Planks give a customized, finished look to a ceiling.
A wood plank ceiling exudes warmth and style for relatively little cost and effort. Most wood planks are single tongue and groove boards, available in a wide variety of woods, colors and thicknesses. If your ceiling is finished with drywall or plaster, select thin planks for the best results. This project is not difficult, but it does require meticulous measuring and cutting. Enlist the aid of a helper to assist you with measuring and handing you tools while you are up on the ladder.
Instructions
Hanging the Planks
1. Locate the studs for the ceiling joists with a stud finder. Mark the location of the first stud at each of its ends with a pencil. Be accurate as you will later create a straight chalk line for the location of each stud so that you can nail the planks to these studs. Continue marking the other studs in the same manner.
2. Snap a line at the location of each stud with a chalk line. Place the chalk line bob at the first stud location mark and have a helper hold the line at the other end of the stud. Pull the line taut and snap it to create a chalk mark along the stud location. Repeat this step for every stud on the ceiling.
3. Measure across the ceiling for the first plank. Cut the plank according to this measurement. Cut off the tongue from the first board with a table saw. Cutting this type of lengthwise cut is called "ripping" the board.
4. Hang the first plank perpendicular to the ceiling studs. Place the ripped side of the plank against the wall and the groove side of the plank projecting out across the ceiling. Nail the plank onto the ceiling along the studs where you made the chalk lines.
5. Measure across the ceiling for the second plank. Cut the plank according to this measurement.
6. Insert the tongue end of the second plank into the groove end of the first plank. Place a block of 1-by-4 inch wood on the groove end of the second plank and tap it lightly with a hammer to secure the tongue into the groove. Repeat along the entire plank.
7. Nail the second plank onto the ceiling along the stud marks.
8. Repeat the process of measuring, hammering and nailing each plank as you move across the ceiling.
Cutting Around an Electrical Box
9. Install planks across the ceiling until you reach the hole in the ceiling for the electrical box.
10. Measure from one wall to the center of the electrical box. Mark the area on the wall where you are beginning this measurement; you will use this as a reference point to locate the electrical box later.
11. Determine the distance from an adjoining wall to the center of the electrical box. Mark the area on the wall where you are beginning this measurement; you will use this as a reference point to locate the electrical box later.
12. Measure the diameter of the electrical box.
13. Install the next several planks across the ceiling to cover the electrical box hole.
14. Locate the two marks you created on the wall as the reference points. Remeasure the center location of the electrical box using these two marks. With your previous measurement of the diameter of the box, sketch a circle for the location of the box on the planks.
15. Cut out the diameter of the box with a rotary hand saw tool. Be careful not to cut too deeply beyond the planks or you may damage the box contents inside the ceiling.
16. Extend the electrical box down so that the box is flush with the plank paneling. Screw on a box extension to lengthen the electrical box down to the planks.
Tags: across ceiling, second plank, this measurement, chalk line, first plank