If you’re hoping to change your building’s traditional ceiling, or to simply add a second floor to the construction, you may be wondering: can I take out ceiling joists?
Because ceiling joists are essential to supporting the roof of a building, they should not be taken out without replacements. If the ceiling joists are removed, the weight of the roof will cause walls to bow outward and sag. Instead, contact a structural engineer to replace the joists with a supportive member, such as an additional ridge beam or collar ties.
In this article, we’ll discuss not only the purpose of ceiling joists, but, if they can be removed, how to replace their function so that your building remains structurally sound and safe!
What is the Purpose of Ceiling Joists?
Ceiling joists are horizontal beams, usually made of wood or sometimes metal, which give structure to a ceiling. They also manage to support and secure in place diagonal rafters, which are what give roof’s that classic triangular shape, and are attached to a ridge beam.
According to construction research done by Eric Tallberg, a joist’s two main purposes are to act as a bond that holds the walls of a room together, and to support the ceiling after the walls are done being erected.
Can You Remove Ceiling Joists?
If ceiling joists were completely removed from a structure, the result would likely be catastrophic. This is because the ceiling joists help the rafters to bear the weight of the roof, and act as conductors for that weight to be distributed to a room’s walls.
Without ceiling joists, the rafters will fail to be able to support the weight of the roof. Once the rafters collapse, the walls beneath them will likely bow outward under the weight of the roof and collapsed beams, and fail, themselves.
This might all sound scary, but luckily, it does not mean that ceiling joists cannot be removed at all. In fat, according to HomeGuides.com, ceiling joists can be removed if they are replaced. Continue reading to discover how ceiling joists can be replaced safely!
How To Take Out Ceiling Joists
If you do need to go ahead and take out your ceiling joists, the main issue will be how to replace their function in terms of safely withstanding the weight of the roof. Below are the solutions that a structural engineer will likely use when taking out ceiling joists:
- Install temporary supports beneath roof joints.
- Take out all existing vertical supports under the ridge beam of the roof.
- Place a second ridge beam under the original ridge beam.
The replacement for ceiling joists can also be done using a collar tie. Collar ties are a horizontal beam which attach to the rafters, performing the same supporting benefits that ceiling joists do while allowing for a more vaulted ceiling shape. In all cases, a professional structural engineer should be consulted before attempting to take out ceiling joists!
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions related to whether or not you can take out ceiling joists!
Are Ceiling Joists Required?
All buildings with roofs require some type of horizontal bracing, like ceiling joists, to help support the weight of the roof for both the rafters above and the walls below.
Although some roof models, like a gable roof, can be supported without ceiling joists, you should not attempt to remove ceiling joists from a building that already has them without replacing their supportive function.
How Do You Know If A Ceiling Beam Is Load-Bearing?
You can determine whether a ceiling beam is load-bearing by looking at the following indicators:
- Check the blueprints, which may tell you if the beam is load-bearing.
- Observe whether or not the beam is a different size or material than the beams around it.
- Observe whether or not the beam is running in an alternate direction from the other beams.
- Check to see if the beam is right beneath the ridgeline of the house.
If it checks any of these boxes, or if the blueprints indicate it, then you’ll know that the ceiling beam is load-bearing!
Can You Cut Through Loft Joists?
Loft joists can be cut through, but because they bear some of the weight of the roof, they must be supplemented by another light wooden or metal beam that is the same size as the loft joists.
Can You Build a Roof Without Ceiling Joists?
A roof can be built without ceiling joists. In the case of a vaulted roof, usually a set of horizontal collar ties are attached to each set of rafters. Another alternative to ceiling joists is a second load-bearing ridge beam or structural ridge to aid the walls and rafters in supporting the weight of the roof.
How Do You Know If You Can Vault A Ceiling?
If the building has extra open space near the top because of rafters, has no structure like a chimney blocking this open space, and no metal vent pipes, the ceiling can be vaulted! It will take a professional contractor and about a month to construct.
What’s The Difference Between A Ceiling Joist And A Ceiling Rafter?
The difference between a ceiling rafter and a ceiling joist is that a joist is what is known as a transferring member: it is horizontal, and moves the overall weight of the highest part of the structure down through the lower members, like walls.
On the other hand, a rafter is typically steeped instead of horizontal, and rather than bearing weight, its function is to create the roof shape while allowing the roof’s heaviness to transfer down through the joists.
In Conclusion
In conclusion, ceiling joists are used to safely distribute the weight of the roof, ceiling, and rafters down through the walls while providing connectivity and stability to the structure. Ceiling joists can be taken out, but their function of holding the weight of the roof must be taken on by another member, like an extra ridge beam or collar ties.
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