Drywall and wood vs just wood for vaulted celling - GreenBuildingAdvisor
Summary
The article discusses the considerations for using drywall versus wood for a vaulted ceiling in a cottage build, focusing on insulation, air leakage, and heating performance.
Why It Matters
Understanding the impact of ceiling materials on insulation and air leakage is crucial for energy efficiency and comfort in residential buildings. This discussion is particularly relevant for homeowners in colder climates, where heating performance is essential.
Key Takeaways
- A well-taped vapor barrier may still allow for significant air leakage compared to a vapor barrier plus drywall.
- Using drywall could enhance insulation performance and reduce air leakage in vaulted ceilings.
- The choice of ceiling material can significantly affect heating efficiency and comfort in colder climates.
Drywall and wood vs just wood for vaulted celling oronowoodworks | Posted in General Questions on February 23, 2026 08:34am We are preparing to do our ceiling on our cottage build and I have some questions about how people think we should approach this. Build details – Climate zone 6, 1″ silverboard XS (microperf) continuous insulation with all edges and seams taped, 2×6 stud wall r20 fiberglass batt with vapour barrier with acoustic sealant at bottom plates, truss roof with r31 fiberglass batt, vented steel roof, ICF foundation, all windows and doors taped and foam insulated. We have 2800 sqft of floor space, between a ground floor and a loft. Approx 30×30 of the ground floor is vaulted to an 18′ peak with a open loft of about 800 sqft. It’s a pretty large airspace We currently just have a vapour barrier and r31 batt up on the ceiling, with all penetrations having vapour boots, and all seams to be what I would consider to be well taped. Our heat pump has been performing sub par, and isn’t capable of keeping the building at 20C even during fairly mild days (a few recent days have been around 0C) though the unit is rated to be 100% efficient down to -20C. Our fireplace insert has no issues heating the entire building and the contractor says the heat pump unit is the correct size. I have my doubts that it has ever worked correctly as we averaged $300 CAD a month last winter to keep the building at 8C while we weren’t there (heat pump and HW heater would have been the only th...
