Vaulted Ceiling Roof Framing

These horizontal framing members tie a building s outer walls together and resist the outward force exerted by the roof rafters in conventional framing.

Vaulted ceiling roof framing.

Contributing editor scott mcbride replies. Scissor trusses are designed with a slope on the outside and inside. Stick framing a roof with rafters is the old fashioned and still most common method of obtaining a vaulted ceiling. 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.

An engineer must determine rafter size placement and pitch based on span and. The trick in framing a vaulted ceiling is figuring out what to do with the ceiling joists. For example in texas where stick framing is common there are entire crews specializing only in framing roofs. Builders sometimes also prefer this construction method when they want to provide a large attic space or high vaulted ceilings often called cathedral ceilings.

The bottom chords are angled to create vaulted ceilings. There are variations of this design to create numerous unique ceilings. 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. 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. 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. Vaulted ceiling framing must be able to resist the downward and outward thrust of the roof s weight load.

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