Framing Cathedral Ceiling
An engineer must determine rafter size placement and pitch based on span and.
Framing cathedral ceiling. Soaring ceilings if you ve ever visited a ski lodge or a resort with plank and beam construction you ve probably found them to be inviting even under their super high cathedral ceilings. A vaulted ceiling design can be created by transforming a traditional flat ceiling. A plain flat ceiling gable is actually a procession of light trusses usually spaced 16 in.
Before you begin vaulted ceiling construction be sure to consult with a structural engineer. The trick in framing a vaulted ceiling is figuring out what to do with the ceiling joists. To avoid these problems in a structure with a cathedral ceiling it helps to understand how a typical roof frame works.
Vaulted ceilings can be constructed by either stick framing which means attaching each joist and rafter individually or by setting roof trusses that come engineered from a truss manufacturer with. Framing a cathedral ceiling is not hard. If it s your first case and if you feel uncomfortable call for the engineer.
Without joists the walls can bow outward and the roof ridge line may sag. Finally when a cathedral or a vaulted ceiling or any gable roof is framed without either an engineered structural ridge ceiling joists or rafter ties or an engineered solution some amount of ridge sag and wall kick out is guaranteed. A dramatic cathedral ceiling makes a strong statement in a home s interior but make sure to follow the best practices to eliminate mold and wood rot while also saving money on lumber and materials.
The cathedral ceiling ideas below offer attractive plank ceiling upgrades to a plain white sloped ceiling and can get your creative juices flowing. Each truss is composed of two opposing rafters and a ceiling joist. These horizontal framing members tie a building s outer walls together and resist the outward force exerted by the roof rafters in conventional framing.