Vaulted Cathedral Ceiling Loft

Photo Credit: iStockPhoto

Do you have a high vaulted cathedral ceiling in your home that you feel is empty wasted space? Through cathedral ceiling loft conversion, you can transform unused ceiling space into a functional loft room or living area. Reclaim that empty space and unleash your home’s potential.

Vaulted vs. Cathedral Ceiling

Vaulted and cathedral ceilings are both popular design elements in modern homes, but they differ in terms of their construction and appearance.

The terms “cathedral ceiling” and “vaulted ceiling” are now mostly synonymous, but historically they were different. The distinction is important because as early as AD 217 in the construction of Roman public baths, early vaulted ceilings were featuring domes and arches. Cathedral ceilings, on the other hand, traditionally feature straight sides that slope upward at the same angle as the exterior roof line.

A vaulted ceiling is created when two angled surfaces meet at a high point, forming a vault-like shape. This type of ceiling can have different shapes, such as barrel, dome, or groin. Vaulted ceilings create a sense of spaciousness and airiness in a room, and they can make the space feel more grand and elegant. Vaulted ceilings can be found in many architectural styles, including contemporary, traditional, and Mediterranean.

A cathedral ceiling is a type of vaulted ceiling, but it has a symmetrical slope on both sides and forms a peak at the top, resembling the interior of a church. This type of ceiling is often found in homes with a more traditional or classical architectural style. Cathedral ceilings can make a room feel larger and more open, but they can also be challenging to heat and cool due to the high ceiling height.

Both vaulted and cathedral ceilings can add architectural interest to a room and make it feel more spacious and grand. However, they can also be more challenging to decorate and maintain than standard flat ceilings. It’s important to consider factors such as ceiling height, lighting, and insulation when designing a room with a vaulted or cathedral ceiling.

In today’s vernacular, a vaulted cathedral ceiling may have curved or straight sides and symmetrical or asymmetrical lines. So therefore “vaulted ceiling” and “cathedral ceiling” pretty much mean the same thing now.

Reclaiming Lost Space

Bedroom loft. Image credit: iStockPhoto

The typical vaulted ceiling space can amount to almost 30% of the total potential space of a home. Unfortunately, however, this portion is usually left unused. By building a loft conversion instead of an extension or room addition, you get an additional room without taking away space from your garden or lot area.

Constructing entire new rooms or second story additions are always great options for adding more living space. However, building a loft into a vaulted cathedral ceiling gives you maximum use of the space in your home with lower cost, and less disruption to the existing structure.

Vaulted Cathedral Ceiling Loft Conversion

Homeowners are turning to cathedral ceiling loft conversion to address their need for more living space. It’s an alternative that tends to cost less because instead of adding to the outside of your house, you will be working within its existing dimensions and foundation.

Essentially all you’re doing is inserting a floor at ceiling height and reinforcing it all to hold the additional weight.

How high do ceilings need to be to add a loft?

Today’s standard ceiling height is nine feet. To be clear, that’s for a regular room, not a vaulted cathedral ceiling. It’s now common for newer houses to have nine-foot ceilings on the first floor (and, sometimes, eight-foot ceilings on the second story). Ceilings can go beyond the industry standard, to 10 and 12 feet high.

So knowing that, generally speaking, the minimum ceiling height required for a habitable space such in a new loft loft is 7 feet under most building codes. Ultimately, the minimum ceiling height required to add a loft in a residential home in Poway, CA depends on the local building codes and regulations, as well as the type of loft you want to build.

However, if you want to create a loft with a standing height of 6 feet or more, you will need to have a ceiling height of at least 8 feet (2.44 meters) to 9 feet (2.74 meters) depending on the design of the loft and the type of flooring you plan to install. Additionally, some building codes may require a minimum ceiling height of 9 feet (2.74 meters) or more for lofts, depending on the local requirements.

So in answer to the question, you’ll want a minimum vaulted cathedral ceiling height of 16 ft to build a loft. That equates to 8 ft bottom floor, 1 ft floor construction, and finally 7 ft loft space. However, this is only a broad answer. There are many other factors involved. Such as are you building a standing loft or a crawl space storage loft? Because then height requirements would vary. Also, sometimes the total height is measured at the peak, and the loft could have a sloping roof than meets the wall at a much lower height.

Free Loft Construction Consultation and Price Quote

So if you’re ready to take the next step and get a loft conversion price quote then let us know. We’ll set up a time with you to come over and have a look at your house and your vaulted cathedral ceiling. Chat with you about your wants and needs. Consult on the particulars of the project, and then do some measuring. We’ll take the info and measurements back to our office and work up a free custom loft conversion quote just for you. No pressure, no cost, and no obligations. Let’s just meet up and talk. It all starts with a phone call or email. Contact info below.