Vaulted Ceiling Roof Framing

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.

Vaulted ceiling roof framing.

Bob helps lay rafters and the ridge pole for the vaulted roof of the lifespan house. The trick in framing a vaulted ceiling is figuring out what to do with the ceiling joists. A plain flat ceiling gable is actually a procession of light trusses usually spaced 16 in. In traditional framing the framing members that form the ceiling of the building play an important role in keeping the roof stable.

To avoid these problems in a structure with a cathedral ceiling it helps to understand how a typical roof frame works. An engineer must determine rafter size placement and pitch. When those ceiling members are removed they must be replaced. This article describes and illustrates the different types of support that prevents roof sagging and wall bulging at buildings including definitions of collar ties rafter ties and structural ridge beams.

Contributing editor scott mcbride replies. Stick framing a roof with rafters is the old fashioned and still most common method of obtaining a vaulted ceiling. Without joists the walls can bow outward and the roof ridge line may sag. For example in texas where stick framing is common there are entire crews specializing only in framing roofs.

However constructing a stick framed roof is not always easy. Some of these can support the roof and prevent ridge sagging and wall spreading. These horizontal framing members tie a building s outer walls together and resist the outward force exerted by the roof rafters in conventional framing.