CBD's Bogaards Copper Roof Caps Page

This is a pair of copper caps for Anthony & Karina Bogaards in Bridgeport, Alabama for their 2 circular turrets that are different sizes and have a different roof pitch. It was tricky determining the proper size of the turret in the foreground, since it does not go all the way around to measure how wide it is.

This client had seen our web site and really liked the multi tier style we do. They were paying a roofing contractor $50k for this new roof, so in stead of having me make a set, they just told their roofer what they wanted, showing him my photos. He made this small set of 2 tier roof caps with scalloped bottom edges and a hole in the top for the Merlin style finials they got, but it would have leaked into the roof.

After seeing what the roofer had built they could clearly see he had done an unacceptable job. This roofer also wound up doing a crappy job with the roofing as well, looking like a mouth full of crooked teeth in several places on the turrets.

They shipped these copper caps to me to use as a roof angle template. When I was finished with them I flattened them and took them in with the other cut-off scrap metal, so the copper they were made with could be recycled.

After carefully exploring different options with them; we helped them decide on a different style that fit even better with the 'whimsical' look they were after, but had not imagined possible. Designed with this unique arch cut, decorated with these maple and oak leafs, as well as the dangling oversized acorns. These turret roof caps will most likely remain quite the 'one of a kind'.

Here is the new larger set we made for them. They were redesigned to be in proper proportion to the individual turret roofs. We were inspired to suggest alternative design to give their caps a more dramatic look, and they agreed it was a look they wanted and were willing to pay extra for.

I made the roof caps shown below with the thicker copper I use with finial support pipes built into them. These caps you see below are over 4 feet tall.

Here is the set nearing completion side by side showing the relationship in height and width.

Here is a close-up of the 16 copper acorns were made to hang from the tips between the oak leaf patterns on a 14 gauge copper wire. We finally decided on this 2" wide pattern and went the extra mile to make them more 3D than just the flat cut piece you see above.

These black painted wood blocks were made to be used as spacers for venting the roof under the caps, as well as giving the roof cap bottom design edges a better visual distinction than if they were to just lay flat on the roofing.

I mounted the spacer blocks inside the cap base to suspend it 1.5" out over the roofing shingles and supplied the copper screens to sealed out pests that may want to nest inside these caps. Each sections of these caps were made with a single sheet of copper with only one seam to seal.

Here is the finished turret roof caps.

Here is the custom crate being made to house both roof caps for safe transport to Alabama. Neither roof cap can rest on it's tails, so I had to make these special saddles for them to rest on during shipping.

Here is the wood frame crate just before the plywood skin goes over the outside of this framework, as seen below. It was attached with glue and stapled on, or screwed on where it was needing to be removed to open the crate when it arrives.

The final cost was $2,526.30 for the 45.6 square feet of copper that is in this pair of caps php.

Here are some shots of the caps after they arrived and the installation process. They pretty much speak for themselves:

From: Karina5400@aol.c*m
Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2007
Subject: Re: 703 Kilpatrick row

Thanks for the note David. I truly apologize for the delays in getting you these photos. I must say, the caps are quite delightful and the acorns added the needed whimsy I was looking for. We plan on stripping the exterior of the house next spring and she will become a repainted lady in the near future We are hoping to restore her to a stately, whimsical, wonderful manse when all is said and done. It is going to be a long haul but kudos to you and your staff for reminding us that there are folks, though few and far in-between, who, like you, are there to help accomplish such endeavors in the manner in which you have. Thank you so much for your seemingly endless wealth of knowledge and superb, over the top craftsmanship. You are so appreciated in an era where getting anything of quality seems such a difficult task.

We have of course, already considered you for the chimney caps and will probably be ready for that within the next 2 to 5 years. You can bet we will call you when we are ready.

Warmest regards to you and yours,

Karina