Choosing the Right Size of Weathervane for your Roof

Weathervanes come in various sizes (and prices). There are some ground rules for choosing a weathervane for your roof. Here is a guide to choosing the right size of weathervane for your rooftop.

Weathervanes generally come in three sizes – small, standard, and large. The basic rule for selecting the right size is that a weathervane, just like anything else, looks smaller as you go farther away. Thus the smaller the weathervane, the closer it should be to the ground.

The next thing to consider is whether you would like to go with a cupola or not. A cupola is a small structure built on top of the house that “crowns” the roof. The weathervane can be either mounted on the cupola, or can be directly mounted on the roof. The pictures below depict weathervanes mounted on a cupola and directly on the roof.

Weathervane mounted
on a Cupola

With a cupola: If you choose to mount your weathervane on a cupola, then you need to first choose the right size of the cupola for your roof. The rule of thumb is: For every foot of roof line, you should have 1"-1.25" of cupola width. So, measure the roof line of your building and multiplies it by 1"-1.25". Once you are done with selecting the cupola, go for a weathervane that is roughly the same size of the cupola, or within ±6 inches. Thus, if you settle on a 22” cupola, then go for a weathervane size between 16” and 28” long.

Weathervane directly mounted
on the roof

Without a cupola: if you want your weathervane to be mounted directly on the roof, then use the rule of thumb rule as mentioned above for the cupola - "Every foot of the roof line should account for one inch of the weathervane". Most people find that adding a little extra to this looks even better. Thus, for a roof line that is 32 feet in length, a 36” weathervane would create the right effect. If your building has more than 3 stories, go for the “next size up”.

In general, a small sized weathervane fits perfectly with a small building structure such as a car garage, a utility shed, or a gazebo. The standard size goes well with one-storied, medium sized houses, and small barns. The larger ones are best suited for large houses, two or more story structures, or modern-day residential or commercial buildings.

For very long rooflines, more than one weathervane may be more suitable, placed comfortably apart from each other. For example, a 60 foot long roofline can accommodate two 30”-36” cupolas, with each different weathervanes on top.

Stick to these rules of thumb, and select the best size of weathervane for your house. Give your house a distinct look with weathervanes, and enjoy the appreciation from friends and strangers alike!

Do Weathervanes attract Lightning?

One of the frequently asked questions about weathervanes is whether they attract lightning, and if they are safe when mounted on the roof.

The basic thing to know about lightning is that it always looks for “ground”. A piece of metal sitting on your roof is not grounded, so it would not tend to attract lightning. You could compare this to the TV antennas that used to be on every rooftop a few years ago. These TV antennas were made of aluminum (which is a good conductor) and were typically not grounded or part of a lightning protection system. That said, lightning is an “act of God”, and one cannot accurately predict whether lightning can “hit” a particular area for a particular reason or not. Experts recommend that lightning protection for weathervanes should be an all or nothing proposition. You could either ignore it altogether – after all, the vast majority of weathervanes, metal roofs, church steeples, and even TV antennas are not lightning protected – or go for a complete lightning protection system that is professionally installed. If you choose to lightning protect your house, you are in effect attracting lightning and sending it to the ground. You must then do it properly.

Perhaps the most dangerous thing to do would be to go halfway, and just “ground” the weathervane using a small gauge wire. Trust me, this will be worse than doing nothing. Why? Because in this arrangement, you are attracting the lightning, and not providing enough means for the lightning charge to drain off safely. The result could be disastrous!

So, the crux of it is that if you install a weathervane on your rooftop, you may (1) install a full lightning protection system or (2) do nothing.

Thus, depending on your own choice, belief, and judgment, decide which route you would like to take, and enjoy the view of your favorite weathervane dancing, perched on top of your roof, year after year!

  

How do I clean/maintain my Weathervane?

Your weathervane is truly a prized possession, and you would want it to look fantastic all year round. The best thing about weathervanes is that they are durable and long-lasting with only a miniscule amount of maintenance required. Weathervanes are generally constructed from weather resistant materials such as copper or aluminium. The maintenance requirement for both types differ slightly, and adopting the correct maintenance protocol would ensure that your weathervane keeps looking astonishing year after year.

Copper weathervanes

Polished Copper Finish

Copper weathervanes come in two varieties – polished copper and “blue verde” finish. Polished copper weathervanes, just like a copper penny, would begin to naturally oxidize within months, eventually giving it a natural patina. If you do not want this to happen, and want your weathervane to have the finished copper look all the time, then you may use a lacquer or polyurethane coating to maintain the polished finish. For basic cleaning, mild soap and water is all that is required. No specialized cleaners are necessary. If you want a shiny copper finish (and get rid of the tarnished look), you may use a copper cleaner. But remember that this feat can be very time and energy consuming, and you should instead go for things like StayBrite copper and Brass Polish to preserve the finish.

Blue Verde Finish

Weathervanes that have a "blue verde" finish have already gone through an accelerated patina process, and their look won’t change much over time. Such weathervanes are given an artificial finish that makes them look antique. This kind of finish involves accelerating the oxidation of copper, such that your brand new weathervane already has the patina. The only care these weathervanes require is an occasional cleaning using mild soap and water to clean up the dust and dirt, without removing the blue-green patina finish. Aluminium weathervanes:

Aluminum Weathervanes

Aluminum Finish

Cast aluminium weathervanes are coated with paints that are weather resistant and can withstand the harshest of elements. An occasional cleaning with mild soap and water, followed with thorough drying is all that is needed for maintaining aluminium weathervanes.

Weathervanes are constructed to last and stand the test of time. With only tiny efforts, you can maintain your weathervane such that it looks stunning for many years to come. Weathervane figures, directionals, assembly rods and mounts are all made with the highest quality materials that ensure lasting beauty while requiring minimum maintenance.