The range · Made in Bayswater, Melbourne · Delivery Australia wide
Timber Gable Finials — F1, F2, F3 & F4
21 priced items in this range, from $44.58 each to $84.50 each.
Every price and size, with photographs and Add to quote →The finial is the last thing built and the first thing lost. It caps the apex of the gable, takes more weather than anything else on the house, and is almost always gone by the time a Victorian or Federation home reaches its second restoration. Putting one back is a small job with a disproportionate effect on the elevation. A finial is also called a gable spike, an apex ornament, a spire or simply the gable top. Heritage & Decorative Timber Products turns four designs — F1, F2, F3 and F4 — in LOSP treated pine. Below it, the triangle of the gable is filled by a gable infill.
Prices in the shop
See the prices and add to a quote.
13 of these 19 products are priced in the shop, photographed, with the sizes to choose from; the rest are quoted to your own sizes. Nothing is charged online — add what you need and send it to us as one quote request.
What you get
- Australian made — every product, made in our Bayswater workshop since 1984
- 25 year guarantee — on external LOSP H3 treated pine, above ground
- An answer within one business day — we reply to enquiries and quote requests
- In stock, or made in 1 to 4 weeks — some of the range is in stock; the rest is made to order
- Timber-profile matching — from a photograph, drawing or sample
Which gable finial designs do you make?
Four turned patterns in the period range: F1, F2, F3 and F4. F1 is the plainer profile; F2, F3 and F4 carry more turned detail. Each design is available in 45, 70, 88 and 112mm square sections, with lengths matched to the section. Other sizes are catered for on request. The turnings are photographed close up.
What sections and lengths are gable finials made in?
The current shop calculator offers the following sections and overall lengths.
| Square section | Designs | Overall lengths |
|---|---|---|
| 45 x 45mm | F1, F2, F3, F4 | 500mm, 600mm, 750mm |
| 70 x 70mm | F1, F2, F4 | 600mm, 750mm, 900mm, 1.2m, 1.5m, 1.8m |
| 70 x 70mm | F3 | 750mm, 900mm, 1.2m, 1.5m, 1.8m |
| 88 x 88mm | F1, F2, F3, F4 | 900mm, 1.2m, 1.5m, 1.8m |
| 112 x 112mm | F1, F2, F3, F4 | 1.2m, 1.5m, 1.8m |
Choose a design and section in the shop finial calculator to see its available lengths and current GST-inclusive price. It shows 63 priced combinations across the four designs; not every section is made at every length.
How do I choose the right length?
Length is set by the pitch and the scale of the gable, not by taste. Measure the span across the base of the gable and the rise to the apex, then photograph the gable end-on from across the street — that view is how the finial will actually be seen, and it is the quickest way for us to say whether a 900mm or a 1.2m reads correctly. Heavy barge boards want the 70 x 70mm section; a modest cottage gable is better served by the lighter one.
Where else do finials go?
Gable apexes are the obvious place, but the same turnings finish entry lychgates, cubby houses, and fence and gate newels — anywhere a post or an apex needs a top.
What timber are gable finials made from?
LOSP treated pine, H3 rated for use outdoors above ground. The treatment guards the timber against fungal decay and insect attack while keeping the turned detail crisp and paintable. As external LOSP H3 treated pine used above ground, our finials carry our 25 year guarantee.
How should a finial be painted and maintained?
Prime it before it goes up, not after — once a finial is fixed at the apex nobody is getting a brush to its underside again. Apply two thin coats of oil-based primer to all six faces, including the end grain at the base where water sits. LOSP is a solvent-borne treatment, so oil-based primer is what bonds to it. Let the timber acclimatise for 72 hours after delivery and keep it dry until painted, then apply two to three thin topcoats. Inspect annually and recoat where the film has broken down.
Can you copy a finial I already have?
Send us the old finial if any of it survives; otherwise photographs taken square-on with a tape measure alongside, plus close-ups of every turned section. Ask about our timber-profile matching service.
Australian made, delivered Australia-wide. Call 03 9720 1996 for a free quote.
Choosing a gable finial that matches the roofline
Compare the turning and the base section as well as the overall height. A photograph of the whole gable shows the scale of the feature; close-ups with a tape measure show the profile you want to retain. If the original tip or base is missing, identify the damaged area in your enquiry so its remaining length is not mistaken for the finished specification.
Check the selected code against the listed section and length, and include the quantity, delivery postcode and any matching requirement. Gable finials, post caps and post knobs serve different positions, so use the post knobs and capitols range for the top of a fence or verandah post. When combining a finial with infill, the gable measuring guide helps describe the complete opening. Confirm the mounting and finishing details with your installer before ordering.
Related pages
The range
Product photographs and profile drawings.
20 photographed · 19 product codes. Select any one to see it larger.
Photographed
In place
On real houses, in Australia.
Turned timber gable finial, installed on a roofline 
Turned timber gable finial - turned finial on a gate pier in front of a weatherboard house 
Newly turned timber gable finials on the workshop bench, beside the dimensioned setting-out template
Talk to the workshop
Tell us the code and the size.
- Workshop852 Mountain Highway, Bayswater VIC 3153
- DeliveryAustralia wide
Product and ordering questions
What timber are gable finials made from?
Our finials are made from LOSP treated pine, an environmentally friendly timber. As external LOSP H3 treated pine used above ground they carry our 25 year guarantee.
Where are gable finials used?
They cap the apex of a gable, and are also used on entry lychgates, cubby houses and more.
Can a finial be made to a size that is not standard?
Yes. Other sizes are available on request and custom sizes are catered for.