Sensational Ceiling

By: Joseph Truini (Page 1 of 3)

photo by Roy Inman

photos by: Roy Inman

1. Snap chalk lines to mark the locations of the ceiling joists— typically laid out 16 in. on center

photo by Roy Inman

2. SECURE the first board by toe-nailing into the tongue and nailing through the face of the board along the wall.

Boring holes near the ends of the boards

photo by Roy Inman

3. Bore small pilot holes near the ends of the boards so the 4d finishing nails don't split the thin planks.

photo by Roy Inman

4. Drive nailheads below the surface with a nailset. Be careful not to split the tongue that's milled on the board.

photo by Roy Inman

5. Remove the trim from a recessed light fixture and use it as a template to mark where it overlaps the beadboard.

photo by Roy Inman

6. Fit the last board into place and secure it by face-nailing. Set the nailheads and fill the holes with putty.

photo by Roy Inman

7. Install crown molding with coped corner joints. Apply a final paint coat to both the ceiling and molding.

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47 Low-Cost Makeover Ideas

Ceilings, like Rodney Dangerfield, get no respect. They're the most visible single surface in a room, yet most simply are painted white when a room is remodeled? and are ignored until a leak creates a stain or turns the drywall to mush.

Invest a little time and money, and you can turn the ceiling into the focal point of a room. Or, "remodel" an entire room simply by sprucing up a blank, boring ceiling.

Several readily available, easy-to-install materials will help you do either of the above. Common choices include stamped-metal ceiling panels, plywood paneling, tongue-and-groove board paneling, acoustical tiles and planks, along with various wallcoverings and fabrics.

The most popular of these materials is a type of wood board paneling known as either beadboard or plank paneling. It's commonly used as wainscoting on walls and for the backs of Colonial-style cupboards and bookcases. These tongue-and-groove pine boards are about 5/16 in. thick x 3 1/2 in. wide and have a rounded bead milled along one edge and a second bead routed down the center. When the boards are installed, each appears to be two narrower ones.

Most well-stocked lumberyards and home centers carry beadboard in 8-ft. lengths individually or in bundles. Expect to pay about $1 to $1.50 per square foot.