Home Improvement Today?

I hear you. And now I think I know why my fur-lined sink was on clearance.

 

@scocar

 

That looks fantastic!

 

What a mess. You should clean up first.

The sawhorses are nice.

 

Since it is kind of a barn'esque look to the house, I think the number of sawhorses are fitting. After all, horses go in barns.....

 

Question for folks in here! Seems to be a lot of knowledge and experience in here so I thought I'd ask.

I know prices sometimes are based on locations and such and rarely the same state to state, and yes I do plan to bring a contractor in for estimates someday. I just wanted to see if anybody had rough estimates or experience. If I'm mentally planning for like a 30k loan but it's really going to be a 60k loan then I won't be ready for that. I'm sure you all understand what I'm saying.

Ok to the actual question(s). Has anyone ever vaulted an existing ceiling? I have a split level home, and the mid-main level that is single story I plan to do some major work in. Rough measurements of the floor are 25' by 30', and it contains the living room, dining room, and kitchen. I plan to open up the entire floor into an open concept space and I would love to vault the ceilings. All ductwork and plumbing is in the crawl space below the floor, and very little electrical is in the ceiling. Now the exhaust hood in the kitchen obviously goes up too. Does anyone know a rough cost for vaulting? There is one supporting wall right in the middle of the room (separates the kitchen from the living room space) I'd like to tear down and I'm fine with leaving columns in the middle.

Let me know if more information is needed! thanks!

 

Whats the roof framing system ?

 

Rafters

 

Now that the weather has cooled I'm finally gonna insulate and put some wall covering up in the garage. The wall between the garage and house is finished w/ 1/2" drywall and a plaster skimcoat (fire barrier), so I'm only doing three sides for now and the front is mostly door. I have not decided on a ceiling covering yet either, but I want to get the walls up and start hanging some junk to organize the garage. Right now I'm at: Roxul + vapor barrier + 5/8" x 4x8 tongue and groove floor decking sheets... The thinking is I can screw just about anything anywhere to the wall and the interlocking sheets will give rigidity at the seams. The wall is 2x8 studs 16"OC.

What say you folks about your favorite garage wall covering material..?

 

A huge project. Do a little research on 'cable ceiling ties' - piece of structural steel attached across the rafters on both sides, may (will) have to beef up the rafters, cables go across the room to prevent outward 'thrust' of the roof - you'll need: engineer/architect, permit, demo/disposal, steel fab, trades, materials and labor... that's like 4-5 guys at $10Kea, plus: a vaulted/cathedral ceiling messes up your whole HVAC with a big pocket of dead air (add expensive pendant ceiling fans), if you do it wrong or without a decent architect/engineer you will never sell your house, your roof can sag/leak, your walls/windows can bow/break and you might kill your family. This is not to say it can't be done, but it really is a big deal with some serious consequences. If you want it, get a pro.

 

Oh it definitely won't be me doing it. I'm just wanting to figure out a rough estimate for a pro to do it.

 

I plan on using some of the slatwall stuff in my garage.

 

I'd figure at least $30-40K to do it right. There really is a lot of work involved. It might actually be cheaper to tear the whole room off and start over from scratch, seriously. You gotta remember you'll basically be gutting, reinforcing and replacing the whole interior of the structure. Knocking it down, throwing it away and setting some new pre-fab wall panels and an engineered post/beam would be cleaner and easier... I'm not trying to talk you out of it, just being realistic.

 

I'm already planning to gut and redo the whole interior, that's why the thought even came up. I plan to bring a contractor to do everything I cannot do (like the structural wall demo/support columns, moving plumbing/electrical/exhaust) and leaving the rest to me (finish work, flooring, etc.). I figure since we are already gutting that whole are that it might be a good option to look into vaulting. a 25' x 30' room with 8' ceilings all the way across looks huge but too short in my opinion.

and no I don't feel like you are trying to talk me out of it, I appreciate your input and want to know what all it entails.

 

Get some quotes for both ways from some local contractors. I'll bet they will give you a better price and be more likely to take the job if you tear it all off and start from the foundation up. They will be able to use approved materials, the labor will be cheaper and easier, plus you'll get a shiny new 'great room' with all new materials, good insulation, windows, roof, etc. Depending on your location, I'll bet you'll be hard pressed to find a guy who'll do it as a custom-type job. Most contractors today 'assemble' they don't 'build', higher profit margin. Sad, in my opinion, but that's the way it is.

 

thanks for your input! It's a ways down the road before this happens I just like to think way in the future with house stuff. I bought this house as a full renovation in hopes to make money on it (first house for me). Just want to decide what all is worth it and what isn't.

 

Is there a ridge board and ceining joists or ridge beam ?