A well-fitted weathervane turns freely, shows where the wind is coming from, and lasts for decades with no maintenance. A vane that is badly oriented or jammed on its shaft no longer does its job, even if the motif is handsome. Here are the installation and care points we give in the Verdets workshop, and that you will also find on our Delivery, lead times and installation and Frequently asked questions pages.
What the weathervane must do
The vane is mounted on a shaft with a bearing. It really does turn, and the motif lines up to show the direction the wind is coming from. The cardinal points themselves are fixed: they are set once and for all at installation, with a compass, N to the north. If the cardinal points are skewed, the wind reading is wrong, even if the arrow turns perfectly. It is the simplest step, and the one most often forgotten.
The height of the motif is a separate subject, which we cover in detail in How to choose the height of your weathervane: 90 to 115 cm above the ridge for a house, 135 or 155 cm for a barn or a large roof, and custom sizes beyond that for a tower. Here we focus on installation and on the life of the piece once it is on the roof.
What to fix it to
Most often the weathervane is mounted on a roof finial, which acts as its base. The finial is fixed to the ridge with a 12 mm diameter threaded rod, screwed into the ridge beam or the roof frame. You can also set the vane directly on a rod, without a finial, when the post or the roof layout allows it. In both cases the rotating shaft must stay free: nothing should pinch the bearing — not a collar that is too tight, not paint, not a wire.
On a zinc ridge, the base of the finial is soldered or screwed. On a tiled or slate roof, the roofer forms a waterproofing collar. Finials more than a metre high must be stayed or fixed on a long rod. These details affect the watertightness of the roof: they should not be improvised from the ground.
Do you need a roofer?
A competent person who is comfortable working at height can fit a weathervane on a finial that is already in place, checking the orientation of the cardinal points and that the vane turns freely. To fit the finial itself, for anything that goes through the covering, and for work at height on a roof that is hard to reach, we recommend a roofer. We can pass on dimensions and fixing notes, and we are happy to answer their questions on +33 6 71 26 37 92, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. — or by e-mail at artisangirouette@gmail.com.
Care, once the piece is in place
Our weathervanes are made by hand in zinc or copper. Both metals are guaranteed for 10 years against corrosion and need no paint, varnish or regular cleaning: the patina (pearl grey for zinc, brown then verdigris for copper) protects the piece. We discuss that choice in Zinc or copper: which metal to choose. In practice, you leave time to do the work. Now and then you can look from the garden to see whether the vane still turns in a strong wind, and whether the cardinal points have shifted. If the shaft stiffens, do not force it and do not apply just any grease: contact us, and we will tell you what to do rather than putting an unsuitable product on a bearing.
Weathervanes in relief (3D, stamped) often read better from a distance than flat cut-out models at the same height: the volume catches the light. That does not change the installation, but it can help you choose between our weathervanes in relief and our cut-out weathervanes.
Lead times, guarantee, a personal motif
Each catalogue weathervane is made to order in the Verdets workshop (24 rue des Pyrénées, 64400) and shipped within 7 working days, carefully packed. A unique motif — an animal, a trade, a coat of arms, a logo — is drawn and made to measure: send a sketch or a photograph via the contact page, and we will make a proposal. If you are unsure about height or model, a photograph of the roof taken from the street is often enough for us to reply the same day.