When designing the perfect cupola for their home, many homeowners ask us, “How tall should a cupola be?” Of all the key measurements for a cupola, height is one of the most flexible. For sheds and small garages a lower profile cupola might be appropriate, while multi-level buildings provide the opportunity for greater heights.
How to Size a Cupola
When sizing a cupola, you must consider pitch, width, and height:
- Pitch is determined by the number of inches your roof rises vertically for every 12 inches it extends horizontally. In other words, from the peak of your roof measure 12 inches out, then measure down until you meet the slope of your roof. If your vertical measurement is 10”, then your roof’s pitch is 10:12. Pitch is easily measured using a T-square.
- To determine the width of a cupola’s base, the general rule of thumb is a minimum of 1.25” of cupola for every foot of unbroken roof ridge line. There is some variation, however, depending on the size of your home or structure. Single story, low-pitched roofs look better with a cupola on the smaller end of the scale, whereas buildings with steeper roof pitches or multiple levels may require a cupola closer to a 1.5”/foot ratio. For long roof lines (typically 50’ or longer), using multiple, smaller cupolas often provides a better aesthetic than one large cupola.
- So how tall should a cupola be? For standard cupolas, the height is determined by the size of the base. But with our custom cupola designs, the height can be designed to meet your needs and personal style. Let’s look at a few examples.
How Tall Should a Cupola Be?
For smaller structures - such as sheds, gazebos, and small garages - a shorter cupola is a sleek, subtle accent that still gives the benefit of extra ventilation.
For larger structures, taller cupolas are a stunning statement piece, creating a whole new look for your home or barn. Extending the vent (middle) section of your cupola brings more ventilation and/or light into your home, adding to the quality of your indoor living space as well.
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There are four ways to add height to a cupola: extend the base, extend the vents, extend the roof, or extend all three. For the custom Morton Cupola above, we added height to both the base and vents to keep the look proportionate, and then paired them with a dramatically tapered roof to achieve the final desired height. With the custom Prairie Window Cupola, an additional, custom-molding base added a boost of height as well as extra visual interest. Lastly, the custom Morton Cupola makes a bold statement with elongated louvers, a shiplap base, and a unique roof shape that accentuates its height.
Discover Your Dream Cupola Today!
If you are looking for the perfect custom cupola, call the cupola experts at Valley Forge Cupolas and Weathervanes today: 866-400-1776.
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