Valley Forge Cupolas and Weathervanes 866-400-1776
Follow Us On Social Media!
  • Home
    • About Us
  • Specials
    • Architect's Page
    • CNC Window Special
    • Mailboxes, Lanterns & Posts
    • Luxury Gathering Series >
      • Fire Pits & Chairs
      • Accessories
      • Sets
  • Gallery
    • Garages
    • Barn Cupolas
  • Cupolas
    • Louver Cupolas (1-10)
    • Window Cupolas (11-20)
    • Signature Series (38-44)
    • Estate/Select Series (45-57)
    • Gazebo Cupolas (58-62)
    • Metal Cupolas (64-68)
    • Wood/Shed Cupolas (69-87)
    • PVC-Cedar (70-72)
    • Cupola Lanterns
  • Weathervanes
    • Sealife
    • Boats
    • Flying Birds
    • Running Animals
    • Finials & Arrows
    • Novelty Weathervanes
    • Smaller
    • Accessories
  • Custom
    • Custom Cupolas (21-37)+ >
      • Four Sides (21-29)
      • Six Sides (30-37)
      • Royal Crowne Custom (RC 1-12)
    • Custom Cupola Installation
    • VF Custom Designs
  • Shop Now
  • Contact
    • Cupola Sizing Charts
    • Installation
    • Contractors & Developers >
      • Just Completed in Sulphur Springs, Texas (February 2019)
      • Just Completed in Scarsdale, NY (January 2018)
    • Testimonials
    • Cupola Shop Visit
    • Blog
    • Partners
    • About Us

Cupolas: the Best Winter Chicken Coop Ventilation

10/24/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
As we draw closer to winter, chicken coop ventilation becomes increasingly important to the health of your flock. The age-old advice is that "chicken coops should be draft-free, but well-ventilated". Let's discuss this apparent contradiction in terms, and why a cupola is the best winter chicken coop ventilation.

Drafts vs. Ventilation

When it comes to chicken coops, a draft typically refers to air coming in through openings, cracks, or crevices down near the floor of the coop, while ventilation refers to openings higher in the coop (typically windows or vents under the eaves). Think of a draft as air that moves briskly and horizontally through the coop, while ventilation is air that moves slowly and vertically. 

Drafts are welcome in the summer as they help keep birds cool, but come winter they can pose a serious hazard to your flock. In the winter, drafts suck the heat out of your coop. Your birds will need to eat more food to stay warm and older birds could get sick and die. But while you want to eliminate drafts in the winter, making your coop completely air-tight leads to other problems.

Why is Ventilation Important?

Chickens generate a lot of water vapor, both through their breath and their droppings. This water vapor tends to make the coop humid, and high humidity (particularly in cold weather) makes chickens more susceptible to respiratory illness and frostbite. Ventilation removes the humidity from the coop, keeping your birds healthy. Chickens can withstand surprisingly cold temperatures as long as the air is dry.
​

Chicken droppings also produce ammonia fumes, which can damage your chickens' respiratory tracts at fairly low levels. Because chickens are close to the ground (where high concentrations of the fumes are initially located) you will want to vent the ammonia as quickly as possible. Ammonia fumes are lighter than air, so ventilation near the roof of the coop allows them to rise and exit the coop. In high humidity, however, ammonia vapors are actually heavier than air and will settle on the ground instead of rising. Openings under the eaves and in the roof allow humid air to escape as cross breezes draw in fresh air. The more time your chickens spend in the coop, the more important it is to supply good ventilation.

Cupolas: the Perfect Chicken Coop Ventilation

Picture
Your winter chicken coop ventilation should be above the level of the chickens' heads when they are asleep on the roosting bars. A cupola is an easy, effective, and beautiful way to increase your coop's ventilation. Putting a louver cupola on your chicken coop adds much needed ventilation while protecting your flock from predators and the elements. 
​

At Valley Forge Cupolas, all of our cupolas are built by Pennsylvania craftsmen using high-quality, durable materials that are designed to last a lifetime with minimal maintenance. We can customize a cupola to meet your specific needs and designs, such as extending the height of the louvers for increased ventilation. Keep your flock healthy and happy this winter with a cupola from Valley Forge Cupolas: 800-466-1776.
0 Comments

Custom Built Cupolas to Complement Your Home

10/18/2019

1 Comment

 
Picture
Finding the perfect cupola for your home can be difficult: you scroll through stock cupolas and see plenty that are close to what you want, but there’s one or two elements that keep it from being just right. But with a custom built cupola from Valley Forge Cupolas, you can finally have the cupola of your dreams! From top to bottom, nearly every aspect of a cupola can be customized, allowing you to create a truly one-of-a-kind look for your home.

Designing a Custom Built Cupola with Valley Forge Cupolas

At Valley Forge Cupolas we love helping our clients create custom masterpieces! We help you determine what size cupola you need and walk you through all the customization options to help you craft a cupola that is just right for your home. For example, do you want the base to be plain, or do you want shiplap or custom molding? Perhaps you want the base to be copper or metal to match the roof? You can add custom molding or arches to the louvers or windows, or opt for a taller vent section for extra height. No matter what style you have in mind, our cupola specialists can help make it a reality.

Custom Built Cupola Examples from Our Portfolio

Picture
For this stunning 50' cedar barn, two 30" cedar cupolas tie perfectly into the overall design. The customer chose Board & Batten bases to complement the vertical lines of the cedar siding and metal roof. The polished copper provides a stunning contrast, while the concave cupola roof mimics the angles on the barn roof.
Picture
This 48" wide Concave with Double Windows style cupola is the crowning glory of this 40' garage. The double windows of the cupola echo the double windows on the doors below, and a matching "X" has been added to the cupola base. The cupola was also painted to match the garage, complete with green trim. Vinyl cupolas can be easily painted to match any home.
Picture
We custom build cupolas for commercial buildings as well! This Horse Training Center in Texas needed 5 custom built cupolas for the new barns they were erecting. They sent us their architect's renderings, and our skilled Pennsylvania craftsmen built the cupolas to the required specs. Above you can see three of the cupolas, ranging from 48" to 72" wide. The custom design incorporates both windows and louvers based on the client's need for more light and ventilation inside the barns.

Order Your Custom Built Cupola from Valley Forge Cupolas!

As a family-owned and -operated business, we pride ourselves on quality and customer satisfaction. That is why all of our cupolas are built by skilled craftsmen using high-quality materials. Our cupolas are built to last! And with our custom digital quotes, you don't have to worry about whether or not the cupola will meet your expectations. Simply send a photo of your building to [email protected] and we will show you exactly how your cupola will look on your new home.
​

Call us today at 866-400-1776 and turn your cupola dreams into a reality!
1 Comment

Halloween-Themed Weathervanes from Valley Forge Cupolas

10/11/2019

1 Comment

 
The leaves are starting to change, Jack-o-lanterns are dotting every doorstep, and soon children (and adults!) will be donning costumes to celebrate the spookiest of holidays: Halloween! Whether you're someone who likes to decorate your entire yard, or you prefer to keep your decorations to a minimum, a Halloween-themed weathervane is the perfect addition to your display! At Valley Forge Cupolas, our extensive weathervane catalog includes several designs that would be happy to haunt your roofline.

Halloween Weathervanes

Picture
Circling your home on its bat-like wings, this friendly dragon promises to only roast marshmallows, not Trick-or-Treaters. Available in shiny copper or the beautiful patina shown here, this weathervane complements any home design. With a wingspan of 19", this dragon can be displayed proudly atop any garage, shed, roof, or cupola.
Picture
Harvest moons are especially beautiful, filling the sky with their golden-orange glow. Whether waxing or waning, full or new, a Halloween moon sets the mood! This charming weathervane (with accompanying star) will proudly grace the largest of rooflines.
Picture
Watch out for wolves on All Hallows Eve - especially if the moon is full! Werewolves have been a beloved and feared part of traditional folklore since the early 15th century, and wolves feature prominently in many fairy tales (such as Little Red Riding Hood). Capture their mystique with this magnificent Wolf Weathervane - you can almost hear him howling! 
Picture
This charming little witch is ready to bring good omens to your garden, deck, or yard. Sailing through the sky on her faithful broom, she is certain to liven up any Halloween display! You can mount this weathervane to a cupola or the side of a shed, or place her on a stand in your garden or flowerbed.
Picture
Winging silently through the night, with their glowing eyes and rotating heads, owls have long been viewed as otherworldly creatures. They are associated with a variety of superstitions, from announcing death and taking away souls to warding off evil spirits and guiding the dead on their journeys. Our majestic Flying Owl weathervane, with its fierce talons and broad wings, is ready to be a silent sentinel over your home.

If you're ready to add a Halloween-themed weathervane to your home, call Valley Forge Cupolas today at (866) 400-1776!
1 Comment

Digital Quotes Help Answer "How Much Does a Cupola Cost?"

10/4/2019

2 Comments

 
Picture
One of the first questions our customers ask is, “How much does a cupola cost?” While some companies offer “discount” cupolas that are made from substandard materials and shoddy craftsmanship, a cupola doesn’t have to break the bank to be high quality. At Valley Forge Cupolas, our cupolas are always made from durable, high-quality materials by skilled Pennsylvania craftsmen. And when you purchase a Valley Forge Cupola, our Cupola Specialists make sure every aspect of the design fits your needs and tastes. This includes ensuring the cupola proportions complement your dwelling and letting you know what the final result will look like on your home through digital quotes.

How Much does a Cupola Cost?

There are two main factors that determine the cost of a cupola: size and style. Size is perhaps the most important element of a cupola, because if a cupola is not properly proportioned to your home it will become an eyesore instead of a beautiful complement to your roofline. As a general rule, the width of a cupola’s base should be 1.25” for every foot of unbroken roof ridge line. This gives you a range of sizes to choose from: for example, a 24’ roof could accommodate a cupola as small as 30” wide and as large as 36” wide. The final size will be determined by both the overall size of your house, your personal preference, and the height of the cupola. 

Your cupola's style and design contain the final variables in how much a cupola costs. We have nearly 100 cupola models to choose from, and each one can be customized to meet your specific needs. From shiplap bases and board and batten designs, to custom molding and copper accents, we can craft you a truly one-of-a-kind cupola.

Take the Guesswork Out of Your Cupola Purchase with Our Digital Quotes!

Picturing a cupola on your home can be difficult, which is why we offer our clients a custom digital quote that shows you exactly how your cupola will look on your home. As the only cupola company to offer digital quotes, we can give you confidence that you are purchasing exactly what you want and that it will look perfect on your home. 

Below is an example of one of our custom digital quotes. The top photo is the initial photo the customer sent us, requesting a quote for a cupola for their garage. The second photo is our digital quote, demonstrating how the 36” cupola they were interested in would look on their roof. And in the last photo, you can see how the installed cupola perfectly matches our digital quote, even down to the bell shaped roof. The customers were thrilled with their custom Roxbury style cupola and didn’t have to worry about choosing the wrong size or style.
Picture
Take the guesswork out of your cupola purchase with a custom digital quote from Valley Forge Cupolas! With over two decades of cupola experience, we can help you design the cupola of your dreams. Call us today at 866-400-1776 to get started, or email a photo to [email protected] to request a quote.
2 Comments
    Picture

    ​A Little

    About Us

    We are the "Cupola Specialists" who can help you with every aspect of your cupola selection. Let us do a customized digital quote so that you can see exactly how one of our beautiful vinyl or wood cupolas will look on your roof.

    Archives

    April 2025
    March 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016

    RSS Feed

Save up to 15% Off on All Cupolas
For your FREE quote, email [email protected] or call 866-400-1776!

© 2019. All Rights Reserved.