Browse Forums Renovation + Home Improvement 1 Mar 12, 2013 8:07 pm Hi All, I've just joined this forum, being at the very very early stages of a large renovation/extension project (we haven't even settled yet). We are discussing with our architect and builder at the moment, and one of the points of contention is the ceiling for the extension. A brief summary of the project is adding an open plan kitchen/living/dining to the back of a period home (~1910). We are restoring the home in style, and will then walk through the hallway to a large open plan area (kitchen on right, dining and living on left). The question at hand is the ceiling. Our architect is making a pitch for a double gable ceiling. So we would have a gable out the back, as well as to the left (north). Whilst there are many aspects from this, I'm curious from the builders and roofers here as to just how much more difficult a gable, or a double gable, is to build compared to a flat ceiling? Cheers, Dim Re: Ceiling options 2Mar 12, 2013 8:49 pm Without incurring the wrath of your architect have a look at our thread. We went with a flat roof, with the pitch rising to the north, across our open plan. This did several things for us. Lowered the impact on our neighbour on the south boundary (minimal overshaddowing). The chance to gain high north facing windows shaded in summer by a small canterleiver/eve. As for cost, it probably ended up costing us more than a gable due to the free spans in the main room requiring steel = $$$$$$. Friends of ours went with a double gable in their open plan and that looked pretty awesome too, so I guess it comes down to preference really. Re: Ceiling options 3Mar 12, 2013 10:06 pm *lol* - loving your thread, going to get the iPad and read the rest on the couch. By the way, I have $25k budgeted for re-stumping, and I have no intention of keeping the floor. I hope this at least gives me some sort of a start (o: Re your friends' place, are they also about here? I'm struggling to picture a double gable, at the moment my wife and I are looking at the Sketchup images our architect has given us: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1xXV6J ... sp=sharing https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1xXV6J ... sp=sharing https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1xXV6J ... sp=sharing Pretty impressive, but doesn't really help. Neither does google - searching for cathedral ceiling doesn't really give me the results I'm looking for. Oh, and the architect pushed and pushed for the flat roof, I felt it clashed too much. He's now suggesting we really should make use of the ceiling to avoid the house being too boring (the alternative is a flat ceiling @ 11ft). Cheers, Dim Re: Ceiling options 4Mar 13, 2013 12:07 pm I don't mind modern extensions to period homes from the inside but sometimes I drive past ones done that stick out like the proverbial. If it was me I'd try and maintain the same roof type and pitch. Inside you can change a lot more without if affecting the overall look of the style of the house. With regards to your flat boring ceiling you could always go for a coffered ceiling. It is a way of hiding steel beams too if they are necessary. Some photos of your existing house would help too. Here's a coffered ceiling done in the kitchen of a new extension to a federation style home with 10' studs. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Stewie Re: Ceiling options 5Mar 13, 2013 12:24 pm Thanks for the reply. Yeah I've considered the coffered ceiling, although the wife didn't consider it for long before giving it a hard NO! Definitely want to be true to the house character. But also won't be going nuts on details, bottomless pit otherwise. Also things like light switches the wife wants 'normal' ones not period ones, and they're cheaper so I'm not arguing that one. Will get to photos shortly... Re: Ceiling options 6Mar 13, 2013 9:00 pm sorry no i dont have any pics of our friends place, but it is a little different to what your architect has proposed. Their two gables run parrallel with the chanel in the middle of the room, that divided the kitchen living from the lounge. It looks great and works well as part of their design. Our design as I mentioned was mainly to drag in the available north light, and works very well in winter to heat the room. Just today the smallest sliver of direct sunlight appeared under the eve.... whew just after the heat wave lol. I do agree with your architect about using the ceiling to add to the design strength. Our builder was a little reluctant with my design, but as it came together understood that anything else might have ended up a barn. In a big open plan you have to be a bit carefull with reflected noise, a couple of angles on the ceiling will help a lot. Another consideration in melbourne is heating the space, so taking some of the volume out of the space helps. Re: Ceiling options 7Mar 13, 2013 9:58 pm G'day, All good, have spoken with builder, architect, and wife today, no tears, all agreements. We're going with the double gable, but have removed what we had before of a false flat ceiling about the living area. I think it's going to look great, will get some pics up when I have them. Cheers, Dim I ran into trouble finding a lock that would fit my particular door, like your situation with your pivot door. I wanted a safe lock that couldn't be messed with easily. 4 25701 Standard uninsulated double brick has an R value of around 0.7. An insulated standard 90mm stud timber frame can have an R value of around 2.7. Even if you insulate a… 17 10156 Hi there, I'm a conplete newbie to this, but I'm looking to put a floor down in my 6x9m shed. It's currently sitting on a 100mm thick concrete perimeter (dirt floor… 0 4450 |