A copper roof finial is the ornament that finishes a roof peak, cupola, turret or gazebo — the crowning piece that turns a roofline into a landmark. This guide covers the three things buyers ask most: what size to choose, which finish is right, and how to order a piece built to your building.
How to choose the right size
The most common question, and the one worth getting right. A finial that is too small disappears from the ground; one too large looks top-heavy. As a general guide:
- Garden cupola or small gazebo — a finial roughly equal to the cupola’s own height, commonly 18″ to 30″.
- House cupola or dormer — usually 30″ to 42″, scaled so it reads clearly from the street.
- Barn, steeple, turret or large roof peak — 42″ to 60″ and beyond, where presence matters more than restraint.
The finial also has to fit the base it mounts on. Measure the outside dimension of your cupola base or roof cap where the finial will sit — that measurement sets the width of the finial’s base plate. When in doubt, send a photo with a tape measure in it and Sergei will size it for you. Every piece is made to order, so the fit is exact rather than close.
Base shapes
The base is matched to the structure underneath it:
- Square base — the most common, for square cupolas and roof caps.
- Octagon base — for octagonal cupolas, gazebos and turrets.
- Hexagon base — for six-sided structures.
- Custom base — any dimension or shape, built from your measurements or a drawing.
Choosing a finish
Color on a Home of Copper Art piece comes from the metal itself — never paint. Three finishes, chosen by where the piece will live:
- Mill bright — raw polished copper, left to weather. Outdoors it ages naturally from new-penny rose to deep brown over the years, then eventually toward green. The right choice for most exterior roof finials, and the lowest-maintenance.
- Aged patina (Jax verdigris) — the weathered green of historic rooftops, brought forward chemically so a new finial matches existing copper on day one. For exteriors where you want the aged look immediately.
- Flame-fired — torch-drawn reds, purples and golds, sealed under clear lacquer. Made to be seen up close, so it suits interior and covered pieces more than open weather.
Custom & restoration work
Most of what leaves the workshop is built to someone else’s measurements. Send a roof pitch, a cupola base dimension, or a drawing, and the piece is made to fit. For a historic finial that has gone missing, send photographs and any measurement you can take — even from the ground with a tape against the base — and it is reproduced by hand to the original profile. There is no minimum order: a single finial for a single restoration is a normal day’s work.
How to order
- Measure or photograph. The base dimension where the finial mounts, an approximate height you have in mind, and a photo of the structure. Rough numbers are fine to start.
- Send it over. Call (615) 969-3037 or email ttsy@bellsouth.net with your details and preferred finish.
- Get a quote. Usually same or next day, direct from the maker.
- It gets built and shipped. Typically two to four weeks, packed to survive freight, anywhere in the United States.
Installation basics
Finials ship ready to mount to your roof cap or cupola base. Solid copper is light for its size, so most pieces fasten with screws through the base plate into the structure, sealed against water intrusion at the penetration. For tall finials on exposed peaks, anchor into solid framing rather than sheathing alone. Sergei can advise on mounting for your specific piece when you order.