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.

Stick framing a roof with rafters is the old fashioned and still most common method of obtaining a vaulted ceiling. Collar ties rafter ties tension beams structural ridge beams. An engineer must determine rafter size placement and pitch. Without joists the walls can bow outward and the roof ridge line may sag.

These horizontal framing members tie a building s outer walls together and resist the outward force exerted by the roof rafters in conventional framing. For example in texas where stick framing is common there are entire crews specializing only in framing roofs. 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. In traditional framing the framing members that form the ceiling of the building play an important role in keeping the roof stable.

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 trick in framing a vaulted ceiling is figuring out what to do with the ceiling joists. However constructing a stick framed roof is not always easy. To avoid these problems in a structure with a cathedral ceiling it helps to understand how a typical roof frame works.

A plain flat ceiling gable is actually a procession of light trusses usually spaced 16 in. When those ceiling members are removed they must be replaced.