The Advantages Of Exposing Roof Rafters

Exposed roof rafters are in vogue. They represent the latest trend in interior home designs; homes having a configuration of exposed rafters can fetch suprisingly greater value than those with plain ceilings. Many people who have attics in their homes, with attic floors serving as ceilings for living spaces, have started to search for remodeling solutions that can expose roof rafters for rejuvenating their homes.

Since such a change provides contemporary styling to the house, it increases the pleasure of living there and also enhances the property value considerably. Prospective homebuyers typically look for houses with features that give/add value to the property. They feel secure and satisfied with respect to the purchase price they pay and consider it as money well spent. If the house has appeal, the buyer also sees the investment as carrying more liquidity allowing him to resell at short notice in case of an emergency. The exposed rafter roof design caters substantially to create an aura of contemporary styling and easy salability around a house.

There are numerous firms/individual contractors that can be contacted by homeowners who are interested in going for a home renovation project involving exposed roof rafters. It is a job for experts and any agency consenting to undertake the work would first send out a qualified technical person to survey the home and assess whether the project is feasible. Despite the homeowner's wish to have exposed roof rafters, there can be technical constraints preventing the project from being feasible/successful. If going ahead with the project is technically ok then preparing an estimate for the project, along with completing other preliminary requirements will follow.

When the project is undertaken it would require repositiong the lighting and other fixtures in a room's ceiling/underside of the attic floor. This, however, falls within the work domain of the technical people taking care of the project and they will have suitable provisions in the project plans to provide desired end results at the project's completion. Completion of the project will effect an illusory change in the room's appearance. It will appear more spacious and bigger than it actually is. This comes from the additional overhead space that is created by removal of the attic floor. Sadly, it does not add to the living space although the room does seem to have more space. Never the less, ambience is definitely enhanced.

The outside of the house also gets a new look by using some of the suitable after market products available. These can be integrated to complement the design of the house. For example, there are many beautifully shaped brackets in different designs that can be attached to externally projecting rafter tails/ends for attaching guttering to add appeal and protect the house's structural integrity. This will also eliminate the use of spike type gutter hangers or add on fascia board that look ugly and can spoil the outside looks of the house.

In case of industrial and commercial buildings, exposed roof rafters provide for easy fixing of thermal insulation including vapor barriers. For example, multiple layer aluminum reflective insulation can be attached in very little time to the roof using under 1 inch staples and a hand stapler. Reflective insulation containing vapor barriers greatly reduces vapor transmission together with a substantial increase in insulating properties. Its light-reflectivity leads to a major reduction in lighting needs. When affixed to exposed rafters, reflective insulation maintenance and replacement, if required, becomes much easier.