Framing and Sub-Flooring - Raising Ceiling Joists

Hi all. I just had a gable roof installed and I'm about to put in the ceiling joists. What I'd like to do is, instead of resting the joists on top of the top plates of the walls, I'd like to bring them up about a foot and attach them just to the rafters so that I can have a higher ceiling.

My understanding is that the joists help resist the outward pressure that the angled rafters place on the walls. I would imagine that the joists would serve the same effect (although perhaps not as much) even if they're placed higher since, if they are attached really well to the rafters, they should keep the rafters from "spreading out." Does this make sense? Can I do this or is this a bad move?

If it makes a difference, I'm in Houston, Texas where snow is not a issue.

Sorry, but this is a very bad idea. It is a structural thing. You will be adding a dead load to your rafters that were not designed for this. It might work for a year or so, but your rafters willo develop a warp and begin to sag will will give you sag in your ceiling as well as your roof.. Set your ceiling joists on the top sills where they should be. Just my thoughts. Good Luck

Hi all. I just had a gable roof installed and I'm about to put in the ceiling joists. What I'd like to do is, instead of resting the joists on top of the top plates of the walls, I'd like to bring them up about a foot and attach them just to the rafters so that I can have a higher ceiling.

My understanding is that the joists help resist the outward pressure that the angled rafters place on the walls. I would imagine that the joists would serve the same effect (although perhaps not as much) even if they're placed higher since, if they are attached really well to the rafters, they should keep the rafters from "spreading out." Does this make sense? Can I do this or is this a bad move?

If it makes a difference, I'm in Houston, Texas where snow is not a issue.

This can be done and is done every day. It has to be designed by the Architect who drew your plans. You can't do this. The rafters and ridge have to be sized properly and the ceiling can be raised to a specific height to resist outward thrust and will act as rafter ties and they have to be properly sized, doubled up, bolted....etc. If they are not, you can install a structural ridge underneath the existing ridge.

You have several options, but they are not yours to make. Call the Architect who drew them and ask him. He has to do the calcs. Where I'm from, they are called clipped ceilings. They Architects draw them up that way and tell you the exact height to put them at and what size rafters and ridge you need. If you don't like the clipped ceiling and want a full cathedral ceiling, a structural ridge would have to be put in.

Your case, it wasn't designed and drawn up that way, but can possibly be done as a field change by the Architect if your rafters are properly sized.