Exposing Ceiling beams
Does anyone have experience with exposing ceiling beams in a brownstone and generally how much it would roughly cost (through a contractor-not DIY)? The sq. ft area that we are looking to expose is roughly 275sq ft (25×11) and it on the bottom floor of a duplex (and garden floor of a brownstone). Also, any…
Does anyone have experience with exposing ceiling beams in a brownstone and generally how much it would roughly cost (through a contractor-not DIY)? The sq. ft area that we are looking to expose is roughly 275sq ft (25×11) and it on the bottom floor of a duplex (and garden floor of a brownstone).
Also, any up front gotchas that we should know about before considering a project such as this?
I have a friend who has exposed beams but it was done during a high end gut reno. Each beam was sanded down so they look beautiful and it is in a carriage house so the beams are industrial and huge. The floors plywood etc. laid on top are new so no problems with dirt etc..
Done it many times. The cost is without a doubt more than twice sheetrocking over.
In order to sheetrock between the beams you have to put on each beam a strip nailer for the SR. Please note that the strips have to be put on equal distant from the floor boards above and NOT from the bottom of the beams. All bridging has to be removed which will (could) result in spongey or shakey floors above. Insulation (under SR)will ofset some of the increased noise.Very labor intensive. Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!
we had a cracking plaster ceiling- in the process of reparing it we decided to pull it all down- we then put soundboard and sheet rock directly into the floor boards above- heat and dirt weren’t a problem- but sound was- so last week we added another layer of sheet rock- using firring strips- this got rid of the noise-
In the initial phase we also took out all of the cross pieces- we just put some back to increase the strength- most likely you will have the X type- – they will be hard to work around in terms of putting up sheet rock. you could put them back once you have the sheet rock up. they will just be lower.
You do not live in the country. Nor in a bar. Anywhere but in a barn, exposed beams look fake.
Are people talking about exposing their floor joists here?
i agree with the above posters-our house has exposed beams on the garden floor as well and while we loved the look-it turned out to be a mess, both with noise and dust and heating efficiency. we are closing it up as we speak.
Thanks for the suggestions. We are actually intending to add back sheetrock/plaster and insulation above that.
Any ideas on cost?
Noise and dirt issues become a real problem. Also, do you know if there are lots of wires or plumbing in the ceiling where you’d like to expose the beams?
Maybe consider exposing the beamns but filling in the spaces between with some insulation and sheet rock for sound proofing/dirt issues. You’d see maybe half of the beams then have sheetrock/plaster between that could be painted a color of your liking.
also get ready for the noise since you will have absolutely no sound insulation.