Wood ceilings are an attractive addition to any room, but they seem particularly popular in dining areas and recreation rooms. The most popular form of wood is beaded ceiling board or tongue-and-groove planking. Although their appearance is slightly different, they are installed in the same manner. The wooden boards can be nailed directly to the bottom of the ceiling joists, and butt joints or seams are common. The beaded ceiling board has an extra pair of lines lightly scored across the length of the board, which adds somewhat to the appearance.
Significance
A wooden ceiling doesn't look good in every type of room. For example, a large bedroom is probably a good place for a plaster or sheet rock ceiling. However, in a smaller, more utilitarian space such as a bathroom, laundry room or kitchen, a ceiling made from wooden planks is a welcome addition. These pieces can add interest to smaller spaces.
Used Material
Beaded ceiling board was often used as a common building material in homes built in the early part of the 20th century, especially in old houses found in the South. Sometimes the same boards that went on a ceiling were also installed on a wall of the house and painted over. This type of wood can be removed, stripped of all paint with paint remover and a molding scraper and then re-installed in your home as clear wood. The color of the old wood may be worth the extra effort.
Installation process
Tongue-and-groove ceiling boards are nailed directly to the ceiling joists with a galvanized finish nail. The groove edge of the board goes against one edge of the ceiling, and the worker lays the groove around the tongue as he proceeds across the room. Nails are driven through the place where the tongue meets the main part of the board. Never bang directly on the groove with the hammer; always use a block of wood between the tool and the tongue. As you go, you should try to keep the space between boards consistently at 1/4 inch. Every couple of rows, you can chalk a line across the room to help keep the rows straight, which results in a better overall appearance.
Finish
Because there's no foot traffic on a ceiling, you can get by with using a much lighter finish than you would necessarily use on the floor. One or two light coats will suffice. A light oil finish looks good, as does a quick coat of polyurethane. Other possibilities include varnish or shellac. Ceiling wood can be painted, but most homeowners probably think the idea absurd because of the amount of time and money involved in placing ceiling boards.
Salvage
For a novel idea, try using salvage or scrap wood as ceiling material. This is something you can try in a small place, like a bathroom or laundry room. Chances are these boards are not tongue-and-groove, so the installation may present some challenges with keeping the wood straight and parallel. Ripping boards on a table saw can help with this task. If sizing is really a problem, one could make a board and batten-style ceiling, as often found on the outside of a barn.
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