In traditional porches from 30 or 40 years ago, ceilings were mostly flat and thus the ceiling was flat as well. Today most of our clients prefer a vaulted roof to give the room an open and airy feel.
The porch ceiling design options are affected by the height, shape, and design of the roof. The design options are also closely tied to whether you want a finished or unfinished ceiling.
This Overland Park screened porch has enclosed rafters along with lighting, a ceiling fan and skylights.
Exposed or enclosed rafters
Some homeowners like the look of structural rafters showing but that may introduce some complications with electrical wire or conduits that are not easily hidden. Having covered rafters solves that problem because they allow more options for material choices to cover the rafters and achieve a different ambiance. Covering the rafters does not mean that a vaulted ceiling will be flat. It simply means the actual rafters will not be seen.
Ceiling finish
Lenexa KS porch with stained wood ceiling
If you are covering the rafters, there are a couple choices in how to treat a wood ceiling. The classical ceiling look is a white ceiling. It always gives a bright open feel to the porch and compliments just about any color design. Wood stained ceilings are still very popular and they give more of a lodge/cabin/outdoor feeling to the space/room. To give it more of a natural or rustic look, some people find natural wood tones to be very attractive. There are several natural woods that can be used including pine, cedar, fir, or other wood choices. Cedar is the most popular in the Kansas City area. In terms of texture, beadboard ceilings have a classical look that is complimentary to many different designs.
Other ceiling design factors and options
This white porch ceiling has exposed architectural elements that are wrapped for a finished look
Some roof construction will require beams or trusses depending on the load bearing design of the structure. Even if the roof requires beams or trusses, these can still be covered or “wrapped” for a nice finished look. In terms of amenities, your ceiling can include lights, fans, speakers, sound systems, custom lighting, track lighting and more. In addition to electrical amenities, your roof can include a skylight for additional room light.
Bonnie and Dan Hall, Archadeck of Kansas City Owners
If you are considering adding a porch to your Kansas City area home, give us a call for a free consultation. We can be reached at (913) 851 – 3325 or by email at kansascity@archadeck.net. We look forward to your call.