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A Rochester, New York, homeowner removed sagging drywall and cellulose from a vented cathedral ceiling and is seeking a way to rebuild the insulation assembly. The account identifies limited truss depth, uneven framing, questionable roof sheathing and absent ventilation baffles, but provides no final design or confirmed repair outcome.
A homeowner renovating a mid-1980s addition in Rochester, New York, has removed sagging drywall and tightly packed cellulose from a vented cathedral ceiling and is asking how to rebuild the insulation system without spray foam. The account describes shallow truss framing, inconsistent bay widths and questionable roof sheathing—constraints that complicate insulation, ventilation and moisture control in a cold-climate roof.
The homeowner said the ceiling drywall had significant sags between truss bays, including one especially wide sag in a single bay. After removing the drywall, they found cellulose packed tightly into the cavities and resting on stretched polyethylene sheeting. The cellulose has since been removed, and the homeowner is preparing to start again.
The roof is described as a vented assembly with a ridge vent and several soffit vents on each side, but the homeowner found no ventilation baffles. They suspect the ventilation may not have worked well over the roof’s roughly 40-year history; that is the homeowner’s assessment, not a reported measurement. The roof sheathing appears to be a mix of old and newer material with gaps, although the homeowner reported no active leaks and expects to replace it during a future roof project.
The framing presents another limit: the homeowner said most bays vary in width, only two are spaced 24 inches on center, and the trusses have 2-by-4-inch bottom chords rather than deep rafters. At the exterior wall, the available framing depth is about 5 inches. Extending the framing into the room could reduce headroom, which is already about seven feet at the lowest point. The homeowner is considering a combination of mineral wool and cut-and-cobble insulation but has not reported selecting or installing a solution.
The Retrofit Must Balance Insulation and Airflow
The account shows why a cathedral ceiling retrofit can involve more than filling available cavities. In a vented roof, the insulation plan must be considered alongside a continuous path for ventilation from the soffits toward the ridge. The homeowner’s report of missing baffles makes it unclear whether the existing cavities provide that path, while the uneven framing complicates fitting materials consistently.
The limited depth also constrains how much insulation can fit within the existing structure. Adding framing below the trusses may create more room for insulation, but it would lower the ceiling. Choosing a system without resolving those competing limits could leave questions about thermal performance, airflow and moisture management. The source does not provide a professional assessment or a verified building design, so it does not establish which approach is suitable for this specific roof.
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Existing Roof Conditions Shape the Choices
The homeowner places the house in climate zone 5A and identifies the ceiling as part of a mid-1980s addition. The reported assembly has a ridge vent and soffit vents, but no baffles were found after the ceiling was opened. The report does not document airflow testing, a roof inspection or the condition of the sheathing from above.
Spray foam against the underside of the roof deck is not the homeowner’s preferred option, partly because the sheathing is expected to be replaced later and appears irregular from below. The homeowner also describes cut-and-cobble insulation as a possibility while recognizing that it has potential drawbacks. These are points in the homeowner’s question, not a confirmed recommendation from an installer or building professional.
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No Final Insulation Design Is Reported
The supplied account does not include a completed retrofit plan, a response from a building expert, or evidence that any proposed insulation has been installed. It also does not establish whether the roof’s ventilation is currently functioning, whether the sheathing gaps have caused moisture damage, or what the sheathing condition is across the full roof.
The appropriate insulation level and assembly details for this particular ceiling remain unspecified. The account gives the climate zone and some framing measurements, but not a full inspection, construction drawings, verified dimensions for every bay or local code review. There is also no reported explanation of why the original drywall sagged beyond the homeowner’s finding of tightly packed cellulose resting on stretched polyethylene.
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Inspection Before the Ceiling Is Closed
The homeowner says the insulation has been removed and is beginning the rebuild, but the source does not identify a schedule or a chosen method. The next reported milestone would be a decision on how to accommodate insulation and maintain the intended vented roof assembly before new ceiling finishes go in.
Because the homeowner expects future roof sheathing work, the roof’s condition and ventilation route remain relevant to the design. Any eventual recommendation would need to account for the actual truss geometry, varied bay widths, available headroom and local requirements. Until an assessment or completed installation is reported, the outcome remains open.
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Key Questions
What problem did the homeowner find in the ceiling?
The homeowner reported sagging drywall and found cellulose packed tightly into the cavities, weighing on stretched polyethylene sheeting. They removed the cellulose before planning a new assembly.
Is the existing roof ventilation confirmed to be inadequate?
No. The homeowner found no baffles despite a ridge vent and soffit vents and suspects the system has not worked well. The supplied account does not include airflow testing or a professional finding confirming inadequate ventilation.
Has mineral wool or cut-and-cobble insulation been chosen?
No final material choice is reported. The homeowner asked whether cut-and-cobble insulation might be used with mineral wool, but the account does not confirm a design or installation.
Why is adding insulation difficult in this ceiling?
The homeowner describes shallow truss framing, about five inches of depth at the exterior wall, irregular bay widths and limited headroom. Adding framing below the trusses could provide space but would lower the ceiling.
Source: rss
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