Cladding a vaulted ceiling

[ChrisInKent]

We’re quite liking the idea of cladding a vaulted hallway in wood, much like this pic (which actually the House Builders Bible author’s house). And possibly downstairs in one room.
 

What I can’t find is how we would do this and meet fire/building regs and control noise, especially if we use it downstairs.

 

Has anyone used wood cladding on ceilings? Can we avoid using plasterboard as well as wood to keep costs down. If yes, what should we fix the wood to, how do we stop noise transfer and make sure fire safety regs are ok?

[JohnMo]

We had a house like that in the early 2000s, it was build late 70s. Not sure how you comply with any regs.

 

Not sure it's a cheap solution, wood being way more expensive than plasterboard.

[BadgerBodger]

I’m not sure that the cladding in itself would have any impact upon regulation compliance. The omission of plasterboard may be possible but the would be dependent on a number of factor such as whether the ceiling formed part of a fire compartment and/or part of the air tightness detailing. 
 

For example consider the following assumption - the vaulted ceiling has nothing but a roof above (which does not form part of an exit strategy for the floor above), it is a new build and it is assumed there will be a vcl lining to roof structure. In this case you COULD omit the plasterboard and timber line directly. 
 

However, it should always be considered that a good roofs function is not always only to keep the rain out but also limit the external environmental noise out too (in rural cases this might not be the case so much) and even the sound of wind and rain. Omitting the plasterboard may result in louder background noise dependent on the roof build-up above. 
 

The PB lining will also have some impact on the overall u-value of the roof (albeit timber will likely improve this value if used as a continuous lining)
 

The simplest route would be to line with PB and then overclad with your selected material.

[ChrisInKent]

Thanks. It’s definitely not a cheap solution especially on top of PB. Environmental noise is a factor for us as we’re 100% metal roof/cladding so that’s really helpful. Will have a rethink. 

[Russell griffiths]

 

I did this, it was always on the list of things I wanted, it started off expensive when planning it, by the time covid hit it had doubled in cost. 
still did it, possibly one of the most standout items in the house. 
Just depends what you fancy. 
 

Edited November 10 by Russell griffiths

[saveasteading]

My logic is this.

The timber is for aesthetics purposes only, and is a luxury that will have costs.

The ceiling above it should be constructed to provide whatever performance for  fire, sound and heat loss is required. Plasterboard finish if internal, but it doesn't need jointing so is cheap.

You may want a black paint on the pb for shadow gaps.

 

It may not be a requirement but I think an intumescent varnish may be prudent, for spread of flame, not as a barrier. If there is no likely source of a fire and it is not above a fire escape route, then don't worry about it, but a cooker beneath would preheat the wood then a fat fire could light it.

Timber on walls and ceilings can burn very fast.

[ChrisInKent]

6 hours ago, Russell griffiths said:

 

This looks fab! What sort of wood did you use? I can’t see visible fixings (looking at the pic on my phone) - how did you fix it in place. Like your scaff too! 

[Russell griffiths]

28 minutes ago, ChrisInKent said:

This looks fab! What sort of wood did you use? I can’t see visible fixings (looking at the pic on my phone) - how did you fix it in place. Like your scaff too! 

You won’t guess the timber if I gave you 20 guesses 

we wanted red cedar to match the rest of the house, this would have been about £100 a metre, had a look at a local sawmill who had loads on display, I chose this on its weight and price. You can’t be fixing oak up there the weight would just be silly. 
this is poplar, that has been heat treated to preserve it, weighs absolutely nothing. Came in at half the price of cedar. 
 

secret fixed with stainless nails in the groove so you can’t see it. 
it has a trim to still go on around the edges. 

Edited November 10 by Russell griffiths

[BadgerBodger]

Nice @Russell griffiths.

 

Oak CAN look great. Here’s something I did with an architect and a bespoke joinery contractor in a crematorium. 
 

The architect gave a concept, I designed a unitised solution, and the contractor fabricated and installed. 
 

A softwood frame with acoustic insulation within the frame, wrapped in acoustic fabric with the battens pinned to the frame in staggered lengths (uniformly so the next panel married up) and hung on a unistrut frame to shroud the building steel. Here we had composite panels forming the main roof which was cloaked in slate. The oak was treated with fire rated lacquer for spread of fire along with rated fabrics and mineral wool insulation. 
 

 

[Russell griffiths]

I considered oak to be far to heavy for ceiling installation, but I suppose on a steeper angle maybe the weight doesn’t give the impression that it’s all hanging on the fixings. 
 

plasterboard is heavy stuff, so I’m probably overthinking the weight side of it. 
looks really good. 
 

I noticed a lot of these details in more commercial settings, and don’t understand why it’s not used in more domestic. 
I think it’s probably a cost thing. 

Edited November 11 by Russell griffiths

[saveasteading]

2 minutes ago, Russell griffiths said:

oak to be far to heavy for ceiling installation

It isn't very significant and would barely be thought of if the same was laid in a floor over, loading the same joists.

 

4 minutes ago, Russell griffiths said:

think it’s mainly a cost thing

The cost is high in materials and skill, and it is entirely for aesthetics. 

 

@BadgerBodgertell us more about that beautiful ceiling. What timber and dimensions, shadow gap, how was it kept straight in such long runs?

[Russell griffiths]

@saveasteadingit wasn’t the weight on the joists/ rafters I was worried about, more the fixings, fixing something horizontal upside down, all the weight is directly applied to the fixings. 
doing a secret fixing all the fixings are just through the tongue of the timber, this was my biggest concern. 

[BadgerBodger]

@saveasteading 

 

I can’t remember the precise details but I recall the battens being approx 28 x 35. The panels were made up in a workshop so I’m not exactly sure how they were kept straight but it was furniture grade timber. The subframe was a ladder frame at around 450mm centres and the battens were double pinned and made good with wax at the same centres. The battens were left the oversail by 450, 300 and 150 mm to ensure a staggered joint and those were then pinned to the next panel etc. The reveals were a veneered mdf board. 

The timber was bought as soon as we got the design through which was then delivered and left to acclimate in the workshop for 3 months. This ensure we could select the most true lengths and so that we had timber from the same trees and area to ensure a uniform colouring. 

 

The cost was £€$¥ but the finished product was 🔥

 

The brickwork outside was almost as impressive… the eflourescence you see on the columns has gone now. 
 

The photos were taken professionally for Benchmark architects the lead designer. I forget who the engineers were. The project was for Hambleton district council in North Yorkshire. One of those jobs you’ll always look back on! 

 

 

 

Edited November 11 by BadgerBodger

[saveasteading]

Designing the chimney on a crematorium is a sensitive matter. I assume that one is not the working one but is to give a domestic look.

1 hour ago, BadgerBodger said:

the finished product was 🔥

Haha.

[saveasteading]

2 hours ago, Russell griffiths said:

, all the weight is directly applied to the fixings

OK. It's like any suspended ceiling and there are lots of products.

But you are right that it needs thought as potentially could fail and crash down as one.

 

[BadgerBodger]

1 hour ago, saveasteading said:

Designing the chimney on a crematorium is a sensitive matter. I assume that one is not the working one but is to give a domestic look.

Haha.

Yes, the one you see is decorative, there were 3 in total, all the same barring the flue that came from the cremator in one. 
 

It was an all electric crematorium which was interesting as t the time it was the second in the UK.