. As seen in earlier pictures, the curb box was built during the framing of the roof at the beginning of the home.
This cupola was built to maintain a simple style seen throughout the building. The sill is formed by a 2”x12” wrapped in lead, which the walls were then framed upon. After bringing up the walls, a continuous ridge was placed from one side to the other, then completed with 2 more sections of ridge to complete it in the other direction. Roof rafters were then carefully cut to the correct angles. The roof is reinforced with steel plates holding all unto the others.
A tongue and groove ceiling that houses an electrical box for a hanging light fixture was built above the Marvin Integrity windows. Above the ceiling, we drilled a hole through the ridge to hold a 1/2” rod to be used for hoisting the cupola with a crane, but also doubling as the mounting application for the weathervane. After the ceiling work, insulation, ridge reinforcement, and threaded rod were in place, we sealed off the roof with 1/2” plywood coved with ice and water guard and aluminum flashing. From there the roof was shingled with red cedar shingles containing two courses lined with copper.
The exterior of the cupola matches the house being made of 1”x10” rough sawn ship lap pine siding. Interior trim was then made with left over rough sawn pine on the table saw and with a hand plane with a half round molding blade in it.
Once the cupola was finished being built on the ground, it was hoisted by a crane up to box on top of the roof where we set in place on silicone with 6” lag bolts. The interior of the cupola shaft was then finished with trim and touched up with necessary paint. The final touch was putting on the weathervane.
