MDO Contracting
Get a quote
Service

Coffered ceilings in Charlotte

A coffered ceiling is a grid of beams built onto an existing ceiling, forming recessed panels between them. It is finish carpentry, built in place and painted, not a structural change. MDO Contracting builds coffered ceilings across Charlotte, NC.

A coffered ceiling is a grid built in a room that is never perfectly square. The beams have to read parallel whether or not the walls agree, which is the entire craft of it.

What the job involves

  • Layout set off the room itself, not off a plan, so the grid reads true
  • Beam construction and panel work built in place
  • Crown, panel moulding and the reveal detail where beam meets panel
  • Working around existing lighting, or planning new can placement into the grid
  • Caulk, fill, prime and paint to a finish grade
Get a quote
Living room with a fireplace and a tray ceiling

How the work runs

  1. 01

    Measure the room

    Every wall gets measured, because rooms are rarely square and the grid has to hide that rather than announce it.

  2. 02

    Set the grid

    Beam spacing and depth get set against the ceiling height so the room gains detail without losing headroom.

  3. 03

    Build in place

    Beams get built and hung, then panel moulding and crown go on.

  4. 04

    Finish

    Fill, caulk, sand, prime and paint, so it reads as part of the house rather than as something added.

Coffered ceilings questions

Will a coffered ceiling make my room feel lower?
It can if the beams are too deep for the ceiling height. Beam depth and grid spacing get set against your actual height first, which is why the design happens in the room and not on paper.
What ceiling height do I need?
Nine feet and up gives the most freedom. Eight foot ceilings can still work with shallower beams and a wider grid, but the design has to be deliberate about it.
Is it structural?
No. A coffered ceiling is finish carpentry applied to the existing ceiling. It is not carrying load and it is not a framing change.
Can you work around my existing lights?
Yes, and it is worth planning the grid around them early. Fixtures that land in the middle of a beam instead of a panel are the most common thing people regret.
Coffered, tray or beam ceiling?
A coffered ceiling is a full grid of recessed panels. A tray ceiling is a single recessed centre. A beam ceiling is beams running one direction only, with no grid.

Coffered ceilings across the Charlotte area

MDO Contracting works Charlotte and roughly 50 miles out from it. This service comes up most in:

Get a quote All towns

Related work