How do I change a flat ceiling?

You’ll probably need to get an engineer to redesign the roof and ceiling because you need to reconfigure where the load changes with the new design.

You will at least need a contractor to take a look to see if this can be done. If it can, you will need to pull permits and have inspections to make sure the new ceiling meets current building code and is safe. Last thing you want to do is compromise the structural integrity of your home. You can still install shiplap regardless of the ceiling height.

That Shiplap Jodi is not an easy task on a 1st Floor OR Above. I recommend Faux Grain.

Explanation

I can assure you this project cost can easily run between two figures of: $1125 to $27800 or more, reliant on how deep or intense of the Barn Look you decide on, between faux and real, and the wood you select.

Because Shiplap is usually good for a Den, this is usually a 1st Floor Project.

However your concentration is More Especially in the 8' Limitations to the ceiling that you mentioned.

Concentrations in an 8' threshold

If that Ceiling Leads to an Attic, it can be Real but has a Hefty Cost of Fuel Inefficiency if you tear out the Attic rather than Insulate the Roof, and place a Layer of Faux over the Insulation.

If that Ceiling does not lead to an Attic, this Look is seldom real more than it is faux or hybrid, for example: Stapling 1/8 inch panelboard to 2×4s that surround the Insulation to create a Facing over the Insulation.

Either way you have Slope and Scope Considerations.

Regarding your Slope Considerations

Most slope 2' to 5' To create the 'Barn Realism' in any place faux needs not accomodate.

When you do the subtraction of 3' from the Above Ceiling Rafters which your Shiplap all attach to, your slope expectations becoming limited results a Job Expectation that cannot be met without a 5.5' to 6' Interior that Slopes upward to 8.5' to 9'.

Otherwise you need renovate Above the Ceiling too.

So you would first need to assess how high those are.

This is best done by estimate (with a Plastic Rod so you do not hit any bare wires with metal) after drilling Holes in the Ceiling.

After that Assessment of Slope, you then need to estimate the Scope.

Regarding your Scope Considerations

To even assess how great the scope of that project can be, (rather than just surmise an estimate of 3' or 2' slope makes everything easy within a 6' to 9' feet slope) you need to cut out sections of the ceiling at either:

A. All 4 corners if you want either a totality of recess without ceiling tiles or drywall OR y9u want a Solid Midsection to host say a Seating Area or Sectional Couch.

B. The 2 midsections, if you decide you prefer only a Recess in the midsection as part of a faux illusion.

The point is: Even when you want to do A. In full, You yet need to assess the scope of how B. Factually can integrate a Means to hide wires and plumbing without reducing the entire Structural Integrity.

Where these concerns are less a matter to consider...

It would differ if this was Top Story or maybe: in a 1st story Sunporch that doesn't have pipe and electrical above it or maybe in a Treehouse.

In a First Story Den however, you need to accomodate a Degree or Layer of Faux, no matter how you do it, otherwise you are looking at Ugly Visible Pipes and BX Cable.

Option B. Is so much easier to do in a Realistic $3900s Budget Range as the Sectioning of it to create Depth or Illusion of Depth enables rerouting the Pipes and the Electrical by the Integration of faux rather than Option A as 'Complete Hybrid' (with Panelling to hide wire and pipe) because realistically speaking:

1. Of the Ceiling former within option B you need only remove the midsection and Paint the ceiling that is outside the Incline to a Color Scheme of Faux Grain that is intact with a Grain Texture (to match the End Outcome grain texture) of the midsection you remove.

All pipes and BX Cable can Paint with that Faux Grain too, making these less noticeable or make they match the decor of Faux Grain by Painting they with a Color In that Grain.

Radiators and Heating Units, be those covered or not, usually match the darkest color of the faux grain.

2. Option A. Is alot like a request to Raise the Roof of the First floor to the 2nd floor.

In Summary

Although not impossible to Tear out the Upstairs Room and Redesign an upstairs around that without any faux atall whatsoever, Jodi, the facts are this:

1. You will indeed need to consult with an Architect. These guys ain't cheap. $400 a day in the World of Architecture is 'Small beams' (Beams rather than 'Small Beans', get it?). Plus, for a Quality Architect, you always have a wait time. This wait time is seldom less than 3 months.

2. When costs are in excess of $12.2 grand or fast approaching that figure, whch assurely a Project with NO FAUX atall will incline to that figure, you are best off to just sink another 5 grand into just scapping the idea to build a 20'×10'×10' Barn or Shed as a Deluxe Leisure Area [sort of like a treehouse or poolhouse] seperate from the Home, where your country style entertaining can do, that maybe has Split Logs to form a walkway to this place where that Unfinished look is by design, from the factory rather than Acheived by Modifying the preexistent Architecture to become: Architectures.

This means in general Jodi:

A. Even if, say you could afford a $30 grand investment, into a 'No Faux entirety' or even the $13 grand in a 'Semi-Faux Hybrid', mostly all architects would advise against placing it inside the House anyway. They'd do the Inside Job, (for High $$$ of course) but they would not Enjoy the doings.

B. If you insist it inside your Present Architecture, (Stomp foot, saying: I insist!) you are yet much better off with a faux solution that Just Removes the Ceiling Drywall to:

1. Paint the Faux Grain and Integrate Illusion by the Color Scheme and Decor as Distractions of the Eye away from any Slightest Imperfections.

2. Reorganize the Pipings, for Suitability of Color to mach the Faux Grain.

3. Secure all electrical in those rafters is using BX Cable that can be Painted with Faux Grain.

And then

finding an Artist who is ranked excellent in faux grain expertise [who is usually very

costly as a Professional Artist, rather than a Painter]

Is the only problem you have.

The nice thing though about faux grain, is that usually it increases the value of the home by ALOT more than you spend to get it done.

I know this as it adorns my emtire home, and has since the 1950s.

Thus I recommend Faux Grain.

Need some info as to what is above the ceiling you want to redefine. Is it attic space? What is the width of the room just to pick a few of need to know details.

Good luck

Jodi, Call a rooferroofer.