Vaulted Ceiling Roof

This oak frame home from welsh oak frame features an impressive stone fireplace complete with woodburning stove beneath a vaulted ceiling image credit.

Vaulted ceiling roof.

A vaulted ceiling in new construction is no more complicated than standard framing although it does require special roof trusses which are usually built off site. Vaulted ceilings were first used in cathedrals or basilicas centuries ago but later architects began to use them in various castles and in usual homes. Although there is no separate attic to vent air circulation is still necessary. 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.

It is more expensive though. Collar ties collar ties are horizontal framing members that are essentially ceiling joists that have been moved upward to span the distance between the rafters higher than the top of the walls. A vaulted roof offers open living space directly below the rafters because there are no horizontal ceiling joists. To convert a truss roof to a vaulted ceiling you may need to do significant reconstruction of the roof.

What are vaulted ceilings. There are several options for installing insulation in a vaulted ceiling among the easiest options is to install rigid insulation sheets over the rafters which not only provides insulation but also the structural function of enclosing the roof. The basic framing construction cost can increase by 5 to 20 percent in a home with a large 20 x 20 foot great room with a vaulted ceiling. Vaulted ceiling framing solutions must open up the space under the rafters while still providing adequate support for the roof s weight load.

The simplest kind of vault is the barrel vault also called a wagon or tunnel vault which is generally semicircular in shape. In architecture a vault french voûte from italian volta is a self supporting arched form usually of stone or brick serving to cover a space with a ceiling or roof. If the roof was built with traditional rafter and joist construction the ceiling joists. In architectural terms a vaulted ceiling is a self supporting arch above walls and beneath a roof.

The barrel vault is a continuous arch the length being greater than its diameter. Nikilesh havel a great design idea for making the most of high vaulted ceilings is the inclusion of a feature fireplace.