DEAR TIM: While paging through a home decorating magazine I
saw a vaulted ceiling that was covered with wood. The look was stunning. I have
a corner room of my home that has two drywall vaulted ceilings that rise from
each wall producing a diagonal seam in the ceiling. How difficult is it to
install wood on this surface? What tools do I need and what can be done to make
the job go as smooth as silk? Barb F. San Diego, CA
DEAR BARB: Stunning you say? My wife and other customers
have also been heard to exclaim: sensational, awe-inspiring and dazzling. Based
upon your description, it sounds as if your ceiling is nearly identical to one
in my own bird room. We call our sun room the bird room because that is where
our singing male canary lives. The Douglas Fir bead board ceiling in my bird
room gets compliments from every person who walks into the room. For some reason
our guests' attention seems to be drawn to the wood ceiling. Perhaps the two
skylights that drown the room with light are partially responsible.
 |
| Installing wood on a vaulted ceiling requires special talent, tools and techniques. You will proably discover that some colored wood putty will also come in handy. |
Unfortunately you have selected perhaps the toughest
ceiling to tackle. I would have much preferred it if you had told me the ceiling
was flat or a standard one-plane vaulted ceiling. The intersecting ceiling
planes of a hip roof add a significant degree of difficulty to the project.
Installing wood around skylights adds yet another level of complexity. Be
thankful you don't have those to contend with.
Here is a list of tools you will need to complete this job:
- a miter box saw
- a chalk line
- hammer and nail sets or a nail gun(preferred)
- a circular saw or table saw(preferred)
- ladders and/or scaffolding(preferred)
- sandpaper and brushes
The first task you need to complete is locating the center line of the
ceiling joists/roof rafters. You can do this the old-fashioned way using a nail
and hammer or with a modern stud-finding tool that peers through the drywall and
locates the solid wood for you. Use the chalk line to snap a line down the
center of the rafters from the intersecting hip to where the rafter passes over
the exterior wall. Be sure to check for solid wood along both sides of the giant
diagonal seam that extends from the outside corner to the peak of the roof. You
need solid wood on either side of this seam to secure the ends of the wood
pieces that fall between rafters.
Don't even think of installing one piece of wood until you have pre-stained
and urethaned every piece of wood you will need for the job. Trying to apply
these liquids upside down after unfinished wood is installed is a nightmare.
Wood ceilings look best when you use tongue and groove lumber that interlocks.
This method allows for blind nailing so you do not see any nails after the
ceiling is installed.
It is extremely important to make sure the actual tongue is covered with
stain and urethane. Seasonal movements in the wood can partially expose the
tongue. If you fail to stain it, you may have unwanted racing stripes on your
gorgeous wood ceiling at some future date.
The nails are installed through the tongues. Drive them at a 45 degree angle
in the corner where the base of the tongue meets the actual body of the board.
The nails must be long enough to penetrate one to one and one quarter inches
into the solid wood rafters that are currently hidden by the existing drywall
ceiling.
You will need a circular or table saw to make an angle cut on the groove side
of your first starter piece. The angle will reflect the actual pitch of the
vaulted ceiling. Failure to make this cut produces an unsightly gap where the
wood strip meets the wall. You will also have to face nail this first starter
piece so the bottom does not fall away from the ceiling. All other pieces of
wood will be blind nailed through the tongues.
Static pressure is very important. Tongue and groove lumber does not always
interlock with ease. Never tap or hammer the tongue end to try to drive the
board into place. You can flatten and damage the tongue making it impossible to
interlock the next piece of lumber. A better method is to use a small one-foot
long piece of scrap wood. The groove of this smaller piece should easily fit on
the troublesome board. You can then hit the scrap piece of wood which in turn
pushes the larger piece into place.
Colored wood putty that matches the finished wood is great for filling
imperfections, nicks, or small knots. Keep the stain on hand as well to touch up
scrapes that will happen as you handle the finished wood. Use a small brush or a
cotton swab to apply the stain and/or urethane.
