tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3257516927675289859.post8104477092015481949..comments2024-01-14T12:12:50.584-06:00Comments on Ecclesia Domestica: Options for detailing the upper floor ceiling...Brendan Koophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16265819790636987237noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3257516927675289859.post-36668109980498998392008-05-10T22:04:00.000-05:002008-05-10T22:04:00.000-05:00Oh, and I forgot to mention one other thing. The ...Oh, and I forgot to mention one other thing. The ceiling will probably not be vaulted in spaces other than the bedrooms upstairs (such as bathrooms, the laundry room, etc.). That would be a ridiculously high ceiling for such small rooms. So the ceiling won't feel as high everywhere on the upper floor.Brendan Koophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16265819790636987237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3257516927675289859.post-37609650271239738582008-05-10T20:50:00.000-05:002008-05-10T20:50:00.000-05:00Hi Joe! There won't be any attic space above. It...Hi Joe! There won't be any attic space above. It's kind of a long story, but for now we are planning on using structurally insulated panels (SIP's) for the home structure and insulation (pending on how the bid comes in), so this shouldn't have beams like those shown in some of the renderings (the 16 or 24 inch spaced beams). This is one of the reasons (other than not liking the look as much) that we didn't go with those partially exposed beams, I'm not sure they'll be there.<BR/><BR/>I don't know the exact number for the height, but it definitely will be tall in the bedrooms. We discussed this with my brother and there's a couple reasons why this won't see out of proportion. First, the height of the walls on the sides of the rooms will be 7' to the start of the ceiling, so this is lower than even a standard 8' ceiling height. That makes the ceiling feel a little closer. Also, the low truss/cross beams we are planning on using help to keep the room in proportion by bringing the ceiling visually downward. My brother also said that he liked that there was a progression upward in ceiling heights as you enter the home and then go upstairs, it's kind of an interesting transition. As far as lighting, we aren't planning on any lighting in the ceiling, relying mostly on wall sconces that direct light downward and upward. Also, the cross beams could have rope lighting that direct light upward. <BR/><BR/>As far as smoke detectors, as long as it's every once in a while, changing batteries isn't a big deal. We have the same situation now in our upper floor of our current house (there is a smoke detector at the peak of the vaulted ceiling in the living room) and we just deal with it when we have to.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the questions!Brendan Koophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16265819790636987237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3257516927675289859.post-67214271788617466062008-05-09T22:09:00.000-05:002008-05-09T22:09:00.000-05:00I really like the open feel of the vaulted ceiling...I really like the open feel of the vaulted ceilings. This is a cool look. Of course as a fellow engineer, I'm curious about some of the details.<BR/><BR/>Having in mind your roof line, the first set of pictures look like there would be no attic space between the ceiling and the roof. How tall would the peak be above the floor in these pictures? It looks like it might be 15-20', which would seem really tall in a bedroom. <BR/><BR/>If there will be no attic space, will there actually be beams every 16 or 24 inches and will they require additional supports beyond what is shown? <BR/><BR/>I'm also curious about your plans for overhead lighting in these rooms. <BR/><BR/>And... one last thought.<BR/><BR/>While finishing another room in our house I learned that smoke detectors with battery backup are required in every bedroom and are required to be within 12 inches of the peak for obvious reasons. These ceiling heights will determine the ladder you get to climb yearly to replace those batteries. However, this might also give you (or Aidan when he's older) a good excuse to go climbing! :)Joseph Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14556646587190815865noreply@blogger.com