When they said they'd take down the ceiling, the builders really meant it. We were awed by the height hidden above our heads in our very slender row-house. We've decided not to raise the roof, but to raise the collar ties for a little extra head room.
Reinforcing the floor for the pool table - it almost weighs a ton - took some time. Only a couple of cracks in the ceiling below. And our son missed a face full of plaster dust by about 15 minutes.
The lighter cross-beams will be the new height of the ceiling.