A Roof is a Roof...or is it?

 A roof is a roof, right? I mean, what can you do to make it more interesting? Well, if you have a long roofline or a large expanse of roofing materials on your home, there is a way to add some visual interest to the appearance. Consider the use of roof ornaments.

Roof ornaments are anything that makes your roof more appealing. They are added to roofs to break up long, un-interesting edges. They are usually placed on peaks or corners but can be used anywhere on the roof to make it more visually interesting. Roof ornaments give a home a distinctive look and can also add a bit of class to an otherwise plain space.

Roof ornaments can be contemporary or classic. Some are pretty straight forward and clean, others are very ornate and decorative. They may range in size from less than a foot to 4 or 5 feet tall.

Let’s take a look at some popular roof ornament treatments.

Weathervanes

One of the most popular of roof ornaments is that of a weathervane. We all can picture in our mind the classic rooster weathervane that changes direction with the wind, but today, there are all sorts of weathervane roof decorations available for your home. These vanes often feature animals like horses, eagles, cats, fish or deer but weathervanes have even gotten more exotic. You will find weathervanes that have athletes, ships, flags, stars, and other celestial bodies. You can choose a weathervane that suits your taste or expresses your interests. Some go as far as painting their weathervanes in vibrant colors. Weathervanes are often added to a focal point of a roofline, serving as sort of an exclamation mark for the home.

Finials

Finials are generally spire shaped objects made out of copper or aluminum. They usually end with a point on top but many also have rounded or ball shaped apexes. They come in a variety of sizes and designs including obelisks, cones, spears and pyramids. While many finials are pretty straightforward, some can be more ornate, adding decorative elements to their spire shaped structure. Finials will oftentimes be used on corners or peaks of a roofline, but may also be used to spice up a long expanse of a roof.

Cupolas

A cupola is a small structure that sits on the roof that, in the past, provided space as a look-out. The word comes from the Latin word that means small cup. Cupolas many times resemble small cups turned upside down. Today, cupolas can provide light or air to an upper level of a home, but many are for purely decorative purposes. Many cupolas will have a small roof of their own and may be dome shaped or squared. For aesthetic purposes, they will maintain the look and feel of the house of which they sit atop. If they are painted, they are usually painted in the color of the home or a neutral white. Cupolas add a very traditional and stately appearance to a house and will usually sit on a peak of a roofline, or where two rooflines come together. They will oftentimes be placed on the highest point of a structure. Cupolas are oftentimes themselves topped with a weathervane or finial.

Roof Vents

In the past, roof vents were not particularly visually appealing. Today roof vents come in a variety of styles that can add interest to a roof. Roof vents may be made of copper or other materials that can bring a new level of texture to the top of your home. Rather than trying to hide these vents, today, many are choosing to accent them.

Chimney Caps and Pots

Chimney caps and pots top off your chimney with flair, sometimes extravagant flair. There are endless choices of decorative chimney caps and pots that will add visual appeal to what is otherwise a practical purpose. Chimney caps and pots can not only get extravagant, they can be very expensive, with copper ones costing into the tens of thousands of dollars.

They next time you pull up to your home, take a look at your roof with a new set of lenses. Think about what a weathervane or finial could add. Would a cupola bring some style to it? How about some decorative roof vents or a chimney cap? There are options to add a new dimension to that large outdoor space. We hope you’ll consider them.

Majestic Roofing and French Construction are two of Oklahoma's leading roofing and custom home building specialists.