Fitted pine boards make an attractive ceiling.
Tongue-and-groove ceilings are an attractive alternative to standard drywall or ceiling tiles. The concept is similar to a tongue-and-groove floor, except the ceiling boards are usually made of soft rather than hard wood, making them lighter and easier to work with. Installing a vapor barrier first is a good idea if the room where you're installing the ceiling is on the top floor of the house, to prevent moisture from the attic from migrating down into the boards.
Instructions
1. Locate each ceiling joist using your electronic stud locator. Use your level and pencil to draw lines across the whole ceiling, showing the center of each joist.
2. Staple your clear plastic vapor barrier over the whole ceiling in overlapping rows, starting at one long wall and working your way across. You should still be able to see the pencil marks for the joists through the plastic.
3. Measure the starting wall at the ceiling, holding your tape measure perpendicular to the joists. Transfer the measure to a tongue-and-groove plank. Cut it to size on your miter saw.
4. Hold the cut plank to the ceiling, with the grooved side facing your starting wall and sitting 1/4 inch out from it. This gap will allow the wood to expand with environmental changes (it will be covered with ceiling trim later). Nail the plank in place by sinking pairs of nails through the face with your trim nailer at each point where it crosses a joist.
5. Measure and cut the next plank and set it against the first one, locking the tongue-and-groove sides together. Nail the board by shooting one nail through the side, at an upward angle, at each joist. Repeat the process for the rest of the planks.
6. Length-cut the last plank on a table saw so it fits against the wall while leaving a 1/4-inch gap there. Secure the last piece by face-nailing as you did the first piece.
7. Hang your ceiling trim with the miter saw and trim nailer, covering the 1/4-inch gaps.
Tips Warnings
Wear goggles when using your nail gun and miter saw.
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