Wood plank ceilings are a great way to dress up a damaged or drab-looking plaster or drywall ceiling. The planks lock together on the sides like flooring planks, but they're much lighter, and longer, so each plank can span the entire length of the ceiling (otherwise, you would have to worry about getting the ends of the planks lined up with the ceiling joists). Most ceiling planks come pre-finished. If they aren't, you should finish them yourself before installation, rather than trying to stain and varnish upside-down.
Instructions
1. Locate all the ceiling joists, using an electronic stud locator. Draw lines across the ceiling with your level and pencil to show where each joist is positioned.
2. Measure the ceiling along your starting wall (which must be a wall that's perpendicular to direction of the joists). Cut a ceiling plank to the length of your measurement, using the miter saw.
3. Set the plank on the ceiling with the grooved side facing the wall. Leave 1/4 inch of space between the edge of the plank and the wall (this ``expansion gap'' will allow the wood to move with climate changes; it will be covered by the ceiling trim). Use your trim nailer to shoot two nails through the surface of the board at each spot where it crosses a joist.
4. Measure and cut your next plank. Set it against the first one, locking the tongue-and-groove sides together. Nail the piece by shooting in one nail through side, at an upward angle, into each joist.
5. Hang the rest of the planks the same way, covering the whole ceiling. Cut the last piece along the length on a table saw to get it properly fit against the wall (leaving the same 1/4 inch gap as before).
6. Hang ceiling trim around the perimeter of the ceiling to cover the gaps at the walls.
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