Bead board can update your popcorn ceilings, providing your home with a fresh, new look. Although the project can be time consuming depending on how much area you plan to cover, installing bead board over popcorn ceilings can instantly add value to your home. You will likely need the help of at least one other person, as it can be difficult to hold the bead board up straight and secure it in place at the same time.
Instructions
1. Sand the bead board lightly on both sides, and prime, paint or stain both sides of the wood, letting it dry before handling it. Finishing the side of the board that will face the ceiling will help to protect it from damage due to moisture buildup.
2. Use a stud finder to locate the joists in the ceiling, and use a nail to mark the center of each joist. In most homes, these are 16 inches apart, so once you find the first one, you can measure out to the next. Check with the stud finder in case the joists, or your measurements, are slightly off. Once you have found all of the joists and marked them with nails, use snap chalk to create straight lines along the length of the joist.
3. Take the first piece of and hold it up to the popcorn ceiling on one end of the wall, with the board perpendicular to the joists. The board should be perfectly in line with the wall, even if it is not straight on the ceiling.
4. Secure the board with finishing nails, hammering it through the tongue of the bead board. Drill holes into the end of the board and secure the edges with finishing nails, hammering straight up through the board and into the ceiling. Do this all along the edge of the board that is closest to the wall. Pre-drilling the holes will ensure that you do not damage the bead board.
5. Snap the next board into the edge of the first and then secure it into place through the tongue with finishing nails. Continue this process until you reach the last board. You do not need to secure the edges of these boards, only the first and last.
6. Measure the remaining space precisely and cut the last piece of bead board to size. Secure it to the surrounding boards and nail it to the ceiling with finishing nails through the tongue and into the joist. Secure the edges as you did with the first board, hammering the nail straight through the bead board and into the ceiling along the wall. If a full board will not fit, which typically happens as you get closer to the end, measure the space exactly and cut the bead board to size with a saw.
7. Make cutouts in the bead board as you install them to work around any fixtures in the ceiling. Remove any vent grills or light fixtures, measure the space and cut the bead board to fit around the opening with a sabre saw. Once you secure the bead board to the popcorn ceiling, you can replace the vent or light fixture.
Tags: bead board, finishing nails, with finishing, with finishing nails, board into, through tongue