CBD's Copper Finials Photos & Prices page

These are some fancy, yet inexpensive copper and brass finials we have to offer from Good Directions w/frequently asked questions:

Does Copper By Design make custom finials?
I could make custom copper finials, but I have not bothered, since I could not begin to compete with the low cost of these finials listed above from Good Directions that are most likely made with slave labor. I am just one of dozens of retail outlets for these same finials, rain-cups, and weathervanes. Although, I seem to be the only source with some very important advantages: stronger, rust free, and sealed roof top mounts w/solid brass mast rods for a long life product you won't have to worry about many decades later. So the finials shown here are not made by CBD, and are built with a thinner copper than I would use, so they are a bit fragile.

They are mass-produced with press machines by the thousands and look really nice. They are soldered together with minimal overlapped seams, and come with a cheap painted steel shaft mast rod if you were to buy them from any other authorized dealer, which there are many on-line and some store-fronts around the Nation. I believe I am the only Dealer which replaces that steel rod with a solid brass rod and list these costs including freight within the Continental USA, so there are no hidden cost.

These are only offered with the order of one of my copper roof cap mounts, since I can just ship them in the same crate that way. Details you are not likely to find else where, so don't be fooled by what may seem to be a cheaper price on other web sites. We have the value you'll find anywhere, guaranteed.

My specialty is to build a much more reliable and better looking finial mount support pipe for your roof top than any other mount available. Like this custom gable end roof top mount pictured.

One of my stronger custom USA made roof cap mounts range in cost from $400 up to an elaborate chimney cap tat could run $12,000, depending on how large and ornate you want it to be. Most clients go for a roof mount that is around $750 on average with some decorative features and a screened hidden roof vent kit.

There's 13 different finial styles here. Some come in different size options. Their availability varies from time to time.

You also find lots of inexpensive weathervanes on my other web pages. You will not find prices listed on Good Directions web site, since they are strictly a wholesale company. Contact us for the current price of other items not listed here or their newest product lines I may not show here.

Note: I can only imagine how several decades later those steel rods would become rusty inside the roof caps support pipe, which would swell and could possibly burst the copper pipe. Even if it did not burst the pipe it would certainly make replacement very difficult, if not impossible. If you are ordering a roof cap from us, but already have the finial or weathervane, I could include a brass rod with your order for an additional $30. You will need to specify this with your order.

Do I need a stronger custom made finial?
A stronger custom finial could still get damaged in a storm. If these less expensive finials got damaged there would not be as much of a loss than to replace a custom made finial that would cost 4 to 5 times as much. Also, if you were later to find a different finial or weathervane you liked better, you can then easily change it out w/o feeling such regret for having paid so much more for the first one, so it does not seem practical, unless you have something specific in mind not shown here.

How much do these finials cost?
Through CBD w/solid brass mast rod they range from $120 to $350 when ordered with our custom roof cap mount.

Do we have to buy these from you with a roof cap order?
No, you are not required to get them through CBD with your roof cap order, but you should solder on a 3/4" copper pipe straight connector to fit best with our custom copper roof cap for a good water tight seal, yet remain easily interchangeable. You could have it shipped here to have me customize it for you, so with the added freight it's not a bargain to get it elsewhere.

If you do find another cheaper source I believe I can match their price.

What about lightning strikes on a finial?

If you were to attach a large copper wire to these copper roof caps and run it all the way down to the ground and attach it to a metal water pipe or a grounding rod driven deep into the ground you would certainly make thsee roof cap into a lightning rod to attract lightning more than perhaps a nearby street lamp. My concern would be if that wire connection were to get loose over the next few decades, then was hit it could generate a great deal of heat and possibly start your roof on fire. My understanding is that the static electricity of a lightning strike will follow the path of least resistance. The wood structure and asphalt shingles of most structures act as an insulator, so if it is not grounded it would not attract lightning at all.

I would advise that you do not bother to ground your turret roof cap. So far I have yet to hear of a single turret roof cap or a gazebo roof cap that was not grounded having had suffered a lightning strike, so I do not see this is an issue of concern by not grounding it.

Interestingly houses do not seem to be a primary target of lightning strikes. Modern electrical Building Code requires all your electrical wiring system to be connected to a steel or copper grounding rod with a large 4 gauge copper wire. With all the house wiring well grounded through the fuse box this means any wiring up in the attic should act as a lightning rod. Your house wiring would be at far greater risk of attracting lightning strikes than an ungrounded turret roof cap, but this does not seem to be a big problem either for some reason. Although, metal chimney pipes on the other hand have proven to make good lightning rods and have burned own many newer houses.

if you want to set up a near by lightning rod I would suggest you position it as far away from your house as you can. You could simply run a 4 gauge copper wire winding up the trunk of a near by tree; as high as you can get it up through the branches. Then attach the bottom of that wire to a grounding rod down near the base of that tree. This would be very inconspicuous, but may not be best for the tree's health in the event of a strike. Better to loose a tree than your house. Not to mention the shear terror of the loud crashing sound you'd suffer with a strike to your home.

Avalon	Lancelot
13" x 4" $120	24" x 5" $200

Gawain			Morgana			Victoria
	..28" x 3" $150			28" x 5" $200 38" x 7" $350			27" X 4.5" $170 39" X 7" $270

Aragon			Fleur-de-Lis
	28" x 4" $200			27" X 9" $330