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Weather Vanes Give a Crowning Touch to Homes

These classic roof ornaments are as decorative as they are functional, with shapes far afield from the average rooster

Rachel Grace June 28, 2012

Houzz Contributor

Comment1

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Ever since the clock struck summer this year, Frank's Sinatra's song "Summer Wind" has been on replay in my head. Coincidentally, this has triggered thoughts of weather vanes. The decorative instruments have always been favorites of mine, and now that I'm a homeowner I feel the need to have a weather vane of my very own.

Used as an architectural ornament, weather vanes are often found at the highest point of a building and are used to show the direction of the wind. Mounted on a fixed rod, they have letters indicating the points on the compass. Above the letters, the decorative directional ornament sits on a rotating spindle. In order for the instrument to work properly, the weight of the directional piece must be evenly distributed on each side. However, the surface area has to be unequally divided so the pointer can move freely on its axis.

Nowadays you'll find almost anything used as the ornament for weather vanes — from Santa's sleigh to my personal favorite, the Labrador retriever.

Domain Design Architects

An eagle weather vane is a classic all-American choice.

Richard Leggin Architects

A square cupola is not complete without a weather vane. You can purchase a similar hand-crafted cupola from Weathervanes of Maine.

This Massachusetts shingle-style carriage house is brimming with architectural details. I spy knee braces, diamond muntins and a square cupola with a weather vane.

PBC Design + Build

Directionals do not a weather vane make. Some weather vanes simply feature a basic arrow ornament. Denninger Weather Vanes carries an entire arrow collection!

Forum Phi Architecture | Interiors | Planning

Birds in flight are often used as the decorative directional ornament on weather vanes, representing patience, grace and beauty.

McKay Architects

This home proudly displays a weather vane atop its square cupola. Much of today's high-end weather vanes are handmade in New England.

Tongue & Groove Design + Build

An antiqued whale silhouette is a fitting weather vane choice for seaside living. Cape Cod Weathervane Company sells an identical whale cutie.

Birdseye Design

Mounted on an octagonal cupola, a sailboat weather vane sails in the summer wind.

Richard Taylor Architects

Back in the day, roosters were the go-to decorative directional piece — so popular that weather vanes are also referred to as weathercocks.

More:
Weathervanes to Crow About

Comment1

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Darlene Mulligan

Any thoughts on lightning? In central Ontario, we get an occasional tree hit by lightning, and since a weathervane might just be the highest point in the area - are there risks? Is there a way to ground them?

1 Like August 15, 2015 at 9:55AM