Do cathedral ceilings need collar ties?

Cathedral ceilings are popular in many homes, but they have special issues with the downward load on the rafters that push outward on the exterior walls. Open collar ties and ridge beams address many of these issues. The higher the tie is located, the less leverage is available to counteract the outward-thrust forces.

Is a cathedral ceiling the same as a vaulted ceiling?

A vaulted ceiling slopes upward from both sides to form a peak. On the other hand, cathedral ceilings are defined by their symmetry: they feature two equal sloping sides that meet at a higher point in the middle and often conform to the shape of the roof.

What is the purpose of collar ties?

A collar tie is a tension tie in the upper third of opposing gable rafters that is intended to resist rafter separation from the ridge beam during periods of unbalanced loads, such as that caused by wind uplift, or unbalanced roof loads from snow.

What is the best way to build a cathedral ceiling?

Cathedral Ceiling Framing. There are any number of satisfactory structural solutions that will allow you to create the cathedral ceiling. One solution is to install a properly sized beam just under the peak of the roof, where the top of the rafters connect to the ridge board. This beam will carry all of the roof load,…

How to avoid roof frame problems with cathedral ceilings?

Contributing editor Scott McBride replies: To avoid these problems in a structure with a cathedral ceiling, it helps to understand how a typical roof frame works. A plain flat-ceiling gable is actually a procession of light trusses, usually spaced 16 in. o. c. Each truss is composed of two opposing rafters and a ceiling joist.

How do you open up a ceiling frame?

The next option you can consider in opening up the ceiling frame is to remove some of the ceiling joists or collar ties while leaving the full complement of rafters in place. Typically, this is done by leaving every third collar tie and removing the two in between, as shown in the drawing.

What are these gusset plates for on a cathedral ceiling?

If you use these gusset plates, you will end up with a small, flat ceiling area near the peak of the cathedral ceiling. The slanted pieces of wood are actual roof rafters. The horizontal piece of wood is a collar tie. You can see how combined, all three pieces of wood make a strong triangle.