Cupola Installation

You can make a bevel to insure that you have the angle of your cupola right.

After purchasing a cupola, installation can easily be completed without necessarily needing the help of a professional. Proper installation, however, is key to insuring that your cupola stays in place for years to come. Cupolas can add visual appeal to an otherwise unappealing roof line and can also serve as the proper mount for displaying a weather vane.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• 2 rulers
• Hammer
• 2.5-inch screws
• Jigsaw
• Level
• Hand-Saw
• Power drill

Instructions

1. Find the angle needed to make the base of the cupola by measuring the angle of your roof where you plan to install the cupola. Nail two rulers together (or similar pieces of wood) to create a "V" shape. Make sure that the two pieces of wooded are not nailed together too tightly and that they can be easily rotated to fit the angle of your roof. This will be used as your makeshift bevel.

2. Fit the bevel to the roof line to find the angle needed for the base of the cupola. Keep the bevel in the exact position until the angle can be drawn onto the cupola.

3. Decide which side of the cupola you would like to face the front or the most visible side. Find the center of the cupola's base by measuring the length and width of the side and dividing each measurement by two. Re-measure according to your calculations and mark the center with a pencil. Repeat this step once to ensure accuracy before cutting. Repeat measurements on the opposite side of the cupola.

4. Place the peak of your bevel (from Step 2) at the center mark and draw the correct angle onto the cupola. Draw the correct angle on the opposite side of the cupola as well. Ensure that the bevel does not move after measuring the angle of the roof in Step 2.

5. Cut along your pencil markings with the jigsaw on both sides. Fit to the roof and lay your level along the peak of cupola to insure that the cupola is resting evenly on the roof.

6. Attach cupola base to the roof using the four screws. Ensure that the screws seat properly by drilling a smaller hole perpendicular through the cupola base and roof using a power drill.

References

• Installation of Weathervane Shoppe Cupolas