How To Frame A Vaulted Ceiling: Two Important Techniques Of Framing A Vaulted Ceiling

Two Important Techniques Of Framing A Vaulted Ceiling

Vaulted ceilings can make your room look much larger, which in turn gives it a light as well as lofty appearance. This type of ceiling adds an extra dimension of light as well as depth. Vaulted ceilings are also perfect when it comes to adding skylights, which can also help fill a room with warm, natural light during the daytime. However, a major drawback of vaulted ceilings is that they are highly ineffective & incompetent when it comes to saving energy. Warm air rises as well as gets trapped in the area above the room. In addition, some people may view a vaulted ceiling as simply wasted space which in turn could be occupied by either a second floor or storage space such as an attic. If you are looking to frame a vaulted ceiling, then go through the two below-mentioned techniques carefully:

Technique 1: Vaulted Trusses

• Setting vaulted roof trusses in order to frame a vaulted ceiling is regarded as one of the easiest and simplest techniques you can use. Vaulted trusses are usually built & manufactured in a truss-manufacturing warehouse that are generally delivered to the place of framing having been assembled in advance. There are a number of smaller members in trusses that are engineered to remain undamaged or unaffected by heavy loads, exactly opposite to the heavy lumber that usually need rafters.
• You will get a detailed set of instructions when the trusses reach the spot of framing that typically define everything from placement to the size of the fasteners that you need to use. However, one of the limitations that come along with vaulted trusses is that the interior vault does not generally exceed half the pitch of the exterior vault. For instance, if your exterior roof possesses 8/12 pitch, then your exterior roof should not be more than 4/12 vaulted ceiling.

Technique 2: Vaulted Rafters

• One of the original and the most common techniques when it comes to getting a vaulted ceiling is stick framing a roof using rafters. However, you need to establish or ascertain rafter size, placement as well as the pitch based on span as well as other considerations. Rafters that are used to frame a vaulted roof are generally larger in comparison with the rafters that are used to frame a roof that are dependent on ceiling joists for support.
• Firstly, you have to take care of the placement of a substantial ridge beam, which is usually supported at the ends of the roof. Then, you need to attach or secure the vaulted rafters, to the ridge beam as well as to the wall plates, but make sure to attach one at a time. There is a special cut known as “bird’s mouth" cut made at the spot where the rafters meets the wall plate. This will help transfer some of the lateral pressure of the rafter descending through the wall.

Important Safety Tips

• Stick framing a vaulted ceiling is an extremely easy process, however, you will need the capability of figuring & cutting angles correctly. In order to get to the ridge beam safely, scaffolding constructed in the interior of the house is very important. When the rafters are very large as well as heavy, like those used in timber-frame construction, a crane is important for setting the large ridge beam as well as the rafters.
• Due to the dangers inherent in building a vaulted ceiling, not to mention the dangers to the occupants of the building if you opt for the wrong design, calling in a pro, instead of trying to do the work yourself, is highly advisable.