What You Should Know About
Ceilings...
9-Foot Ceilings
A standard home typically has 8-foot high ceilings. If you
use 9-foot ceilings your rooms will feel much larger and more
open. You can also use a combination of ceiling heights such
as 9-foot ceilings on the main floor and 8-foot ceilings on the
second floor. It doesn't cost much more to add a foot of
ceiling space and the home will feel much larger. You can
even have different ceiling heights on the same floor (but the
areas with higher ceilings may reduce floor space on the floor
above a room with a higher ceiling).
Changing the Ceiling Height
Usually, you can easily change the ceiling height of
most plans. If you change the ceiling height, pay attention
how the ceiling height changes affects your staircase. If you
increase the ceiling height you will need more floor space to
increase the length of the staircase. If you lower the
ceiling height then make sure you have enough head clearance when
using the stairs.
Cathedral Ceilings
If you have a cathedral ceiling on the lower floor,
the floor space above the cathedral ceiling might not be
useable. However, areas above cathedral ceilings can provide
great storage space. You can sometimes remove or add cathedral
ceilings from a plan. If you remove a cathedral, then the
space above the ceiling might be suitable for another room.
Crowned Ceilings
An indentation in the ceilings that is trimmed with crown molding
can be very attractive. For example a square or octagonal
crowned ceiling indentation can frame a chandelier. To have
an indented ceiling you may lose a few inches of ceiling
space. Therefore, it's helpful to have a higher ceiling such
as 9-foot ceiling when using indentations.
Tray Ceilings
Tray ceilings (also called coffered ceilings) are ceilings that
slope on all four sides. At the center of the slope is a flat
ceiling and the ceiling in the center is higher than the ceiling
near the edges of the room. A tray ceiling can be an elegant
way to vary the ceiling height of a room.
Victorian Wallpapered Ceilings
On taller ceilings, several wallpapers patterns can be combined to
create a decorative design on the ceiling. For example,
create triangles, squares and diamonds using different wallpaper
patterns to create a geometric design on the ceiling. Put a
wallpaper border around the wall near the ceiling. Have
decorative wall molding below the wallpaper border to finish the
look.
Laminated Ceiling Panels
Laminate ceiling panels can make you're ceilings look like they
have planks of wood. Laminate ceiling panes are similar to
laminate flooring materials and fiberboard has plastic laminate and
with simulated wood grains on it. Laminate ceilings are more
resistant to humidity then wood is and may make these materials
more suitable for use in bathrooms and kitchens.
Domes
Domes are spherical indentations into the ceiling and can be an
attractive way to have a high ceiling in a room. Domes are
commonly used in the entry foyer or dining room.
Wood Beams
Wood beams can add a decorative element to ceilings. Molding
and trim can be added to accent the beams. Square patterns
can also be created by crossing or intersecting beams.
Trusses Can Create Higher Ceilings
Some truss systems will allow you to create a higher ceiling
without having to build higher walls. You might be able to
use these types of trusses to create tray ceilings.
Use Ceiling Fans on Tall Ceilings
Warm air rises and collects near the top of ceilings. If you
have a room with a high ceiling, it may be a good idea to install a
ceiling fan. The fan will help you push the warm air down to
the living area during the winter. Get a fan that lets you
change the direction of the fan. Fans that change direction
are more suitable for different seasons. For example in the
winter you want to push warm air near the ceiling down to the
floor. In the summer you would want to change the fan's
direction to avoid pushing warm air down to floor
Stamped Metal Ceilings
Stamped metal ceilings have been around since the 1870s.
Metal panels were created decorative textures in ceilings and this
stamped metal is painted. Most metal ceilings are made of
tin. Stamped metal ceilings can be an elegant way to decorate
a room and they tend to be used in dining rooms, libraries, and
dens. Stamped metal can also be used to decorate ceiling
areas that have different levels or between beams in
ceilings. When installing metal ceilings you may want to
prime the back of the panels with oil based primer. This will
reduce the chance of moisture rusting through the panels if a water
leak should develop near the ceiling.
Doubled Drywall Ceiling Accents
You can use extra drywall to make layers in the ceiling. For
example you can add drywall around the perimeter of a room to have
a slight indentation in the ceiling.
Drywall Ceiling Finishes
There are many different ways drywall ceilings can be
finished. Typically smoother ceilings are used in formal
rooms and ceilings with more texture are used in informal
rooms. Here are the most common ceiling finished:
- Smooth - a flat surface
- Stippled - a textured surface
- Knock Down - a stippled surface that had a trowel run over it
to knock down the stippling and make the texture less
pronounced.
- Spray On - Ceiling texture is sprayed on and there are a
variety of textures available.
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