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Our Outstanding Quality and Customer Service Sets Us Apart!

7/27/2018

Adding a cupola to your home should be a fun, enjoyable experience. At Valley Forge Cupolas, we are passionate about high-quality, beautifully designed cupolas. We are happy to share our expertise with our customers, providing them with outstanding one-on-one customer service that makes selecting the right cupola a breeze. With our commitment to excellence, quality and customer satisfaction, you can be certain you are getting the right product at the right price.

If you are looking for a unique cupola, Beverly, our Cupola Specialist, can design the perfect custom cupola for your home. Simply e-mail us a photo of your home, garage, outbuilding, or architect’s rendering, and Beverly will design the perfect crowning accent for your home! We even offer FREE digital quotes so that you can visualize exactly how your custom cupola will look once installed. This helps you make well informed decisions about the size of your cupola, its shape, or how many cupolas to place on an extended roofline. You can view samples of Beverly’s work here, and photos can be sent to [email protected].

We Love Hearing from Our Satisfied Customers!

“Valley Forge Cupolas had a wide variety to choose from and they helped us select the right size for our pavilion project. Quick and friendly service. It was a very positive experience.” - Robert L.

“Our family purchased a cupola from Valley Forge Cupolas and couldn't be happier. Beverly helped us make the proper design decision and was instrumental in selecting the proper size for our home. We're thrilled with the results!” - Matt T.

“Professional, knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with! Prompt delivery and outstanding quality. Very responsive to questions and follow-up. Will recommend to friends and family. Well done Rick and Beverly!!” - Nancy & Jim S.

“Would highly recommend this company - a lovely cupola addition to our barn! They value their customers and will go the extra mile to ensure 100% satisfaction. Would use them again - perhaps a small cupola for our pool house!” - Katie P.

High-Quality Cupolas that Last a Lifetime

Our cupolas are built by Pennsylvania craftsmen using only the best, most durable materials. From Azek vinyl to 24-gauge copper, our cupolas are designed to withstand the elements for decades with minimal maintenance. We also offer a host of customization options to create a truly unique look that is the perfect complement to your home or outbuilding. To order one of our beautiful cupolas, call us today at 866-400-1776.

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The Elegant Tradition of Horse Weathervanes

7/19/2018

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Weathervanes have been providing valuable weather information to farmers for hundreds of years. In Europe, weathervanes were commonly found on the highest building or church tower in town, but farmsteads in America were much more widespread, so farmers began putting weathervanes on their own barns. It became popular to customize weathervanes to reflect a family tradition or prized stock, such as horses, chickens, and pigs. Horse weathervanes were especially popular in the West where horses were necessary to the way of life.

Horse weathervanes gained widespread fame during the mid 19th century thanks to the immense popularity of horse racing at the time. Lithograph prints of racehorses were sold as household decorations, with one of the most famous racehorses at the time - Black Hawk - serving as the inspiration for some of the most popular Currier & Ives prints of all time. Race track betting was a regular American pastime, and harness racing could be found at every agricultural fair. Racehorses were the sports stars of their day, and the public couldn’t get enough of weathervanes made in their image.

The glorious tradition of horse weathervanes continues today, with many designs that mimic classic designs of the 19th century. At Valley Forge Cupolas, we have 13 beautiful horse weathervane designs to choose from, whether you are looking to grace your barn, shed, or home with one of these beauties.

Our Horse Weathervanes Will Prance Their Way Into Your Heart

This classic design is made in the tradition of 19th-century weathervane maker A. L. Jewell, who would construct his horses so that the foreleg formed part of the post. This elegant thoroughbred is available in both polished or patinated copper.

Part of our Smithsonian Collection, this petite design is perfect for sheds, garages, and smaller cupolas. Let this majestic horse run free above your home!

Another variation of early horse weathervane designs, this fine creature is modeled after the famous racehorse Ethan Allen. Also available in polished or patina finishes, this durable copper weathervane will grace your home for decades to come.

Mane and tail flying in the wind, you can just picture this horse racing free across the wide open plains! Capture the freedom of the West with this beautiful weathervane.

If you need a larger weathervane to enhance a long roofline, such as a barn or stable, we offer two horse weathervanes that take adorning large buildings in stride. The weathervane on the left incorporates an arrow into the design to make reading wind direction easier, while the racer on the right makes a bold statement in polished or patinated copper.

Our smallest horse weathervane design, this spritely racer is perfect for flying above a garden, shed, or small detached garage.

Bring a Traditional Horse Weathervane Home Today!

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How to Choose a Cupola Design as Unique as You

7/13/2018

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When it comes to choosing the perfect cupola design for your home, it is easy to be overwhelmed by the possibilities. But if you break down cupola design into specific elements, you can identify the design elements that speak to you. You can then either use your list to narrow down your options, or use it to build your own perfect custom cupola!

The 5 Basic Elements of Cupola Design

Dimensions: size and shape - While the width of your cupola will be determined by the size of your roof, its height is much more flexible, depending on your taste. You may prefer a shorter, low-profile look, or you may want a tall cupola that will rise from your roof like a graceful spire. The middle portion of the cupola (known as the “vents”) is where most of the height will be added, but elongated roofs and taller bases can also be used to add height. Lastly, you must decide on the shape of the cupola itself: traditional 4-sided cupolas can add flair to any architecture, and octagonal cupolas add visual texture and interest to rooflines.
Vents: practicality in design - Cupolas consist of three portions: the base, the vents, and the roof. Vents can either be windows, louvers, or a combination of both. The vents are arguably the most noticeable portion of a cupola, but their function is as important as their design. Louvers are perfect for adding ventilation to otherwise closed spaces, while windows bring in natural light to illuminate an area.
Roof style and finish - Cupola roofs are available in a variety of shapes, from straight to concave to bell-shaped. You can select a style that mimics the shape of your roofline, or one that adds a contrasting design. The majority of our cupola roofs are made from durable 24-gauge copper, and you can choose between a polished or patinated finish. We also offer aluminum or steel roofs for specific applications.
Material - Our cupolas are made from durable Azek vinyl or beautiful Western Red Cedar, and our roofs and bases are available in stunning copper or durable metal. Our beautiful cedar cupolas are perfect for gazebos, cabins, and rustic architecture. Azek vinyl is built to last with no maintenance, and can be painted to match any exterior. Our metal cupolas are also available in a variety of colors to complement any color scheme.
Final accents - The finishing touches you choose for your cupola are what pull the entire design together and create a one-of-a-kind look. These include:

Keystone accents
Dentil or custom molding
Copper accents
Standing seam on the roof
Window grids and louver cutouts
Shiplap or board and batten bases

If you’re ready to create the cupola of your dreams, call the cupola design experts at Valley Forge Cupolas today! 866-400-1776

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Roof Finials Accent Architecture

7/5/2018

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Roof finials, with their smooth edges and romantic European flair, are a great way to add a distinctive flourish to any building. Finials help to emphasize the apex of a roof, gable, spire, cupola, or any other distinctive element at the top, end, or corner of a structure. While commonly mounted to cupola roofs to emphasize the height of a building, roof finials look equally magnificent when mounted to roof peaks, highlighting architectural designs.

Choosing the Right Roof Finial for Your Home

The first step in selecting a roof finial is deciding what size finial is right for your home. This is not as straightforward as sizing a cupola because, in addition to roof height and length, you must also account for distance perspective and its effect on how big or small an object looks from a distance and at an angle. The scale of a structure will ultimately determine the proper size of a roof finial. For cupolas, most small to standard-sized finials will fit all full-sized cupolas. For cupolas over 42”, you may want to consider a medium to large finial. If this feels overwhelming, never fear: the experts at Valley Forge Cupolas can help you determine the perfect finial height range for your home to ensure you achieve the desired effect.

Secondly, you must choose a style and finish. We have 16 styles to choose from, all of which are available in a polished copper finish that will develop a beautiful patina over time. Select styles also offer verdigris, brass, black matte, and black gloss finishes that will add charm and personality to your home. Our styles are inspired by Arthurian legend, classic Smithsonian and Boston designs, even the pagoda temples of Japan. From our 13” Avalon finial to the 40” Aragon finial, there is something for everyone.

Finials are the Perfect Finishing Flourish

Finials have been a prominent architectural design element since 711 A.D. They were first popular in Asia, where they were used to ornament pagodas (sacred buildings with upward-curving roofs). Roof finials saw a resurgence of popularity during the Victorian and Gothic eras, and are enjoying a revival in modern times.
Designed to match Old World styles and craftsmanship, our exquisite handcrafted roof finials will provide a stunning focal point to your home for years to come. If you’re looking to add flair to your home, call us at 866-400-1776 today.

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Our Outstanding Quality and Customer Service Sets Us Apart!

We Love Hearing from Our Satisfied Customers!

High-Quality Cupolas that Last a Lifetime

The Elegant Tradition of Horse Weathervanes

Our Horse Weathervanes Will Prance Their Way Into Your Heart

Bring a Traditional Horse Weathervane Home Today!

How to Choose a Cupola Design as Unique as You

The 5 Basic Elements of Cupola Design

Roof Finials Accent Architecture

Choosing the Right Roof Finial for Your Home

Finials are the Perfect Finishing Flourish

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