Choosing the Right Roofing Contractor

Who Are You? Depending on what kind of work you’ll be doing, you’ll have different needs and working conditions. If you want to trim tree limbs, you’ll need serious muscle and the ability to move heavy branches, but if you want a complete renovation that entails taking down insurance coverage on your current roof, you’ll need a different kind of person. Not all roofers are the same, just like every homeowner is different. But with careful selection, you can find a good roofer for the job. By being clear about what your needs really are, you’ll be in a better position to narrow down your options.

Consideration

So who do you want to hire? A company that prides itself on a good mix of experience and property value can be just the ticket for getting the best work in a decent amount of time. Repairing is a big business right now, and having some experience working with repair situations can mean you can avoid the big mess if you have to hire someone to fix or change your existing roof. Good communication is a must for any kind of project, not just roofing. This means that your potential contractor needs to be on the same page as you are in terms of what needs to get done. This may involve a lot of bending and flexing to see what works best, but in the end you will notice it in the work itself. And if you have your own standard for the kind of work to be done, you won’t have to worry about being taken to the cleaners. What Outside Features Should You Expect While there’s no question that having a roof properly installed will improve the resale value and comfort of your home, you don’t want to assume that conversations about issues related to it will be any different. Ensure that the contractors you hire are experienced in roofing, and that their estimates are specific.

Good contractors will outline what work needs to be done in the areas of basic home maintenance and up-keep, and what your home’s current condition is, in order to give you a clear idea of what needs to be done. Things to Avoid The last thing you want to do is hire contractors who are really trying to work you into a corner. You want your quality contractor for the job to be accessible, transparent, and empathetic to your wishes and needs. When you’re looking for roofing contractors, your best bet is to make sure you choose somebody who can deliver all of these. Once your contractor pulls the necessary licenses, employs workers who are certified in their field, and is able to provide documentation of every part of the project, you’ll know that your contractor is dedicated to providing quality, professional roofing for your home. And in whatever state you reside in, having a good contractor is essential to helping you achieve results you can be proud of for years to come.

What Is A Cupola? What does a cupola do? Different Uses

Cupolas, What They Are and How They’re Used. Are cupolas artifacts of the past or the architecture of the future? All about these roof attachments.

The meaning of CUPOLA is a rounded vault resting on a usually circular base and forming a roof or a ceiling.

cupola, in architecture, small dome, often resembling an overturned cup, placed on a circular, polygonal, or square base or on small pillars or a glassed-in lantern. It is used to crown a turret, roof, or larger dome. The inner vault of a dome is also a cupola. Cupolas, usually bulbous or pointed,

These diminutive structures sit atop a roof ridge and bring light and air into a dark attic space. Check out a few cupolas that also bring style and interest to their top spots.

What is a cupola? How did cupolas originate? What are cupolas used for? Discover features, advantages, and the fascinating history of cupolas!

A cupola is a rounded structure on top of a building’s roof. Most cupolas have the shape of a dome, or even take the form of a small dome on top of a larger dome.

The word derives, via Italian language. In Italian “cupola” simply means dome, the ornamental top element is called “lanterna”. Italian, from lower Latin cupula (classical Latin cupella), from Ancient Greek κύπελλον (kúpellon) ‘small cup’ (Latin cupa), indicating a vault resembling an upside-down cup.

The cupola evolved during the Renaissance from the older oculus. Being weatherproof, the cupola was better suited to the wetter climates of northern Europe. The chhatri, seen in Indian architecture, fits the definition of a cupola when it is used atop a larger structure.

Cupolas often serve as a belfry, belvedere, or roof lantern above a main roof. In other cases they may crown a spire, tower, or turret. Barns often have cupolas for ventilation.

The square, dome-like segment of a North American railroad train caboose that contains the second-level or “angel” seats is also called a cupola.

A cupola is a small structure, enclosed but with openings, placed on the top of a building’s roof or dome. Originally, the cupola (pronounced KYOO-pa-la, with the accent on the first syllable) was functional. Historically, cupolas were used to ventilate and provide natural light for the structure underneath it. Often it became a town’s identifier, a vehicle to enclose a town’s bell or display a common clock or flag. As such, it was also a good lookout, a high look-out post used by a sentry or other watchful person.

Architectural historian G. E. Kidder Smith defines a cupola as a “domed accent on a roof with either round or polygonal base.” Many others suggest that cupolas can be round, square, or multi-sided. In some cases, the entire main roof of a tower or spire may be called a cupola. More frequently, however, the cupola is a smaller structure that sets on top of the main roof. Architect John Milnes Baker describes a cupola as “a small turretlike structure projecting above a building’s roof.”

A good example of the cupola in American architectural history is the one atop Faneuil Hall in Boston, Massachusetts. Called “the cradle of liberty” by the National Park Service, Faneuil Hall has been a gathering place for colonists since 1742.

A cupola can have a dome and a dome can have a cupola, but neither is required. A dome is considered to be a roof and structural part of a building. A common understanding is that a cupola is an architectural detail that can be moved, removed, or exchanged. For example, the cupola on the roof of the 1742 Faneuil Hall used to be in the center but it was moved to the end when the Hall was renovated in 1899 — steel beams were added to the structure and the cupola was replaced with sheet steel.

Sometimes you can reach the cupola by climbing a stairway inside the building. This type of cupola is often called a belvedere or a widow’s walk. Some cupolas, called lanterns, have small windows that illuminate the areas below. Lantern type cupolas often are found atop domed roofs.

Today a cupola is mostly an ornamental architectural detail, often with the singular function of holding a flag, religious symbol (e.g., cross), weather vane, or other finial.

In the United States, cupolas are often found on Italianate houses and as a defining characteristic of neotraditional architecture. A cupola is a common site on 19th and 20th century public buildings in city centers, like the Pioneer Courthouse in Portland, Oregon. Explore this gallery of elaborate famous cupolas, simple cupolas for modest buildings, and the addition to the International Space Station (ISS), of all places.

In short, the cupola is simply a great idea. These small structures perch beautifully atop larger structures. Cupolas started out being functional — you might even call them green architecture. Their intent was to provide natural light, passive cooling through ventilation, and unobstructed views of surrounding areas. The grand cupola on the antebellum Longwood estate in Natchez, Mississippi served all these purposes. Some contemporary buildings also have functional, energy-saving cupolas. Cupolas could be called “old wine in new bottles.”

Unfortunately, most of the cupolas you buy at “big box” stores are only ornamental architectural details. Some people would even question their decorative properties.

The Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford, UK was constructed between 1664 and 1669. A young Christopher Wren (1632-1723) designed this secular ceremonial hall for the University of Oxford. Like Brunelleschi before him, Wren was obsessed with building a self-sustaining roof, without timber beams or columns. Even today, the roof of the Sheldonian Theatre is analyzed and studied by mathematics geeks.

When the capital of the Roman Empire moved to a part of Turkey known as Byzantium, Western architecture adopted many of the practices and designs of the Middle East. From Byzantine architecture of the 6th century to this day, engineering and design is guided by local influences.