Solutions for the Cathedral Ceiling

Insulation Solutions

• A major shortcoming of the cathedral ceiling is its energy efficiency. As a cathedral ceiling usually abuts the roof beams directly, there is less room for insulation than in a regular dropped ceiling. While dropped ceilings have an attic or crawl space to neutralize indoor and outdoor temperatures, cathedral ceilings tend to make for warm rooms in the summer and cold rooms in the winter. Nevertheless, one solution when building a cathedral ceiling is to design a modified attic space by supporting the roof with a "scissors truss." This weight-bearing structure offers a slope midway between the roof's slope and a flat, dropped ceiling. The scissors truss serves as a compromise between the attractive lines of a vaulted cathedral ceiling and the energy efficiency of a dropped roof. Alternately, you might build the roof with exceptionally deep rafters designed to accommodate ample insulation to counterbalance the airy interior.

Decorating Solutions

• While most people who opt for cathedral ceilings do so for the aesthetic effect, you may find that the high ceilings actually require some creative decorating techniques. If you don't take suitable steps, a cathedral ceiling can feel cold or unbalanced. The expansive walls may dwarf your wall hangings, and ceiling hung fixtures may prove difficult to install, clean or change. Pennsylvania-based decorator Donna Quinn recommends using color to warm up extremely high ceilings. She advises clients to paint the walls a deep, rich tone and the ceilings an even darker shade for a dose of coziness. For those who prefer white walls, bold or striking artwork goes well in a cathedral ceiling's capacious room. In such large spaces, opt for a few large pieces of art instead of cluttering walls with too many small ones.

Ice Damming Solutions

• If you live in a cold and snowy locale, an inefficient cathedral ceiling will cause secondary problems. Ice damming occurs when the snow on a roof partially melts and then refreezes. Additional melted snow then pools on the roof, effectively trapped by the iced sections. Typically, these ice dams only form on roofs that have uneven temperatures. Cathedral ceilings, which usually lack the insulating attic structures of dropped roof ceilings, are common culprits for the problem. Ice damming is potentially hazardous because it can cause further roofing complications. While roofs are designed to repel rainwater, they aren't equipped to endure pooled standing water. If you find that you have ice damming problems, you can nip the rose in the bud by improving your cathedral ceiling's insulation and minimizing any uneven warm patches on the roof.