12' drywall ceilings (2x4s?)

armsteadj1 · 12-03-2009, 12:36 PM

I recently purchased a ranch home with ALL drop down ceilings (scissor trusses!) except for the attached 2 car garage that they converted into part of the house. We want to install drywall ceilings in a majority of the rooms and will either leave the hallway drop down or add an access in one of the closets.

My question is, will 2x4s be able to hold drywall with 16" centers and the room span is around 11' 7-9". The room is about 23' long and will have around a 5-6' walk in closet built into one of the sides of the room.

I would love to start putting rafters in/building the closet wall this weekend, but wasn't 100% sure what I needed to purchase.

Thanks!
James

jogr · 12-03-2009, 01:06 PM

Consult the ceiling joist table in the IRC but I think you'll need to go to 2x6s.

Can you drywall to the bottom chord of the trusses instead?

armsteadj1 · 12-03-2009, 01:11 PM

I would just make it a vaulted ceiling but there are pipes (airconditioner, gas) running under the scissor (idiots).. so we would have to move all of those before we could start =(

Bob Mariani · 12-03-2009, 02:04 PM

move the pipes and anything under the trusses and make it a cathedral ceiling. It will be worth the effort. I have done this for several clients and all they wanted to know is what other rooms can I fix the same way. Moving these things is not difficult to do. To build a new ceiling use 2X6, not 2X4. Cost is not much more and you will have less sagging. Code would accept 2X4, but building better only makes sense sometimes.

**Gary in WA** · 12-03-2009, 03:51 PM

http://www.colonie.org/forms/building/bdspanab.pdf
Be safe, Gary

Paulie · 12-03-2009, 08:15 PM

I completely agree with the idea of drywalling the bottom cord of the scissor truss. People love it when their space is opened up and I agree it's a great effect. If you have 'em by all means use 'em. Leave the 2 x 4's at the lumber yard.