Browse Forums Building A New House 1 May 11, 2012 12:55 pm Hi, I know this is a topic that is covered alot but I have a specific question. Due to adding a split level towards the back of the house (500mm drop) and the ceiling height at the front being 2600mm the ceiling height in the back section will now be 3100mm! This is quite alot higher than any examples I've seen. Does anyone have any views on whether this is a good or bad thing? (Pictures would be great). We're thinking it will actually improve the aesthetics of the house rather than make it worse but are not sure . The area in question is a long room (10.5m by 5m) which is the living/dining/kitchen. The heights of doors will be increased to 2340mm to make them more in proportion. Re: Ceiling height - how high is too high? 2May 11, 2012 3:15 pm Hey secured, McLaren sent me here, thanks McLaren We have virtually the same as you. 2700 ceilings with a 600mm step down to 3300. Our room is 12 m long and is also our kitchen, fining, living. We are still building but have gyprock up now and I think it looks amazing with the high ceilings, a real feature, we also have 2340 doors. We have dropped the ceiling over the kitchen to 3000mm Some of the H1ers have seen my house and I think they would agree it looks awesome( maybe not.. I don't care I love it ) I will post a few picks later when I'm on my home computer, a bit easier than the iPhone at work! Go for it!!! Re: Ceiling height - how high is too high? 3May 11, 2012 7:12 pm gogo65 Some of the H1ers have seen my house and I think they would agree it looks awesome I can attest to this. gogo's ceilings looked great! Some people aren't keen on split levels, but I personally love them and would have loved to have a walk-down den into our living with higher ceilings. (We don't have split levels in our plans as DH wasn't a fan). So if you have the option I would go for it too! SunshineT's Build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=34585 Designs start: 4/12/09 DA: 5/7/11 Demo: 22/12/11 Slab: 24/2/12 Keys: 31/8/12 Re: Ceiling height - how high is too high? 4May 11, 2012 7:21 pm Secured, here is some photos, I wouldn't actually call our home split level as we only have three stairs, into the back area, I will try and get a photo of the house showing where the step is if you want Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Ceiling height - how high is too high? 5May 11, 2012 7:32 pm Hi, we have a similar set up to you except our dimensions are about 5.5 x 7.5. The main part of the house 2700 and you go down stairs to the living/dine kitchen which has 3m ceiling height. Personally I love it, and people have commented too on how nice it is. I think because ours is actually quite a small area it makes it look bigger too. You can't go wrong, it will look great. I could only find a photo of the kitchen but that gives you a bit of an idea (** photo disclaimer - this photo was taken at night, and I didn't have all the lights on - it doesn't look so gloomy during the day!!**) http://i858.photobucket.com/albums/ab144/lee75_2009/DSC01664.jpg Re: Ceiling height - how high is too high? 6May 11, 2012 7:37 pm Thanks GoGo65 for the pics and you're build is coming along nicely. Some pictures of your steps would be great when you get chance. It's interesting to see the proportions. Are your bi-fold doors going to be at the 2.4m height? Thanks SunshineT. Where we were a bit nervous about making this change it now seems it is actually going to add something special to the design. Now we just have to get it built!!! Re: Ceiling height - how high is too high? 7May 11, 2012 7:39 pm Definately stick with the increase in ceiling height. We have 2400 ceilings in the rest of the house but the ceiling height increases to 3600 in the living/dining which is approx. 9.5m x 5.5m then back down to 2400 in kitchen area. Slightly different to you and gogo but agree that the ceiling height makes the area feel amazing and like gogo I love it... also, we haven't increased door heights... I have just realised that I haven't taken any photos since plaster so will take some over the weekend. You will not regret it - many people would love to be able to do it but can't due to design or budget constaints. Re: Ceiling height - how high is too high? 9May 11, 2012 7:42 pm rocketship Definately stick with the increase in ceiling height. We have 2400 ceilings in the rest of the house but the ceiling height increases to 3600 in the living/dining which is approx. 9.5m x 5.5m then back down to 2400 in kitchen area. Slightly different to you and gogo but agree that the ceiling height makes the area feel amazing and like gogo I love it... also, we haven't increased door heights... I have just realised that I haven't taken any photos since plaster so will take some over the weekend. You will not regret it - many people would love to be able to do it but can't due to design or budget constaints. Rocketships ceilings look awesome! Re: Ceiling height - how high is too high? 10May 11, 2012 7:46 pm Thanks Lee75. You've got a cool look going on there - the height adds to the look. Any more pics?? I'm thinking that the height gives lots of options with hanging lights as features like Sceen7's Trubridge light (and room for ceiling fans). Re: Ceiling height - how high is too high? 13May 11, 2012 8:02 pm secur_ed limesoda Where we are at the moment, we have 12 foot ceilings and I'd maybe think they're too high - for heating etc. Hold on, just getting my calculator out 3.6m by my calculations. So heating is a negative. Re: Ceiling height - how high is too high? 16May 11, 2012 8:25 pm Heating can be tricky with high ceilings (we will have them in one area) which is why it is good to be able to shut areas / rooms off. Even with sliders. Only really need it on super cold or super hot days. SunshineT's Build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=34585 Designs start: 4/12/09 DA: 5/7/11 Demo: 22/12/11 Slab: 24/2/12 Keys: 31/8/12 Re: Ceiling height - how high is too high? 17May 11, 2012 8:34 pm Yeah, its not ideal. THe step down is making a massive difference to the overall aspect of the house and the ceiling height sounds like it will be a positive to the look and feel. Disadvantage is heating may be harder but we are going to have a zoning door to make it easier to heat/cool that area. Also we are going to loose some shading from eaves to the windows (because they are soo much higher) but overall the pros are out weighing the cons. Re: Ceiling height - how high is too high? 18May 11, 2012 9:05 pm Hi, there would be other options depending what rooms you have at the front of the house. We have a 'split' level with 2 steps making it 343mm difference. At the front of the house ceilings are standard 2450 mm, however we have coffered ceiling in entry and master bedroom making ceiling higher by 200mm. Study is also there but just standard ceiling height for this. Level down is theatre, kitchen/dining/lounge, kids activity, 3 bedrooms, bathroom and laundry. Ceiling height here is around 2800mm. We did not want it any higher as bedrooms are here and they would look much like a square with 3m ceiling. Re: Ceiling height - how high is too high? 19May 12, 2012 10:59 pm We have a split level with 2700mm at the front and a 570mm stepdown leaving the back kitchen/meals/ family room with 3270mm ceilings. The room is 12.5m x 7m. It looks awesome but I have noticed some issues with acoustics since we have been living here for the last 2 months. Unless you are looking directly at the person you are talking to it can be difficult to hear. http://i1198.photobucket.com/albums/aa441/brad_thomas65/resized_DSCN0404construction.jpg http://i1198.photobucket.com/albums/aa441/brad_thomas65/resized_DSCN0400construction.jpg http://i1198.photobucket.com/albums/aa441/brad_thomas65/resized_DSCN0399construction.jpg Slab Down: 2/6/11 Moved in 13/3/2012 Current Status : Waiting for the garden to grow. My build thread : viewtopic.php?f=31&t=47031 Re: Ceiling height - how high is too high? 20May 12, 2012 11:54 pm Thanks for this thread. We're doing 2.54 m ceilings with a 0.5m step down and 3.2m ceilings in the kitchen/dining/living too. We have a door to close this area off. Our builder suggested we increase the sliding door heights and lift windows 300mm off the floor so there is less blank space above them. It will be neat but you won't have much freeboard. At least they are not weep holes. Are you in a high intensity rainfall region? The regulatory slope is only required… 3 8269 Firstly, if your house is still under builder's warranty (10 years in Victoria) you should have no need to crawl into roof space but let the builder handle it, unless you… 3 5640 Not sure if that works? I was told the issue is the headspace clearance requirement on step 4. My builder is proposing shifting the beam 310mm towards the kitchen...I'm… 2 2600 |