Vaulted Ceiling Roof Framing

Framing techniques for vaulted ceilings collar ties.

Vaulted ceiling roof framing. Rafters and ridge boards in conventional gable roof framing the slope of the roof is formed by rafters that run diagonally downward from the peak of the roof to the tops of the exterior walls of. Builders sometimes also prefer this construction method when they want to provide a large attic space or high vaulted ceilings often called cathedral ceilings. Vaulted ceiling with collar ties as long as you have the traditional rafter and beam setup you can add a vaulted ceiling to your existing home. To avoid these problems in a structure with a cathedral ceiling it helps to understand how a typical roof frame works.

They can be an integral part of the structural framing system. Several options for alternative structural support include placing a very sturdy strong center roof beam along the roof peak line and attaching all of the rafters to it. Collar ties are horizontal framing members that are essentially ceiling joists that have been moved upward. A plain flat ceiling gable is actually a procession of light trusses usually spaced 16 in.

However constructing a stick framed roof is not always easy. Stick framing a roof with rafters is the old fashioned and still most common method of obtaining a vaulted ceiling. If the collar tie option leaves too many framing members in the ceiling vault for your taste you can. If you are considering removing a flat ceiling in favor of constructing a vaulted ceiling first determine how to brace the roof with an alternative method of support for the rafters.

But keep in mind those existing horizontal joists located just above the ceiling do more than just hold the ceiling drywall in place. 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.