Ceiling

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This article is about the architectural element. For the mathematics usage, see Floor function#The ceiling function. For the socioeconomical usage, see glass ceiling.

This intricate ceiling is part of the Capitol Theatre in Melbourne, Australia, designed by architect Walter Burley Griffin.

A ceiling is an overhead interior surface that bounds the upper limit of a room. Generally not a structural element, but a finished surface concealing the underside of the floor or roof structure above.

A cathedral ceiling is any tall ceiling area similar to those in a church.

A dropped ceiling is one in which the finished surface is constructed anywhere from a few inches to several feet below the structure above it. This may be done for aesthetic purposes, such as achieving a desirable ceiling height; or practical purposes such as providing a space for HVAC or piping. An inverse of this would be a raised floor.

A concave or barrel shaped ceiling is curved or rounded, usually for visual or acoustical value, while a coffered ceiling is divided into a grid of recessed square or octagonal panels, also called a lacunar ceiling.

The roof of Wells Cathedral

Ceilings have frequently been decorated with fresco painting, mosaic tiles and other surface treatments. Many historic buildings have celebrated ceilings, perhaps the most famous is the Sistine Chapel ceiling by Michelangelo.

[edit] Other meanings

In Aviation the word ceiling is used to describe the height of clouds covering more than half the sky, (see also: flight ceiling).
In economics, the word "ceiling" is used to describe a governmentally-mandated upper limit. Examples include the ceiling on gasoline prices set by the Venezuelan government or the ceiling on Savings and Loan interest rates formerly set by the United States government.