What's it called when you have open ceilings into the loft

[ey143]

When you have a first floor bedroom with the ceilings taken out so that you have a double height ceiling going into the existing loft, what is the proper name given to that design - is this known as a vaulted ceiling?

If so, what are the pros and cons of having a vaulted ceiling in the bedroom and is it quite expensive to have?

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

It is called a vaulted ceiling.

Pros: hmm I guess it looks nice if you like that sort of thing and can certainly enhance a room. People have been known to have large areas of glazing in a gable end and take the glazing up to the underside of the roof plane though that needs serious cash.

Cons are: costs to alter structure and insulation to make it work, may well need to add continuous ridge ventilation, cost more to heat, no roof void for storage, light bulb changes can become a whole job in themselves. Likely to be subject to Building Control approval of course.

There are no doubt others ....

 

[ey143]

Would you say just the roof alterations and insulation and decoration etc could easily be more than £3k?

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Quite possible. Depends what has to be done.

 

[JohnD]

if you are thinking of cutting out those roof timbers which form the ceiling of the room below, be aware that your house will then fall down, unless you fit something else to replace them.

A pitched roof exerts force downwards and outwards, and pushes the walls apart. The horizontal timbers form the parts of the loft into triangles, which holds it together.

 

[SimonH2]

Another con : Your heat will bugger off up into the vaulting, leaving the room colder.

You can of course just let the rad heat up the larger space down to floor level, but up in the roof the temperature will be a lot higher. That means more heat losses for a given level of insulation.