Domes, cupolas and steeples are some of the most ancient of architectural embellishments, evolving from religious use and ultimately finding wide application in important secular buildings. Heather & Little are your experts in restoring, replacing or building anew these striking features.
Domed roofs grace some of our most important USA & Canadian buildings. From onion domes to oval and saucer domes, historic to contemporary, domes are some of the strongest structures in existence. H&L has the expertise to assist in determining the best approach to restore or create your domed roof, with the preparation, structural review and installation that is required for your project. Our professionals make use of historically accurate sheet metals such as bronze, muntz, galvanized steel, stainless steel, zinc, copper and monel metal to ensure your domed roof reflects the aesthetic you envision.
Conversely a cupola is considered an accent on a roof with either a round, square, or multi-sided base. In addition to their decorative appeal, cupolas can allow air and light to circulate through tall buildings. Today cupolas can be found not just on 19th and 20th century public buildings such as churches, courthouses, and estates, but also as an ornament on barns, garages and out buildings. Depending on your project’s size, Heather & Little can work with you to custom design and build or restore your sheet metal cupola in our shop, and then install it on site.
Church steeples, with their vertical lines looking skyward, as well as secular towers, can come in many forms. They may be classically simple or enhanced with decorative metal work. H&L are experts in restoring or replicating the historic details intrinsic to your project. We are committed to solutions that are long lasting, structurally sound, yet honest to the original design, so that your building will stand as a beacon for generations.
The church was renovated in the 1960s, including the replacement of the copper clad domes with steel and aluminum covered by 23 carat gold leaf, which had lost its luster. Heather & Little were tasked with recladding the 19-foot-tall cupolas that sat atop the domes and restoring the 10-foot-high crosses.
Built in 1907, a hundred years later the once commanding metal domes and cupola of the beaux-arts Courthouse were in need of restoration. Heather & Little reproduced the decorative copper elements, curved batten dome caps, cupola, finials, and cartouches for this massive courthouse exterior restoration.
And if you are looking for a second opinion on your project or have a particularly complex issue that needs a fresh eye, we’re here for that too. Tackling tricky challenges in historic building restoration is our specialty, and we welcome the opportunity to provide, and we welcome the opportunity to provide consulting advice, with the same exacting attention to detail we bring to all our commissions.
Join our mailing list and keep up to date on what’s going on with Heather & Little, sheet metal and roofing, including access to industry insights, interesting project case studies and incentives.