Vaulted ceilings can be a great addition to living rooms and primary bedrooms. In this article, I break down a real life example to discover what contributes to the increased costs and just how much more that cost would be.
Why do vaulted ceilings cost more?
Vaulted ceilings come with a bigger price tag due to several factors. First off, they are more difficult to insulate. In order to get the required insulative value, you generally need to use a much deeper rafter. This increases the lumber costs.
Vaulted ceilings also require more structural components. They require a true “ridge beam” which must be posted at both ends and have those loads transferred down to the foundation. This increases the framing labor required.
You can avoid these requirements by using scissor trusses, but these generally limit the slope of the ceiling making it flatter and they are more difficult and costly to insulate. Other costs associated with vaulted ceilings include: greater insulation and drywall costs, increased number of ventilation baffles and continuous ridge venting, and gimbaled can lights.
Example:
Let's take a look at this living room below and look at the actual costs required to have the ceiling vaulted.
In the example above, it costs about $3,456 more dollars to vault this 19’x20’ living room. In terms of cost/square foot, this equates to an increase of about $9.00 per square foot. Keep in mind, this number does not include any decorative beams or ceiling work, something often found on vaulted ceilings as well.
Which do you prefer?
A vaulted ceiling or a flat ceiling?
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