Room with pitched roof and flat ceiling or sloping ceiling?

2 years ago

We're converting a garage into a downstairs bedroom and en-suite. The garage adjoins the neighbours' garage and will have a roof that slopes in one direction (the neighbours' in the other direction). This will all connect with a wider house extension.

Our builder is suggesting making the internal ceiling of the bedroom and en-suite flat (while keeping the roof pitched) so it's more aesthetically pleasing.

Has anyone had this done or have experience of it? What are the pros and cons?

Has anyone done anything clever in the space between a flat ceiling and pitched roof (we're not sure what would happen to this - be insulated, presumably).

We don't want to lose height (the rooms in the original part of the house are a nice height) but can also see the aesthetic and practical appeal of having a flat ceiling, especially in the en suite and when it comes to fixing lights, decorating etc.

There will be no windows in the roof - they are part of the room plan whose area is not particularly big (approx 3 x 3.5m) but it's just occurred to me maybe if we keep the slope then we could put windows in it and not the wall (so have more wall space).

Any advice/ shared experiences much appreciated. Thank you!

Comments (19)

Jethro Clunies-Ross
2 years ago
do you have a photo/drawing?

would help a lot
Su Esse
Original Author
2 years ago
Not sure if these are helpful to visualise? (hasn't been built yet so no internal photos I'm afraid). Outlined in red are the views from the back of the house (showing the slope) and the side.

Basically a room with a sloping roof, but the interior ceiling would be made flat.
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Juliet Docherty
2 years ago
I would have a pitched roof and veluxes, it would bring in so much light.
Su Esse
Original Author
2 years ago
Thank you colourhappy. We're having Veluxes the other part of the extension - just wasn't sure if Veluxes would work in a bedroom (and thought about maintenance/ expense etc). Would you get rid of the wall windows and just have the Veluxes?
Jethro Clunies-Ross
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
i would keep the ceiling sloping to get the height!

and keep the widows too, or it might feel 'boxy'

there are alternatives to velux that are cheaper out there.

and you'll have other windows, may not need to have the skylight/velux open-able (also cheaper)

we're opening up the roofspace in our (low) bedroom to get some visual height and light in
Su Esse
Original Author
2 years ago
Oh interesting you're doing the opposite! Thank you. How high is your current ceiling?

For us the slope will only be in one direction, so not symmetrical. Not sure if that matters. I also always worry about how to clean those areas!!
Jethro Clunies-Ross
2 years ago
it's only 2.2m

yes, cleaning... but hey - a long duster?

could always have the builder put in a sloping panel one side, so it's a full pitch, but offset, if you see what i mean?

kind of like what we have, above, but across the whole room
Su Esse
Original Author
2 years ago
I'm not sure I understand what you mean (terrible spatial unawareness!!)
Su Esse
Original Author
2 years ago
Yes 2.2m is quite low
Jethro Clunies-Ross
2 years ago

L-R

the garage with single pitched roof (a bit workaday), the garage with an internal ceiling panel to make it more house-y, and looking into the garage..

ridge line could be centred, or offset as shown (R).

(assuming the en suite is at the back with the 2 small windows?
Su Esse
Original Author
2 years ago
Ah that's a good idea! Yes that's correct re en suite although probably will stick to one window. Thanks
Sarah L
2 years ago
I have a garage conversion with a pitched ceiling in one direction. Window at front and velux in ceiling.
Not finished decorating it yet though, so excuse the scaffold tower,
Su Esse
Original Author
2 years ago
@sarah that looks really nice too. Would you happen to have a photo of the whole room?
Sarah L
2 years ago
It's a bit of a dumping ground at the moment, but here you go. Difficult to get it all in one shot.
Su Esse
Original Author
2 years ago
Thanks so much that's really helpful. Also looks roomier when everything is painted the same colour.
CWD
2 years ago
i like Jethro's idea - and I wouldn't have velux windows in bedroom unless you think it's going to be a really dark room just with the regular windows. definitely add velux in bathroom though. we are extending and keeping the pitched ceilings in bedroom and ensuite, gives a not-huge room a bit more wow factor and less of a box. yes more difficult to position lights and probably to heat too, but worth it i think. ceiling height plays a huge part in how you feel in a room so should always try and maximise wherever possible (within reason, keeping to human scale)
Su Esse
Original Author
2 years ago
Definitely food for thought, CWD. Thank you. At the moment I think we're finding it very hard to visualise what the builder has in mind exactly, so we will get back to him on this. But it's really helpful to have people's ideas and experiences. It did just strike me that in a sloped room you can't have any cornicing...
CWD
2 years ago
i suspect the builder is suggesting a flat ceiling as that's easier to build! and i think it's perfectly fine to not have cornicing in a new room, especially if it's not got the same ceiling height as original period rooms.
Su Esse
Original Author
2 years ago
That's an interesting thought! Given that the roof itself is going to be pitched, I would have thought it would be more work to make the ceiling flat! I think we definitely need to find out what the ceiling heights will be.

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Room with pitched roof and flat ceiling or sloping ceiling?

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Jethro Clunies-Ross

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