Ceiling heights

Press, 8 December 1987, Page 43

Ceiling heights

If we are doing home renovations and the ceilings in our home are higher than 2.400, we are told we should lower them to that magic 2.400 height. You should give very serious thought to this costly, time-consuming exercise before you embark on such a big project

We are told that living in a house with high ceilings is like living in a church or a warehouse — it is difficult to heat, and costly.

Do we have to lower the ceilings, like everybody tells us? If the existing ceiling is 3 metres high, or more, and it is not in good condition, then we can consider lowering it if we are going to renew it, but to what height? Some of the large old homes simply do not suit a 2.400 high stud!

There is no merit in going to the trouble of .bringing 2.700 down to 2.400 unless the existing ceiling is in very poor condition. Should it need major surgery, then perhaps the easiest way out js to fix a new one, but think very carefully be- 1 fore you decide to change the height Once you have decided just which way you are going to move, lowering and relining, or just to reline, then decide on

what material you are going to use. What is the choice? We can select fibrous plaster, pinex tiles, panels or sheets, gibralter board, plywood, particle board, solid timber, fibreglass tiles, polstyrene tiles, plus a selection of flat ceilings sprayed with textured coatings or wallpapered. Again, the budget will help us make our choice. Know what is available, how much, can we do it ouselves or, how much will it cost to have done? Lowering the ceiling is going to cost more than relining so, what can we afford and just how far do we want to get involved in the over-all exercise? You are the only one who can answer all these questions.

One thing that could influence you to lower the ceiling is if you wish to use a particular type of wall lining — most sheets are 2.400 high so, if you intend to re-line the bathroom with a pre-finished wall board, or fix a feature wall to the entrance or lounge, then you will find 2.400 is the standard height of these sheets. However, if the existing ceiling in the lounge is an attractive plaster type, do not rush, ahead and lower the height just because you want to use a wall lining that is only 2.400.