Cupolas are the square, vented structures seen on the rooftops of some older buildings. Years ago they served as vents to allow stale, hot air out of attics. These days, homeowners are installing them for a purely decorative effect.
You can find cupola kits that include everything you need to install one, but it's difficult to find one that perfectly matches your house. As an alternative, you could build a cupola to fit the style of your home. Fix It Up hosts Pat Simpson and Jodi Marks show how it's done.
Materials:
ladder
square
drill, with drill bits, spade bits and driver bits
router, with cove bit
4" x 4" posts
1" x 2" boards
2" x 4" boards
2" x 6" pressure -treated boards
2" x 2" boards
1/2" exterior-grade plywood
3/4" exterior -grade plywood
sanding block and fine-grit sandpaper
paint, and paint supplies
caulk gun, with acrylic latex caulk
four 15" x 15" exterior shutter assemblies
brick molding
3" galvanized deck screws
1-5/8" screws
circular saw
miter saw
table saw
measuring tape
plumb bob
chalk line
utility knife
shingles
roofing felt
hammer
roofing nails
safety glasses
Assemble the Vent Housing
- Start by cutting 4" x 4" posts to the height desired. Then cut coves (decorative grooves) into three corners of each post using a cove router bit (figure A).
- Use a miter saw to cut sill and soffit pieces using 2" x 6" boards. Cut eight boards in 28-inch sections.
- Use a table saw to cut a two-inch bevel on the sill and soffit pieces (figure B). Save the bevel cutoffs to use as trim pieces on the sill.
- With all eight pieces beveled, miter the ends at a 45-degree angle on your table saw (figure C). Sand the pieces until they're smooth.
- Dry-fit the sill and soffit together with the beveled side down. Then secure them in place by attaching eight-inch 1" x 2" boards across each joint (figure D). Use a square to make sure the angles are correct as you secure the boards together.
- Attach the 4" x 4" posts to the sill with three-inch deck screws driven from underneath. The inside corner of each post (the one that isn't routed) should be flush with the inside corner of the sill.
- When the posts are secure, flip the assembly over and attach the soffit (figure E).
- Measure the inside diameter of each opening in the vent housing. Cut brick molding to size (be sure to miter the corners), and attach it with three-inch deck screws (figure F).
- Apply wood adhesive to the sill. Then use finishing nails to attach the beveled cutoffs that were left over when you beveled the sill and soffit.
- Attach the 15" x 15" vents from inside the housing. Secure the vents to the brick molding with screws (figure G).
- Seal the assembly with acrylic latex caulk. Then sand the vents for better paint adhesion.
Build the Roof
- Measure the outside edges of the vent housing. Subtract 1-1/2 inch from each side, and cut a piece of 3/4-inch plywood to that size; this will allow a 3/4-inch reveal (where the material underneath is exposed) all around the edges. This board will serve as the base of the roof.
- Determine the angle for your cupola's roof. Then create a 2" x 4" template for the rafters.
Creating the template:
* Mark the center of the roof base. You can do this by marking the center of each side, then snapping a chalk line across opposite sides; the point at which the lines cross is the center of the base.
* Mark one of the chalk lines 3/4-inch away from the center point (this will allow for the 2" x 2" center "hub" that will help hold the rafters in place ).
* Suspend a plumb bob directly over that mark.
* Cut a 2" x 4" board at the angle you need for the pitch of your roof. To determine this angle, subtract the desired pitch angle from 90. For example, if you want a roof pitch of 40 degrees, you should make a 50-degree cut.
* Place the cut end of the 2x4 alongside the chalk line you marked so that it touches the string of the plumb bob.
* Trace a line along the string and then cut along that line to create your rafter template.
- Use the template to cut four rafters. Attach the rafters to the plywood with 1 -5/8-inch screws (figure H).
- Cut a three-inch piece of 2" x 2" board, and place it where the tops of the rafters come together (figure I) so that it acts as a hub. Secure the rafters to this hub.
- Turn the assembly over and permanently secure the rafters by driving three-inch screws through the base and into the rafters.
- Dry-fit the rafter template at the corners of the roof assembly. If it fits, use it to create four corner rafters. If it doesn't fit, create another template of the proper size.
- Attach corner rafters (figure J) to provide additional support for the roof sheathing.
- If you plan on attaching a weathervane to the cupola, drill a hole into the center hub at the size necessary to support your weathervane. You should also drill a hole through the center of the roof base so the weathervane support pole can go through.
- Drill a few 1/2-inch holes through the roof base. This will allow the roof to dry out in the event that it gets wet.
- Measure the rafters, and cut 1/2-inch plywood sheathing to fit those measurements. Attach the sheathing to the rafters with screws (figure K).
- Attach roofing felt to the sheathing. Then attach shingles using standard roofing techniques.
- Prime and paint the vent housing.
Create the Saddle
- Use 3/4-inch pressure-treated plywood to create a box that's 1-1/2 inches smaller on each side than the outside measurements of the sill. Attach eight-inch 2" x 2 " boards in the corners of the box for added support.
- Determine the pitch of your roof. Place two three-foot 2" x 2" boards on either side of the ridge of your roof so that they overlap one another. Then screw them together so that they can be used as a template to match the roof pitch.
- Turn the vent housing upside down, and center the saddle on it. Trace around the inside edges of the saddle. Then attach 2" x 2" rails to the bottom of the vent housing. The rails will allow you to secure the vent housing to the saddle. Dry-fit the vent housing and saddle to make sure they fit together; that way you won't have any surprises when you get the assembly on the roof.
- Mark the roof pitch onto the saddle, and cut it to fit the roof.
Attach the Cupola
* Don't assemble the cupola until you get it on top of the roof.
- Set the saddle in place on top of your roof.
- Place 2" x 2" boards next to the inside walls (figure L), and secure them to the roof with screws.
- Secure the saddle to the 2" x 2" boards through the sides of the saddle walls.
- Place the vent housing on the saddle, and secure it by driving three-inch screws into the rails underneath the sill (figure M).
- Set the cupola roof in place, and secure it with screws from underneath the soffit (figure N).
- Touch up any scratched areas with paint as needed.
- Finally, attach a weathervane to the cupola.
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