Hi all, I am going to do plaster ceiling very soon. But I am not sure if 8.5 feet would be too low. This is to be on level with the beam. It will be level all the way from the door to the kitchen.

I can do 9.5 or 10 feet high ceiling but then the beams will be visible.

Anyone has similar dilemmas like this? Hehe..

Thanks in advance.

I did plaster ceiling with the beams visible in in the living room, dining area, car porch and kitchen. I just lowered the ceiling a little bit sufficient to fix the led down lights. I didn't fix a plaster dome as this would require the ceiling to be lowered even more. There is cornice At all sides. Living room and dining has a simple box design and the original concrete ceiling is maintained at the centre but it's plastered ( to make it look as if it's a plaster ceiling and each of the 4 side is boxed. The result? Although the beams are still visible, it still looks good. It's a simple and elegant design. I do not feel claustrophobic as the ceiling is still high. My suggestion is not to lower the ceiling and conceal the beams especially in houses where the original ceiling height is already low and made worse with many beams which are very low such as in my situation.







This post has been edited by abhipraaya: Jan 10 2017, 10:58 PM

Purpose of plaster ceiling is to have it cover the beam.

What is the height?

I may be wrong but is the main reason to conceal all the wiring?

hide everything(wires and beam and etc) and make ceiling look flat and clean.

without plaster ceiling also can hide wiring, by wet work. plaster ceiling just make it easier for lighting dynamic location and hide ugly wiring without drill the ceiling slab.

This post has been edited by IceBikers: Jan 11 2017, 09:38 AM

That is if home owner don't want to pay for wiring conceal, and already have plaster ceiling it can use for hide.

Wireman can do conceal wiring even on concrete ceiling.

This post has been edited by weikee: Jan 11 2017, 09:39 AM

Maybe I correct my earlier comment;

plaster ceiling to to have a nice ceiling home owner like. If having a plaster ceiling and still expose beam and home owner still like it than is ok.

Many homeowner prefer to hide beam and have a flat ceiling. Some homeowner maybe different.

I see. Thanks for your feedback.

I would like to have a clean flat ceiling too. But seeing 8.5 feet maybe too low. I am divided over the 2 options..

height of the plaster ceiling? answer is very clear, ask high as possible. and just like other member say to cover all the beam, wiring, aircond and many other.

As you say, your plaster ceiling after beam is only 8.5ft? not really a problem actually, you still can maximum the height, how? for example, making some design like light box to higher up the living hall ceiling at the center part, but remain the side high to the beam height, then you will have the higher ceiling at the main activity place, do it the same to your dining hall, then everything will be find already

I see. Yeah, I heard my contractor said box at living hall. Kitchen side is flat with beam..

Now I can try to imagine a bit with your description..

You consider the following then from there you probably can make your decision
1) Consider the tallest member who is going to live in the house with his/her arm straight up, can he/she be cut by the ceiling fan. If you plan to install ceiling fan.
2) The position of your down light and head room required above the ceiling for the downlight casing.

Where possible leave as much ceiling void for comfortable heat stratification - proper separation of hot layer of air from the cool where the body doesn't perceive it. For 10.5' ceiling they would be about 9.5'-10' net ceiling space.

Plan how the AC pipes, electrical, comms (RJ11 (phone/fax), Cat5/6LAN, Fiber, RC6, HDMI, Security camera comms) will be conduit-ed.

Plan where your fans would be since either ceiling hooks needs to be pre-drilled or if there's no ceiling hooks, they'll use wood affixed to plaster ceiling structure. If rooms are large, 2 small-medium fans better then 1 big fan. Plan ahead like where occupants center would be. Well placed fans relative to occupant activity works best than a room centered fan which doesn't reach anyone at all.

Allow 3-4"clearance below the beams only and expand the minimally until where required e.g. ceiling AC (min should be 11ft ceiling) which should be near the beams to minimize eating up valuable ceiling void.

Allow for 6-12" from ceiling for box lighting and fan. Slightly more if ceiling AC are used but now newer ceiling AC models requires less clearance then before. Only limiting factor is beam height.

Plan the manholes to access electrical & comms junction points and/or ceiling AC maintenance.

3-4" clearance below beam allows for LED downlight, more e.g. 6-8" for compact fluorescent light.

In your case, if beams are too low, then surround perimeter and beam only up to 3-4". This leaves a rectangular void that allows for proper heat stratification else if too low 8.5ft, one feels perpetually hot and humid. Minimum net void height would be 9ft but generally I'll go for 9.5'.

This post has been edited by halcyon27: Jan 11 2017, 02:55 PM

Thanks for the insight.
Really do help me in considering

Something for you to compare TS. My ceiling is 9.8 feet. I'm 1.72m tall. With a ceiling fan, things are just nice.

Hi, thanks for the info.
I am 1.71 m tall.

Double post

This post has been edited by Noregrets: Jan 12 2017, 06:25 AM

There is only one problem with plaster ceiling - if you install plaster ceiling sure that if you install ceiling fan, the tallest member of your family with the hands up fis not able to,touch the ceiling fan.
Mine is 8" plus or so and I used a Panasonic fans which has the shortest height from the ceiling.

Sure? Not really la. IMO down light is sure.

I wanted to know how stable is that to install ceiling fan on plaster ceiling versus install on concrete ceiling.

Usually contractors will secure it to a beam with a piece of wood or something. Shakes a bit when strong wind, but doesn't affect operation much

The ceiling fans always installed on the concrete ceiling - never on a plaster ceiling.
It just passes through a hole in the plaster ceiling.

+1 I have asked my contractor that too..

Yes. it is possible.

Try to look for a shorter type rod fan. Shorter by 10cm is more than enough.

Or make a dome cave in for the fan area. But make sure the dome diameter doesn't touch the fan blade and enough suction area for the fan

Or install the fan to the concrete ceiling. The plaster ceiling cover till the rod fan.

Wrap around the beam and extend only 6"-12" away from it. The inside will be original ceiling or perhaps only 9' of it but preferable to be original height if possible. Some places I've seen ran the box light (filled with fluorescent tubes either T5 or the normally used T8) along the beam and wall.

This post has been edited by halcyon27: Jul 3 2017, 06:16 PM

Try this to cover the beam, u can put some light through inside the ceiling, in my opinion, all flat design plaster ceiling is just same like original concrete ceiling.

Just make sure ur bedroom and living ceiling height not lower than 9" if not will look very small, somemore 8.5' after install aircond / ceiling fan like too low.


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My ceilling fan shakes when strong winds. WOuld there be any problems?
Mine is hooked to the ceiling...just i also have plaster.

This post has been edited by Zoopdiidoo: Aug 9 2017, 01:47 PM

Having the same dilemma as contractor suggested to plaster to beam height where I found the ceiling is too low. Is wondering how will it looks like if plaster ceiling with beams visible? Do you mind to share pics on your living and dining? I kind of like your idea with the cornice and box design.