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Open up second floor to raise first floor ceiling

16 years ago

I'm wondering if anyone's gone through the process of raising first floor ceiling by opening up the second floor. Our living/dining room has 8' ceiling which I hate. The second floor above it is a bedroom which I can scarify it. So, I am thinking about opening up the second floor to make the living/dinner with two story ceiling. Is it possible? How big the project is? Any help or advice from those in the know, would be greatly appreciated!

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Comments (4)

mightyanvil
16 years ago
It will depend on the structure of the house. Exterior walls are braced horizontally and perpendicularly by the second floor and the wind loading of the house is also transfered through the floor. If you remove the floor you must provide lateral bracing in some other way.

You will need a structural engineer.
ron6519
16 years ago
Like mightyanvil states, this requires professional planning and more then likely professional execution. You need to know what to do, how to do it and when to do it in the building sequence. Failure to do any of these could be dangerous and life threatening.
Ron
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kathyprice-robinson
16 years ago
Yes, of course this needs a structural engineer, but it can be done. And I think it's a terrific idea. I wrote about just such a project for my series in the L.A. Times. A couple in Lake Arrowhead, Calif., hated the low ceiling of their ktichen, so they sacrificed a bedroom directly overhead to raise the ceiling. I think it turned out great. Click on the link below to my website, then go to the story titled: "The new kitchen of Lori Petitti and Scott Sakamoto."

Good luck!

Here is a link that might be useful: Kathy Price-Robinson's remodeling website
warmwave
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you all for your suggestions. It sounds not very easy to do. Another thought needs your input. We have a large den with 8' ceiling next to the kitchen. The den has no second floor on its top. We are using it as eating and living area. Can the ceiling in the den raised without lift the roof? Will it be easier than opening up the second floor to raise the ceiling in the dinning/living room? You can see as long as I have some place with higher ceiling I will be happier. Thanks.

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