Rutland Architectural Blog - copperChimneyCaps

Sunday, June 19, 2011

A perfect way to dress up a home or building with a chimney is with a copper chimney cap custom crafted to accentuate your home's architecture. There are endless designs of custom chimney caps possible and they can be fully functional and protective while also providing additional architectural interest to your building. A good chimney cap design will definitely make a statement and enhance your home while also keeping out rain, promoting proper draft or air flow for your fireplace or stove and screening to keep out birds and animals and serving as a spark arrestor. Below are a few examples of custom copper chimney caps which have these qualities.

copper chimney cap with domed chimney top, bottom vents and spark arrestor copper screening pictured

copper chimney cap with copper dome top, bottom louvered venting and animal - spark arrestor copper mesh screen pictured

Copper Chimney Cap - Domed Top - Bottom Vents and Screening

copper chimney caps with covered pyramidal chimney top, bottom venting and spark arrestor mesh copper screening or woven lattice work pictured here

copper chimney caps with covered pyramidal chimney top, bottom venting and spark arrestor mesh copper screening or woven lattice work pictured here

copper chimney cap with copper dome chimney top, bottom vents and spark arrestor - animal copper screen pictured

Copper Chimney Caps - Covered Chimney Top and Screen Openings

Rutland can custom build copper chimney caps or chimney pots in any size and in any shape or design. Choose from one of Rutland's many unique chimney cap or chimney pot designs or provide your own design and Rutland will custom fabricate your chimney cap to your exact specifications and drawing. Rutland uses heavyweight copper with TIG welded polished seams for enhanced durability, strength and a polished superb appearance. Rutland can also craft your custom chimney cap in thick gauge aluminum, either mill finish or custom painted and in stainless steel if you prefer. See more of Rutland's Copper Chimney Caps designs and you may also view some of Rutland's many standard design architectural Chimney Cap CAD Drawings.

6/19/2011 4:01 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Disclaimer | | Trackback

Friday, April 15, 2011

Copper Chimney Cap Custom Installation

Copper chimney caps provide enhanced elegance and architectural interest to fine homes and commercial buildings. The beautiful home featured in this blog received two custom chimney caps made from pure copper to nicely accent it's charming stone tiled roof deck and multi-hued clay roof tile. As the copper chimney caps transition through the many stages of copper patination or weathering, these chimney caps will dynamically coordinate with the various colors presented in the roofing tile and roof decking.

Copper Chimney Caps

custom chimney cap design made of copper mounted on chimney top

Custom Chimney Cap Design

copper chimney cap custom design

Copper Chimney Cap Installation

Custom Chimney Caps Being Delivered and Installed

The custom copper chimney caps above, also called chimney hoods or chimney shrouds, are shown being delivered to job site via flat bed truck. A crane will hoist the heavy copper chimney caps into position on the chimney top. Installers on the roof top will help manually guide the chimney caps into their exact position and fasten them down to the chimney crown. Rutland has over thirty standard copper chimney cap designs and their copper work craftsmen also create any custom chimney cap to your own design and exact specifications which may be shipped anywhere in the U.S. and around the world. Rutland also crafts custom copper chimney pots with single or multiple flue design, with or without a chimney shroud or tray. To see more copper chimney cap designs and view architectural CAD drawings of them, visit their Chimney Caps - Chimney Pot webpage.

4/15/2011 3:57 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Disclaimer | | Trackback

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Copper Chimney Caps - Custom Stainless Steel Chimney Caps

Copper chimney caps and stainless steel chimney caps can be fashioned in all shapes, sizes and styles by metal and copper work craftsmen. Chimneys can take on a whole new appearance with a custom chimney cap mounted on the chimney top, made from high quality pure copper or thick gauge stainless steel. Instead of a minimal afterthought, chimney caps can become an attractive focal point and provide additional architectural interest and elegance to fine homes and commercial buildings.

stainless steel chimney cap - custom heavy gauge stainless steel design pictured

Custom Stainless Steel Chimney Cap

stainless steel chimney cap - custom high quality stainless steel design readied for shipment shown here

Stainless Steel Chimney Cap Ready for Shipment

copper chimney cap - custom heavy weight copper chimney top design being lifted into position

Copper Chimney Top Lifted Into Installation Position

copper chimney cap - custom heavy weight copper chimney cap design shown installed

Copper Chimney Cap - Installed

copper chimney cap - custom copper chimney cap with copper lattice sides pictured

Custom Copper Chimney Cap - Chimney Top

Custom high quality, heavy weight copper chimney caps and thick gauge stainless steel chimney caps not only are more elegant and attractive, they also are extremely durable, low maintenance and have extremely long lifespans proving better long term value than low cost designs. The welded, polished seams provide strength, trouble free durability and more attractive refined appearance. The larger sized heavy weight copper and stainless steel chimney caps may require several installers or else a lift to maneuver them into place. But once in place they will provide a lifetime of beauty and functional elegance. Rutland works with architects, contractors and property owners to help design the perfect custom chimney cap for your architecture. Rutland utilizes architectural CAD working drawings in the design process and can custom manufacture any size and style of chimney cap, chimney top or chimney shroud to accommodate customer specifications. Custom copper chimney caps, stainless steel and if desired custom painted aluminum chimney caps can be crafted by Rutland's metal fabrication and copper work craftsmen.

11/18/2010 7:15 PM Eastern Standard Time

Disclaimer | | Trackback

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Copper Architecture Awards

Each year the North American Copper in Architecture Awards acknowledges and spotlights selected North American building projects for innovative and exceptional use of architectural copper. The architectural copper awards program highlights a wide scope of projects which highlight craftsmanship, attention to detail, and architectural vision. Copper has historically long been used for its great natural beauty and finish, it's durability and performance, copper's long service life and recyclability. Copper is still today a superior building material and also one of most eco-friendly and green building materials, which is being utilized and adapted for an ever wider variety of contemporary and cutting edge building and architectural applications. Three of the twelve copper in architecture award winners are described and shown below.

Waipolu Gallery and Studio,Oahu,Hawaii with copper wall cladding and copper roofing pictured here
Waipolu Gallery and Studio, winner of North American Copper in Architecture award pictured here
Waipolu Gallery and Studio, Oahu, Hawaii
(photo credits Nic Lehoux, Vancouver, BC - Courtesy Copper.org)

The Waipolu Gallery above uses copper wall cladding and copper roofing which were chosen for this project as copper will perform well over a very long time and with very little maintenance in a very corrosive ocean side location. Copper's beauty and fluidity compliment the modern art contained within the structure. The copper provides a softer contrast to the other more linear materials used. Excellent workability or malleability of copper was advantageous allowing easy re-working or shaping on site. The building architects also like there will be changes in copper's patina or color over time, producing an ever evolving work of art. The studio with it's stainless steel, glass and concrete linear space is joined by a floating glass bridge to the copper clad gallery. The glass bridge rises above a limestone staircase which connects the building's three levels.

Mark Olsen Project,Holladay,Utah with copper roofing, copper gutters, downspouts, conductor heads and copper finials pictured here

copper gutters and downspouts with copper conductor heads, copper finials and copper diamond shaped roof tile shown with copper patina pictured here

Mark Olsen Project, a residential winner of North American Copper in Architecture award pictured here

Mark Olsen Residential Project, Holladay, Utah
(photo credits David Daniels of David Photography - Courtesy Copper.org)

The Mark Olsen Project exhibits excellent old world craftsmanship, with a copper roof and other architectural copper features such as copper finials, copper gutters and ornamental downspouts with copper conductor heads, copper crown molding, fascia and soffit, copper chimney top shroud and extended copper window box. This stately home has exquisite detailing and exudes quiet elegance from it's naturally weathered copper features. 16,000 pounds worth of hand crafted architectural copper work are used for this home's architecture. The copper roof is comprised of diamond shaped interlocking copper shingles, copper ridge vents and flashing. Of note, no sealants were used, only traditional craftsmanship and installation techniques were employed along with some soldering work on the copper gutters providing very long term durability with little to no maintenance required.

closeup of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Charleston, South Carolina copper arches, copper spire and copper finials pictured here

Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Charleston, South Carolina side view with copper arches, copper spire, copper cross, copper finials and stone veneer tower pictured here

Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Charleston, South Carolina front view with it's stone veneer tower, copper arches, copper spire, gold leaf copper cross and copper finials pictured here

Cathedral of St. John the Baptist Charleston, SC
(photo credits Steven of the Churches of Charleston Project
& Jeni Rone of Sea Star - Courtesy Copper.org)

One hundred fifty years in the making, the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Charleston, South Carolina has at long last been restored after being completely destroyed by fire in 1861. A soaring neo-gothic style copper spire, which had long been planned, was finally realized this past spring. The stunning beauty of the copper spire with it's gold leaf finished copper cross can be seen across the Charleston skyline and out to Sullivan Island. The cathedral's tower was finished with a stone veneer and at it's top there are four copper clad archways with copper torch finials. The copper spire with gold-leaf copper cross finial is perched on top at center of the copper arches. The 200 square feet of gold leaf which covers the cross will last at least 40 years without touch-up while the crowning copper art work comprised of arches, finials, spire and cross at the peak of the cathedral will last and stay beautiful for generations to come.

8/22/2010 12:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Disclaimer | | Trackback

Friday, November 06, 2009

Chimney Cap - Decorative Metal

Chimney cap, chimney vent, chimney pot, chimney cowl and chimney shroud are all various structures on a chimney top added to the top of your chimney pipe, chimney flue, stove pipe or even chimney crown. The chimney crown is the flat top of a chimney usually finished with cement or mortar and is ideally sloped to shed water. A fireplace chimney is typically constructed from brick, clay, masonry, metal or fireproof material. Often times there is just a metal chimney pipe or chimney flue that is encased in a fireproof material or else is double wall insulated shielding adjacent flammable building materials. Chimney vents or stove pipe vents vent fireplaces, wood stoves and heaters and provide proper draft. The chimney vent opening might be nearly flush with the chimney crown or else the chimney pipe or chimney flue will protrude out. Stove pipe chimney vents are also found protruding out of the top of roofs. Chimney pots positioned on chimney tops, look like small smoke stacks and functionally extend the length of a chimney. Chimney pots may therefore improve a chimney's draft inexpensively. Whether it is a metal chimney vent, masonry chimney or chimney pot or other chimney material, there is a need to have some sort of termination or cap on the chimney top, to keep rain, birds and critters out of your chimney, chimney pipe or chimney flue. Without a chimney cap, rain water might run into your fireplace, stove or heater and additionally leaks from seams or cracks in the chimney might also damage adjacent walls and ceilings. Also build up of rain and moisture inside your chimney often produces a pervading chimney or smoky smell inside your home. Birds, raccoons, squirrels and other small animals might enjoy the warmth of your chimney, set up home there and clog it with their nests or bodies. So chimney caps often have screening, mesh or lattice work to cover openings. Chimney caps may also protect a chimney crown by shedding rain water and ice. Chimney caps with metal mesh or screening may also perform as a spark arrestor to protect adjacent roofing, walls and ground areas from sparks or embers that may exit from a chimney. Finally, chimney caps may also be purposefully designed to control, preserve or improve upon a chimney's draft. Many chimney caps are made of metal including stainless steel chimney caps, copper chimney caps, aluminum chimney caps and the ever common black painted galvanized steel chimney cap. Standard type chimney caps have a simple sloped roof to block most of the falling rain and mesh sides to block birds, small animals. Some employ tighter screening to also neutralize sparks. They are designed to simply clamp on to round, square or rectangular chimney flue pipes with screw fasteners. Round versions may also provide protection for exposed chimney pots. More expansive, elaborate chimney caps, such as chimney hoods or chimney shrouds, provide a decorative architectural feature and protect more of the chimney top crown.

plain black painted standard steel chimney cap pictured

Common Black Painted Steel Chimney Cap

chimney pot assortment in copper, stainless and aluminum shown, some with integral rain caps and screens

Assortment of Chimney Pots (including capped & screened examples)
copper chimney pots shown, single and multi-flue chimney pots with chimney hoods or shrouds

copper chimney pots shown, single and multi-flue chimney pots with chimney hoods or shrouds

Single and Multi-Flue Copper Chimney Pots with Chimney Top Shroud

Chimney pots are most often seen in Tudor architecture and sometimes with Colonial, Victorian and Row Houses. Chimney pots were usually made from clay (terra cotta) but now are also made from metals. New pure copper and weathered reddish brown copper chimney pots are shown above, along with stainless steel and mill finish aluminum pots. Chimney pots are often open at their top, and while a separate protective chimney cap for use on top of chimney pots can be used, even better, a cleaner design like the ones pictured above with their own integral cap and screening. New chimney pots create a certain architectural style or may replace worn out or broken chimney pots to preserve that look. A chimney pot or variation thereof may also be used when you wish to extend the height of your chimney to improve upon insufficient chimney updraft. Some chimney hood or shroud designs also increase effective chimney height.

chimney vent cap, directional chimney cowl vent and chimney turbine vent shown

Chimney Vent - Directional Chimney Cowl - Turbine Vent

chimney vent cap - copper dome shroud design pictured

Shrouded Copper Dome Chimney Vent

If you experience too much downdraft into your chimney from consistent high winds or substantial amounts of air deflect off of adjacent walls, tall trees, buildings or hills, then you may need to limit or block excess air being pushed down into your chimney. Passive shrouded chimney cap devices exist that work to limit deflected air or high winds from being driven down into your chimney. They work to block winds from the top and sides, allowing air out only from vents near or on the bottom. There is also a directional chimney cowl - chimney cap, which rotates to align with the wind, to block it and prevent a downdraft of air into your chimney pipe or chimney flue. A turbine chimney vent spins with the wind to draw air upwards and counteract downward air pressure. A downdraft problem may be severe enough that extending a chimney using chimney pots or chimney shrouds or using other passive draft enhancers may still prove insufficient. In this case, there are sources of chimney fans available, which mount inside your chimney and induce upward drafts using variable speed motors and paddle fans.

chimney hood and chimney shroud shown here

Chimney Hoods - Chimney Shrouds - Chimney Caps
copper chimney caps with decorative and ornate shapes and chimney cap design shown

Copper Chimney Caps - Custom Decorative Metal

Chimney caps serve important functional purposes, yet may also provide a very decorative and distinctive architectural feature to your home. Your chimney top and chimney cap are typically at the very highest point of your home and where better to make a crowning statement to distinguish and accentuate your home.

* The pictures above of custom chimney caps, chimney pots and chimney vents, provide courtesy of Rutland's architectural copper and metal work craftsmen. If you can dream or imagine it, Rutland's accomplished coppersmiths and custom metal fabricators can create it. View more of Rutland's many Chimney Cap Designs.