Are you looking to create an eye-catching architectural feature or talking point in your home? You may want to consider exposing or creating visible roof trusses. If your existing ceilings are low, exposing the beams will change the room beyond belief, creating extra height and light.
What is a truss?
Traditionally, roof trusses are viewed as the structure that supports the roof, transferring the weight of the roof onto the load-bearing walls. However, there is a growing trend to install feature trusses or expose existing roof trusses, providing both a focal and talking point in any room.
Although the thought of the upheaval and disruption in an existing room might be off-putting, the end result will be a phenomenal, striking statement. However, if you are planning a new build or extension, you should easily be able to incorporate this structural component in your new home, offering a dramatic sense of strength to the room.
How can I achieve the result?
If your house was built before the 1920s, there is a good chance your roof beams form part of the structure of your house, and the plasterboard ceiling may be something that can be easily removed to expose the wood above. If not, oak truss may be the answer you are looking for.
The important factor in deciding whether your existing beams are suitable is not only the size but also the quality of the wood used. Small, closely spaced joists are not suitable for an exposed structure. However, there is a solution in the form of replacement with an oak truss.
Once the space has been opened up or created in your home, the start of the journey should be adding good-quality insulation with as tight a fit as possible around the beams prior to installation of the plasterboard. This will ensure heat loss is kept to a minimum in the newly created space. Services can also be hidden behind the plasterboard, giving clean lines around the newly opened-up ceiling.
The overall effect will be determined by the quality of finish. Do you want to leave the beams in their natural state, or will they be painted? A natural oak truss will look spectacular when left unpainted.
Because there are many differing styles and types of trusses, there will be one that will look nice with your property and provide the ‘wow’ factor you seek.