HG Lifestyle helps you add a cupola to your roof, regardless of whether you choose a wooden or vinyl option. But what if you want to install it yourself? If you’re planning to add a cupola to your roof and want to do it yourself, here are some instructions for adding one:

• Know the length of your roof. This includes measuring the centerline of a peaked roof and dividing it in half.
• Create a bevel gauge and use it to measure the angle. For this, use two one-by-fours and lock them at the roof’s angle. Draw a line at the intersection (think of the median in an angle from high school geometry class) they make at this angle.
• Decide which part of the cupola will be the front. This is easiest with a square-shaped cupola but, once a side is decided, draw a line from the center of one side to the top and bottom. Then, align this with the line on the bevel gauge.
• Draw the line of the bevel gauge onto the side of the cupola. Do this to opposite sides.
• Cut along these lines with a jigsaw and place the cupola on the roof to check with a level. Does it sit appropriately or will adjustments need to be made?
• Cover the seam between the cupola and the roof with flashing.
• For attaching the cupola to the roof, use 2.5 inch steel or rust-resistant screws to attach to four two-by-four blocks that will sit inside the cupola. Nail these blocks to the sides of the cupola.
• In case of leaks through your roof, use a water and ice barrier between the two-by-fours and the roof. The screws, essentially, will go into the water and ice barrier instead of the roof.