You don’t know what a cupola is, what it’s for, or how to pronounce it? If you’re not sure, this is the proper pronunciation: (kyOO’pu-lu). As to what a cupola is, Random House Unabridged Dictionary (1997) defines it as: “(a) a light structure on a dome or roof, serving as a belfry, lantern, or belvedere, (b) a dome, esp. one covering a circular or polygonal area, (c) any of various domelike structures.”

More simply stated, a cupola is a decorative dome-shaped structure that is placed on the top of a roof.

Cupolas have been around for a very long time. One needs only to travel to a European country such as Germany, Russia, Norway, and many others that have enormous cupolas on buildings. Here in America, almost all state capitol buildings have been designed with elaborate cupolas on top of them. Our nation’s capitol is famous for it’s beautiful white dome – another example of the type of statement a cupola makes on a building.

What purpose does a cupola serve for the “average” home or building? Naturally, we wouldn’t want a heavy, elaborate dome on our homes. However, a beautiful wooden cupola with a copper roof and a weathervane attached does make quite a statement. Cupolas can also make a superb addition to an outdoor gazebo, garage, horse barn, or any other outdoor building. They can also be used for ventilation or perhaps a lookout, but are most often used as a decorative accent.

Cupolas of very high quality can be made of hand-selected Northern White Pine. Larger wooden cupolas may use Marine Grade Plywood with a Douglas fir base. The tops of cupolas can be either of wood or copper. Cupolas are also made from vinyl using solid plank and board PVC. This material is actually more durable than natural wood, it doesn’t need painting or staining, and it is maintenance free.