Doityourself Coffered Ceiling Beams

A coffered ceiling can add to the visual appeal of any room by adding an architectural element to your ceiling. It is made up of beams attached to the ceiling joists that cross at 90-degree angles to form a grid pattern on the ceiling. You can cut and install your own coffered ceiling beams to create a customized ceiling design. Installing these beams is a time-consuming and labor-intensive process; however, you can complete this project with basic carpentry tools.

Instructions

1. Measure the width and length of the ceiling with a measuring tape. This determines the length of the coffered ceiling beams.

2. Locate the ceiling joists with a stud finder. Mark the location of each ceiling joist with a pencil. You need to line up the coffered ceiling beams so that they cross or run directly beneath ceiling joists.

3. Make a mark on the ceiling at each end of the wall, directly below a ceiling joist, at 16-inch intervals. Snap a chalk line on the ceiling between each pair of marks. Mark and snap lines at each end of the remaining two walls to create a 16-by-16-inch grid.

4. Cut sections of 1-by-4-inch lumber to the length of the ceiling with a circular saw. You need one lumber section for each 16 inches of ceiling length.

5. Place a sturdy step ladder at each end of the room. Have a partner stand on each ladder and center one section on the chalk line crossing the ceiling joists nearest one end of the room. Using a drill and a screwdriver bit, insert a 4-inch wood screw through the beam into each ceiling joist. Repeat this process for each parallel chalk line.

6. Cut 12-inch sections of 1-by-4-inch lumber to cover the perpendicular chalk lines between the installed beams. Have a partner stand on a ladder and place one of the sections along a chalk line at one end of the room. Attach the beam to the ceiling joist with 4-inch wood screws. Repeat this process until you have completed the coffered ceiling.

7. Fill in the exposed screw heads with wood putty, using a 1-inch putty knife. Stain or paint the coffered ceiling beams as desired.

Tags: coffered ceiling, ceiling joist, ceiling joists, chalk line, coffered ceiling beams, 1-by-4-inch lumber, 4-inch wood

Repair A False Ceiling

False ceilings or drop ceilings provide a way to put a ceiling in a basement or garage without having to hang drywall and plaster. They are set on a series of aluminum frames in a grid patterns where the ceiling tiles fit into the rectangles of the grid. It adds a ceiling look with a minimum investment. However, sometimes these tiles can become damaged. Fortunately, replacement is not difficult.

Instructions

1. Count the number of damaged tiles to determine how many you'll have to replace.

2. Remove all of the damaged tiles. If the tile has water damage, look for the source of the leak.

3. Measure the length and width of the gaps in the frame to be replaced, using a tape measure. If the damaged pieces are in corners or at the end of a run, measure and cut with the band saw.

4. Replace the damaged panels by simply removing them and lifting the new one into place. Go first at an angle to insert the tile. This will allow the whole tile to fit above the frame. Simply lower it into place. Repeat this with all damaged tiles.

Tags: damaged tiles, into place

Cool A Twostory House With Fans

Keep a house cool in the summer with fans.

Summer months can present a challenge when the heat sets in. Although air conditioners deliver cool air to make home atmosphere more comfortable, the machines can be expensive to install, maintain and operate. Instead of running an air conditioner when the mercury climbs, consider less expensive options. Cool a two-story house with fans, pulling in cooler night air and less humid daytime air to make your home more pleasant.

Instructions

1. Close windows and keep blinds and curtains closed when temperatures rise during the day. Generally, if temperatures are above 80 degrees Fahrenheit outside and conditions feel humid, seal your house and try to keep the outside air out.

2. Minimize appliance heat during hot weather. Keep lights off as much as possible and avoid using appliances like the oven and the electric dryer because they release excessive heat into the house.

3. Set ceiling fans to rotate down into the room to cool occupants. Keep ceiling fans on while you use a room and turn off when you vacate a room. Ceiling fans create moving air, which helps reduce room temperatures by as much as 4 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. Create a "chimney effect" to cool the house. Place a box fan into an upstairs window situated as far away from the stairs as possible during cool evening hours or during cool or overcast days. Position the fan so it blows out the window. Close all other upstairs windows and open all interior doors. Open several windows throughout the first floor to pull cool air into the house.

The cool air will flow through your first floor rooms, up the stairs and the fan in the upstairs window will pull the air through the upstairs rooms also. Leave the fan blowing for 30 or 40 minutes.

Tags: ceiling fans, degrees Fahrenheit, during cool, first floor, house cool

The Advantages Of Drop Ceiling Lighting Options

Offices commonly use drop ceilings.

A drop or suspended ceiling involves lightweight panels suspended on a system of metal brackets. This ceiling hangs from the rafters or another ceiling above it. Drop ceilings hide damage or allow easy access to ducts or electrical wiring. The light fixtures that work with this type of ceiling also offer a number of benefits.

Fluorescent Lighting

Fluorescent bulbs use less electricity and produce less wasted heat, according to the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Georgia State University. Using light bulbs designed to emit a wider spectrum of light color prevents the cool cast older fluorescent fixtures created. Combined with a decorative panel cover, a fluorescent fixture becomes more attractive. Fluorescent lighting panels fit perfectly into one or two grid squares in a drop ceiling. This makes them one of the most commonly used forms of lighting in this ceiling system.

Recessed Lighting

Special housings and efficient bulbs allow recessed lighting to reach better energy efficiency than other fixtures such as surface mounted incandescent bulbs, says Service Magic. These low-profile fixtures create a smoother surface and work on low ceilings where hanging light fixtures would interfere with furniture or movement through the room. A recessed light fixture contains a light bulb inside heat-resistant housing. This metal or plastic housing is installed flush with the drop ceiling surface. The cross bars of the ceiling system support the fixture.

Pendant Lamps

A pendant lamp offers decorative appeal as well as functional lighting. Pendant lamps hang as low or as high as you need them. Hanging a low pendant light over a desk or table gives you more precise lighting for detail work than a light source sunk into the drop ceiling. Pendant lamps work on drop ceiling systems because the relative light weight of the fixture allows it to be supported by the metal tracks that also hold the panels.

Surface Mounted Fixtures

Surface mounted fixtures such as track fixtures or lighted ceiling fans give benefits like air circulation or adjustable spot lighting. Drop ceilings still offer the same options for surface mounted light fixtures with a little extra work. Installing a metal cable that attaches directly to the rafters above, or a piece of lumber between two metal rails, gives surface fixtures proper support, according to Popular Mechanics.

Tags: drop ceiling, light fixtures, ceiling system, Drop ceilings, fixtures such, surface mounted

Visit The Vatican Museums

Visit the Vatican Museums

The Vatican Museums are a complex of galleries in Vatican City that display a portion of the vast art collection owned by the Roman Catholic Church. Begun in the early 16th century by Pope Julius II, the site has expanded throughout the years to include several museum buildings and galleries. In addition, a number of palaces and chapels, including the Sistine Chapel, are included in the Vatican Museum tour.

Instructions

1. View the Gregorian Etruscan and Egyptian Museum. Founded by Pope Gregory XVI in the mid-19th century, this portion of the Vatican Museums houses a diverse array of artifacts from ancient Palestine, Rome, Assyria, Egypt and other ancient cultures.

2. Explore the Picture Gallery. The Picture Gallery (pinacoteca Vaticana) contains works by some of the greatest Italian artists in history. Among them are Caravaggio, Fra Angelico, Raphael and Michelangelo.

3. Marvel at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. The Sistine Chapel, located in the Museo Pio-Clementino, is the highlight of any visit to the Vatican Museums. The ceiling, painted by Michelangelo from 1502 to 1508, depicts nine central stories from the "Book of Genesis," including the Creation of Adam, the Banishment from the Garden of Eden and the Great Flood.

4. Visit the Raphael Stanze. The four Raphael rooms are the former apartments of Julius II. The walls are decorated with friezes by the painter Raphael and members of his school, from 1508 to 1524.

Tags: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, Picture Gallery, Visit Vatican, Visit Vatican Museums

Install A Ceiling Fan Where A Light Exists

You can install a ceiling fan where there is now a ceiling light. You will need to install a support brace, that's all!

Today's ceiling fan designs make it feasible to install these units in homes with standard-height ceilings (seven to eight feet).

There are numerous options, and installing one where a light fixture now exists is not that difficult to do.

Instructions

1. To begin:

Be sure to read and follow all instructions that come with the fan unit and fan-support brace, which may differ from instructions given here.

Assuming your local regulations permit you to perform minor electrical (etc.) work, proceed as follows:

SAFETY:

Wear protective equipment as necessary (recommend safety glasses, gloves, dust mask at minimum).

Follow safe ladder use guidelines (see link below)

Practice safe lifting techniques (see link below)

Follow manufacturers' instructions for safe use of tools needed to perform this task.

2. Installation:

Turn off power to the circuit feeding the existing ceiling light (i.e., remove fuses, switch off circuit breakers in the circuit panel).

Note: Be sure to secure a legibly printed label/tag at the circuit panel, to alert anyone who might potentially re-energize the circuits that you are working on the system.

Label should read: "DO NOT TOUCH! I AM WORKING ON ELECTRICAL SYSTEM", and should include your name and the location of the work being done (especially if in a multi-dwelling unit).

3. Remove existing light fixture (remove globe or diffuser; remove cover; disconnect wiring; unscrew fixture from electrical box).

4. Remove existing electrical box (using small pry-bar through the existing hole, carefully pry the electrical box from the ceiling joist it is attached to).

5. Determine if the existing hole is located to allow the fan-support brace electrical box to line up without expanding or moving the ceiling hole.

6. If the existing hole needs to be expanded, simply mark and cut the ceiling with the drywall saw, taking note of any wiring in the ceiling to prevent damaging it.

If you need to create a new hole, position it so the existing wiring will reach it comfortably, then trace the shape of the electrical box in the new location; drill a 3/8" starter hole; then cut the shape out with the drywall saw, taking note of any wiring in the ceiling to prevent damaging it.

7. Install the fan-support brace, securing it firmly into position between the ceiling joists and aligning the attached electrical box with the ceiling hole.

Install the fan mounting hardware provided with your new fan unit.

8. Note: You might need a friend to assist with lifting your fan unit up to the ceiling, as some fans are a bit heavy for one person to maneuver into position, attach wiring and secure the unit.

Lift the fan unit into position and connect the power wiring to the fan motor wiring.

Secure the fan unit to the fan mounting hardware.

Secure the mounting hardware cover.

Install the fan blades.

9. Turn power back on at the circuit breaker.

Note: It is always a good idea to have a friend stand by in the room while you turn the power back on, just so they can alert you if any sparks start flying for some reason!

You may need to work out a communication system if the panel is far away from the room (i.e., in a multi-dwelling unit).

10. Test your new fan for proper operation.

Note: Most ceiling fans have one switch for clockwise or counterclockwise rotation, and one switch for fan speeds.

ENJOY your new ceiling fan!

Tags: existing hole, fan-support brace, into position, mounting hardware, ceiling hole, ceiling light, ceiling prevent

Which Way Should Ceiling Fans Rotate In The Winter

You have enjoyed the cool breezes from your house's ceiling fans all summer and now winter has arrived. You don't have to turn your ceiling fans off---you can still enjoy the circulation of air throughout your house. All that is needed is a change in the direction of the ceiling fans blades. In a few minutes, instead of cool air---warm air will be circulating throughout your home.

Changing the Forward/Reverse Setting

Most ceiling fans come with a "forward/reverse" switch located above the blades that control which direction the blades are turning. When the switch is set to "forward," the fan blows air down. When the switch is set to "reverse," the fan blows air up. So during the winter months, you should set the "forward/reverse" switch to "reverse," so any warm air on the ceiling will be forced down and throughout the room/house. Heat from the furnace or other heat sources rises to the ceiling and the ceiling fans in your house will help get that hot air moving.

High-Ceiling Houses

In houses with high ceilings you may not feel warm air being forced down from the ceiling fan. Still set your ceiling fans to the "reverse" setting. The fans will help keep the room/house from feeling stuffy.

Testing the Ceiling Fan

Your ceiling fan's "forward/reverse" setting may not be labeled. To test, turn off the ceiling fan and move the switch to the right or left and turn on the fan. Stand under the fan and see if you feel any air blowing down directly on you---if so, this is the "forward" setting. If you don't feel any air blowing directly on you, this is the "reverse" setting.

Tags: ceiling fans, reverse setting, your house, feel blowing, forced down, forward reverse

Ceiling Painting Tips & Ideas

An extension pole can cut down on the physical stress of painting a ceiling as well as keep you off ladders.

When you are painting your ceiling and you feel the muscles in your shoulders and back aching with half the ceiling still left to be painted, console yourself with the thought of Michelangelo painting the Sistine Chapel's ceiling. Your ceiling doesn't need to be painted quite that artistically, but it can be a difficult job if you don't know what to expect before starting.

Extension Pole

You can lessen on the time you spend on a ladder by investing in an extension pole with a roller or paint pad at the end. This allows you to stay firmly on the floor, yet still apply a good deal of paint to the ceiling. Just protect yourself from dripping paint by wearing goggles, a cap and old clothes.

Rollers and Pads

Choose the largest roller or paint pad you can find when attacking a ceiling. The larger the roller or pad, the more paint you can apply at once. Doing this will cut down on the time spent painting the ceiling.

Trays

Cut down on the number of times you have to refill the paint tray by buying the deepest tray you can find. This is true for a large roller, but it also applies to a smaller roller. Plunging the roller into the deep end ensures full coverage of the roller.

Priming the Roller

The book "Stanley Complete Painting" recommends priming the roller before you roll it with the first coat of paint. This is done by dipping the roller into water and then squeezing out the moisture until the roller is just damp.

Smoothing Textured Ceilings

You can smooth a textured ceiling by mixing 1 cup of ammonia to 1 gallon of water and spraying it onto the ceiling. Allow the spray to soak for 15 minutes and then use a wide drywall knife to scrape the now-softened texture from the ceiling. Let the ceiling dry completely before painting it.

Glossy Ceilings

A good idea for adding the illusion of height to a room while also making a dramatic decorative statement is to paint the ceiling with high gloss paint. Lighter colors of paint are going to produce a much more vivid shine than darker colored paint too.

Two-Tone Stenciling

Take the chance on something a little whimsical by painting the ceiling two different colors in any way you desire. Then take a stencil of the paint over the opposite color. For instance, if you chose blue and red for your base coast, you would then stencil blue onto the red and red onto the blue. This idea adds interest through a contrast of colors as well as the decorative addition of stenciled shapes.

Tags: painting ceiling, paint ceiling, paint This, roller into, roller paint

Diy Decorative Wood Ceilings

Enjoy the texture of a bead board ceiling.

If the traditional painted drywall on the ceiling does not fit with your stylistic and design goals for a room, consider wood instead. Add natural warmth and texture to a ceiling with decorative wooden bead boards. Wooden bead board wall and ceiling treatments are often associated with an antique or cottage-style look. Wooden bead boards have tongue-and-groove-style edges, allowing easy, secure installation through locking board joints.

Instructions

1. Locate the ceiling joists, using a stud finder. Make marks on opposite sides of the ceiling on the centers of the joist ends. Stretch a chalk line between the marks and snap it to delineate the joist paths.

2. Measure the length of the ceiling going in the opposite direction of the joists. Cut the boards to fit, using a chop or miter saw.

3. Stain the boards, if desired, and apply a urethane finish. Apply two to four coats of urethane with a paintbrush.

4. Unscrew and pull down the canopy from the ceiling light.

5. Extrude a bead of construction adhesive onto the back of the first board.

6. Affix the board at the edge of the ceiling perpendicular to the joists and with the groove side against the wall. Drive nails through the tongue on the other side of the board, into the ceiling joists, using a pneumatic or electric nail gun.

7. Apply adhesive to the back of the next board. Lock the groove side of the board onto the tongue of the first board. Nail the board to the joists.

8. Continue to affix successive boards to the ceiling in the same manner. Cut notches out of the boards to fit around the hole in the ceiling for the light fixture, using a jigsaw.

9. Replace the light fixture's ceiling canopy.

10. Install crown molding, if desired, around the walls where they meet the ceiling. Use a miter saw to create angled scarf joints where two lengths meet, and to make mitered joints to fit corners. Remove excess wood to help create tight joints at inside corners, using a coping saw. Secure the molding to the walls and molding joints with finish nails.

Tags: bead board, bead boards, ceiling joists, ceiling joists using, ceiling light, first board

Basic Cable Pulling Techniques For Cat5

Basic Cable Pulling Techniques For Cat5

The most labor-intensive and potentially frustrating portion of your network setup is pulling the cable. Fishing wire through existing walls, over attic beams or through crawl spaces is physically demanding. Surprise obstacles await you with every new cable run. Here are tips to keep in mind while wiring your network to ensure that your time and effort aren't wasted.

Before You Begin

Pulling Cat-5 cable is a two-person job. Get someone to help you if it's at all possible. One person will do the actual pulling; the second person should guide the cable as it comes out of the box or off the spool and keep the wire from kinking as it enters the wall opening.

When deciding on a path for your cable, inspect attics, basements and spaces above drop ceilings beforehand. An obstacle 5 feet away from the end of a 100-foot run can be frustrating. You can avoid this irritation with some advance planning.

Where Not To Put Cable

Data cables should be kept at least 12 inches from electrical lines and outlets. Cat-5 cable is sensitive to electro-magnetic interference. To avoid potential loss of data or slowed transmission rates, never run data cable inside the same conduit as power lines. Avoid attaching Cat5 to the outside of power conduit or hanging it next to exposed lines.

In open spaces above drop ceilings, do not allow Cat5 cable to rest on top of fluorescent light fixtures. These produce a great deal of EMI and can adversely affect data transmission.

Run Cable

Most Cat-5 cable manufacturers recommend a pulling tension of no more than 25 pounds. The conductors inside the cable are small and relatively fragile. Breaking one conductor will render the paired wire useless as well. This means one broken wire will put two out of commission.

The cable should never be bent to less than a 1-inch radius. This also can lead to weakened or broken conductors.

How Replace A Glass Diffuser Ceiling Fan

The glass diffuser on a ceiling fan can be removed and replaced.

The glass diffuser on a ceiling fan covers the light bulb. This protects the bulb from dust and mellows the harsh light of a bare bulb. You do not have to use the diffuser that came with a ceiling fan. You can replace it with another type to better suit your room's decor. Since diffusers are designed for removal to change the bulb, replacing it takes minutes to do as long as you have the correct size to replace the original.

Instructions

1. Shut off power to the ceiling fan at the household breaker panel to prevent it from accidentally turning on while you change the diffuser.

2. Loosen the screws around the rim of the existing glass diffuser but do not remove them. Hold the diffuser with one hand while loosening the screws to keep it from falling.

3. Measure the diameter of the diffuser to verify that the replacement will fit.

4. Hold the new diffuser up around the light bulb with one hand.

5. Tighten the screws opposite from each other in an X pattern to ensure even distribution of force to keep the glass from cracking.

6. Restore electricity to the light at the breaker panel then turn on the light to test its operation.

Tags: breaker panel, diffuser ceiling, glass diffuser, glass diffuser ceiling, Hold diffuser

Install Pusher Or Puller Electric Fans

An electric fan can be used to keep an automobile's engine from overheating.

Older automobiles typically have a single, belt-driven fan that is used to move air through the radiator. If you have an older car and you need to drive it in stop-and-go traffic, this type of fan may be inadequate to prevent overheating. A secondary electric cooling fan can be installed to assist the cooling system. An electric fan installed in front of the radiator is referred to as a "pusher" fan while one installed on the engine side of a radiator is known as a "puller" fan.

Instructions

1. Attach the fan mounting clips to the fan's frame so that the clips face the radiator fins.

2. Place an automotive fan against the radiator so that the fan covers the center of the radiator and the wires from the fan are near the top of the radiator. If you are installing the fan in a "pusher" configuration, place the fan over the radiator on the radiator side that faces the automobile's grille. If you are installing the fan in a "puller" configuration, place the fan over the radiator on the radiator side that faces the engine. Press the fan frame against the radiator until the mounting clips snap into place.

3. Run a length of red electrical wire from the automobile's dashboard to the fan. Strip 1/2-inch of insulation from each end of this wire with wire strippers.

4. Drill a hole into the dashboard frame near the bottom of the dashboard. This hole must be large enough to accommodate the shaft of the toggle switch.

5. Place the dashboard end of the electrical wire against one of the electrical terminals on the switch. Use a soldering iron to melt a small drop of solder onto both the switch terminal and the wire end. Smooth out the soldered joint with the tip of the soldering iron. The soldered terminal should be shiny and free of lumps.

6. A small toggle switch can be used to control the fan.

Cut an 8-inch segment of red electrical wire and strip 1/2-inch of insulation from one end of this wire. Solder the stripped end of this wire to the unoccupied switch terminal. Loosen and remove the retaining nut on the switch shaft. Insert the switch shaft through the hole in the dashboard. Replace and tighten the retaining nut so that it holds the switch to the dashboard.

7. Place a Scotchlok connector over the automobile's ignition wire and seat the wire snugly into the channel at the bottom of the connector -- also known as the "run channel." Place the unstripped red wire from the switch into the hole on the side of the Scotchlok connector -- also known as the "tap hole" -- and push the wire in firmly until it stops. Use a pair of electrical pliers to drive down the metal U-contact until it is flush with the top of the plastic insulator. Close the top cover on the connector until it latches securely.

8. Run a red wire and two black wires from the fan to the battery. Strip 1/2-inch of insulation from both ends of each wire. Place the first spade terminal over the battery end of the first black wire and crimp the wire to the terminal. Place the second spade terminal over the battery end of the red wire and crimp the wire to the terminal. Place the third spade terminal over the battery end of the second black wire and crimp the wire to the terminal.

9. Each relay terminal is labeled with either a description or a terminal number.

Solder the fan end of the red battery wire to the "Normally Open" or "87" terminal on the relay. Solder the fan end of the switch battery wire to the "Coil 1" or "85" relay terminal. Solder the first black battery wire to the "Coil 2" or "86" relay terminal.

10. Place a Scotchlok connector over the second black battery wire and seat the wire snugly into the run channel. If you are using the fan in the "pusher" configuration, place the blue wire from the fan into the tap hole on the side of the Scotchlok connector and push the wire in firmly until it stops. If you are using the fan in the "puller" configuration, place the black wire from the fan into the tap hole on the side of the Scotchlok connector and push the wire in firmly until it stops. Drive down the metal U-contact until it is flush with the top of the connector's plastic insulator then close the top cover on the connector.

11. Cut an 8-inch piece of red wire and strip 1/2-inch of insulation from one end of the wire. Place the unstripped end of this wire into the run channel of an unused Scotchlok connector. Place the remaining wire from the fan into the connector's tap hole until the wire stops. Drive down the metal U-contact until it is flush with the connector's plastic insulator then close the top cover on the connector. Solder the end of the remaining wire to the "Common" or "30" terminal on the relay.

12. Use the adjustable wrench to loosen the adjustment nut on the positive battery terminal cable. Place the spade terminal connected to the red wire between the battery terminal cable and the nut. Tighten the nut so that the spade terminal is held tightly against the battery terminal cable.

13. Loosen the adjustment nut on the negative battery terminal cable with the adjustable wrench. Place the spade terminals connected to the black wires so that these terminals are held loosely between the battery terminal cable and the nut. Tighten the nut so that the spade terminals are held tightly against the battery terminal cable.

Tags: battery terminal, battery terminal cable, Scotchlok connector, terminal cable, battery wire, spade terminal, wire from

Diy Replacement Of Can Lights With An Electrical Box

Recessed light "cans" vary by manufacturer, but most can be disassembled and removed without damaging the ceiling.

Replacing recessed lighting, or "can" lights with an electrical box can be done using commercially-available retrofit products designed to minimize or prevent the need for destroying the ceiling. Since there are a number of can light designs in existence, each project might differ in the details, but a few general steps should work in most cases.

Instructions

1. Many recessed lights utilize plug-in components for easy installation and replacement.

Shut off and secure power to the recessed (can) light fixture. Remove light bulb, trim, and other components that are easily disassembled, until all that remains is the sheet metal mounting brackets. If possible, cut and remove the sheet metal through the existing ceiling hole, being careful not to damage the ceiling drywall material. Recessed lights often have "pigtail" connectors, which allows for removal of the bulb socket component, then the bulb reflector section, then the pigtail can be disconnected from the power-box associated with the can hardware.

2. Perhaps a flush-mounted light fixture to replace the recessed light?

Install a retrofit electrical box kit, available from most home centers or hardware stores. These units are designed to be adjustable, and fit between the ceiling joists. Once in place, tightening the adjustment mechanism drives pointed barbs into the joists, securing it rigidly in place. Connect wiring according to proper codes and practices, leaving stripped leads through the box. Be sure to tighten the box on its track.

3. Install some furring strips on two sides of the ceiling opening so you will have something to screw a sheetrock patch into. Measure the hole in the ceiling, and cut a circle from a piece of sheetrock, matching the thickness of the existing ceiling. Using the plastic protective cover that comes with the retrofit electrical box kit as a template, trace and cut out the center of the sheetrock circle piece, so it will fit over the new box in the ceiling opening. Attach the patch to the furring strips with drywall screws.

4. Apply tape and joint compound around the patched ceiling opening, in two stages. First, secure the drywall tape, then, when dry, apply second coat of compound to match surrounding ceiling area. If your ceiling is textured, you may have to perform some painting or compound "magic" to try duplicating that. Or, consider using a ceiling medallion if the patched hole is unsightly.

5. Install your new light fixture or other device on your new flush-mounted electrical box. Note that retrofit electrical box kits vary by design and intended purpose; thus, it is imperative to understand ahead of time what you plan to use the electrical box for. If it is to be used for a heavy light fixture or ceiling fan, be sure to select the appropriate kit for those.

Tags: light fixture, ceiling opening, retrofit electrical, existing ceiling, furring strips, recessed light, sheet metal

Styles Of Suspended Ceilings

Suspended ceiling systems have been part of commercial building specifications for decades. The ceiling system provides easy access to ductwork and electrical wiring, making repairs and adjustments quick to resolve. Homeowners have discovered the versatility of suspended ceilings, and manufacturers offer a broad selection of ceiling styles to meet residential demand. Installation is a simple process: A ceiling grid is attached to the ceiling and the ceiling tiles you have chosen are placed into the grid.

Coffers

Suspended ceilings designed in a coffered style provide a cost-savings for homeowners who cannot afford the expense of a traditional coffered ceiling. Coffered ceilings are typically offered in a square grid pattern and a variety of finishes, including wood and standard black or white. Rectangular coffered tiles may require a custom order and an increase in overall cost.

Some manufacturers provide an alternative referred to as a grid cover that snaps onto a standard exterior ceiling grid. Although the grid cover does not offer the same width in molding as regular coffered ceiling tile, it does provide the feel of a coffered ceiling at a low cost. Grid covers or trim can be specified in a selection of finishes, including wood and black and white PVC.

Metal

Metal styled suspended ceilings mimic the pressed-tin ceiling patterns found in homes and commercial buildings dated from the turn of the 20th century. This suspended ceiling style is reproduced in brass, copper, chrome and painted finishes. Patterns vary and may include a selection of medallion, floral, trefoil and various border styles. The metal tiles are 2 feet square and drop easily into a suspended ceiling grid. Finishes will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.

Wood

Wood veneer suspended ceiling styles add warmth to a family or living room. Wood ceiling panels come in a variety of wood veneer types, including walnut, maple and light and dark cherry. Edge details on wood ceiling panels can be specified as a reveal or as a linear detail. A reveal creates a stair-step effect. Acoustical materials can be added to the backside of the wood panels to manage noise and ambiance. Wood veneer panels are sized as both squares and rectangles. Typical sizes include 2-by-4 feet and 2-by-2 feet.

Vinyl

The wide variety of choices for a basic 2-foot-square vinyl ceiling tile are numerous. Patterns are pressed directly into the vinyl, bringing texture and shape to the ceiling grid. This type of suspended tile allows the ceiling to be used as a statement about the home or the interior design of a room. It's easy to duplicate the look of mid-century, Victorian or Asian designs using a vinyl suspended ceiling style. Patterns include borders, grids and medallions that can be selected as an accent among plain ceiling tiles or used to fill a ceiling system. Panels come in 2-foot squares or 2-by-4-foot panels.

Custom

Custom suspended ceiling styles fulfill a variety of creative needs providing curved, waved, domed and floated ceilings. Although designed for commercial spaces such as restaurants and retail, custom shapes also work well in homes with wide open great rooms or entertainment areas with high ceilings of 15 feet or more. Custom panels are designed to suspend from the ceiling using anchor hangers attached to the back of the preshaped panel or clips that clamp directly onto a previously hung ceiling system.

Tags: ceiling grid, ceiling styles, ceiling system, coffered ceiling, suspended ceiling, black white, ceiling panels

Diy Problems With A Vaulted Ceiling Fan

A vaulted ceiling fan requires adequate clearance.

A vaulted ceiling fan is a functional and appealing addition to a living space that has cathedral or vaulted ceilings. It provides air flow, light and decorative appeal that enhances almost any room design. If you are having problems with your vaulted ceiling fan, there are a few do-it-yourself tips that can help you address the issues. Major electrical problems may require the aid of a professional electrician.

Ceiling Clearance

Ensure that there is enough clearance for your ceiling fan. If you do not consider the angle and slope of your ceiling, the blades could scrape and damage your ceiling. The Family Handyman suggests determining the ceiling slope by holding a 2-foot level against the ceiling and measuring the vertical distance from the level to the ceiling. Divide that number in half to calculate the drop over 12 inches. If that drop is equal to or greater than 8 inches over 12 inches, you must install a slope adapting kit, a mounting that enables your ceiling fan to hang level.

Mounting Device

Reinstall your mounting device if it is not securely fastened to your vaulted ceiling. The mounting device is the circular hardware that attaches to your ceiling and suspends the motor, blades, hardware and light fixtures. An unstable mounting device can cause your ceiling fan to rock back and forth. Examine the bolts and screws to make sure they are securely fastened to the drywall. If you see light or space between your mounting device and the ceiling, the device is not properly attached. Avoid using household nails and screws that did not come with your ceiling fan, because they may not meet weight and size specifications.

Downrod Length

Choose a downrod length that accommodates your ceiling height. Most vaulted ceilings require a downrod that lowers the motor, blades and fixtures several feet below the ceiling. Otherwise, the fan blades may not clear the ceiling and the airflow only circulates in the top portion of your room. Opt for a downrod that accommodates the length of your blades and the slope of your ceiling. For example, The Family Handyman recommends a 6-inch downrod for a ceiling with a 4-inch over 12-inch slope and 44-inch blades. He suggests an 18-inch downrod for a ceiling with an 8-inch over 12-inch slope and 36-inch blades.

Access to the Fan

Install a remote control or wall switch controls to adjust the speed of your ceiling fan, to regulate the lights and turn the fan off and on. Pull chains on vaulted ceiling fans are problematic for most homeowners because the chains are out of reach. Opt for a remote device if you want to control the ceiling fan while you are seated or in another room. Select wall switch controls if you have easy access to your wall space and you don't want to keep track of an additional remote.

Tags: your ceiling, mounting device, vaulted ceiling, 12-inch slope, ceiling with

Power Usage For Industrial Air Fans

Industrial air fans are used to ventilate and cool large areas in warehouses or factories. These permanent fans are installed in ducts and run intermittently throughout the year.

Power Calculation

To calculate the power drawn by the industrial air fan's motor, an engineer can use the following formula: average voltage x average current x the square root of 3 x the power factor all divided by 1,000. The power factor is the ratio of real power to apparent power in a circuit.

Energy Use and Cost Calculation

The power drawn by the motor found in Section 1 can be used to find out how much energy the industrial air fan uses and how much it costs to run annually. By multiplying the power by the hours in which the fan operates, an engineer can determine the energy used by the fan. By multiplying the energy usage by the electric rate, which the electric utility powering the fan determines, the cost of operating the fan in a year can be determined.

Inefficiencies

There are a number of ways to tell whether the industrial air fan system is operating inefficiently: dampers, which restrict air flow in a duct, are closed or suddenly turning; a frequently overloading motor; loud and excessive vibrations and noise; and the need for frequent repair to the ductwork all suggest the fan is running inefficiently.

Tags: power drawn, power factor

Ideas For Pine Wood Ceiling Panels

Pine wood is used for a lot of interior wood projects.

Pine wood ceiling panels are panels made from pine wood that are designed to attach over an existing ceiling structure. These panels are not limited to just one use, however. There are many ideas for pine wood ceiling panels to be used in a variety of ways to achieve many different looks.

Vaulted Ceiling

One idea for pine ceiling panels is to remove the existing ceiling and create a higher, vaulted ceiling using the attic ceiling or the ceiling from a second story. The pine panels would make the room feel homey even through the ceiling was so high. Adding pine ceiling panels to a vaulted ceiling also increases the country and outdoor or lodge feel to any room. Raising the ceiling also creates the illusion of a larger space. This project should only be attempted by a professional.

Furniture Cover

If you have leftover pine panels from a ceiling job, you can use them for other purposes. One of the best ways to use loose bits of pine ceiling panels is to cover existing furniture with them. You can create a more expensive-looking piece of furniture by covering the sides or top of the furniture with the wood panels. This can even be done over particle board furniture to add instant value and aesthetic appeal. As long as you have a circular saw or some other kind of saw, you can easily finish this project yourself. Use finishing nails or glue to hold the panels in place.

Patterned Ceiling

If you have a few pine ceiling panels and some panels of another type of wood, one option is to mix the two different panels together on the ceiling for a unique and attractive look. Alternate the wood panels or create some other pattern such as two to one or something similar. You can even get more creative by cutting the panels into smaller pieces and laying them across the ceiling in a mosaic pattern. This will add a unique look to your home.

Ceiling Cover

The obvious use for pine wood ceiling panels is to lay them over the ceiling like they are intended to be used. Many rooms can benefit from a wood ceiling. Although pine ceilings are typically only seen in lodge-style homes, there are other uses for pine ceilings as well. Pine wood ceilings in the kitchen will instantly add a rustic or country look to the kitchen which can be quite charming.

Wall Panels

Pine ceiling panels can also be interchanged with wall panels. Pine ceiling panels will make excellent wainscoting, trim or even complete wall cover. Usually, however, a small amount of pine is better to avoid the feeling of living in a forest.

Tags: ceiling panels, wood ceiling, ceiling panels, pine ceiling, pine ceiling panels

Paint A Ceiling Rosette

A ceiling rosette also goes by the names ceiling rose and ceiling medallion. No matter what you call them, they all serve the same function, to adorn the base of light fixtures on a ceiling, typically chandeliers. The intricate designs of many ceiling rosettes add a formal flair to any room's decor. Ceiling rosettes are also paintable, so that they blend in seamlessly with the surrounding ceiling surface. It's best to paint a ceiling rosette prior to installing it.

Instructions

1. Spread a tarp over a work table and place the ceiling rosette in the center with the finished side facing upward. Put on disposable gloves to protect yourself from back spray.

2. Remove the top from a can of spray paint in your chosen color and shake the can thoroughly for approximately 20 seconds.

3. Hold the can approximately 6 to 8 inches away from the ceiling rosette and spray it with short, quick paint strokes. Do not attempt to achieve full paint coverage at one time. Work your way around the rosette, maintaining the short strokes until you reach the starting location.

4. Repeat the spraying process around the perimeter of the rosette a second time using short strokes, but this time focusing on any bare unpainted areas still visible. Continue this process until no part of the rosette remains visible.

5. Wait until the rosette dries completely before installing it on the ceiling. Typically, the drying time is at least 24 hours.

Tags: ceiling rosette, ceiling rosette, short strokes

Textured Ceilings

About Textured Ceilings

When finishing a room, don't forget to look up. Textured ceilings can be one of the most dramatic and polishing things you can do to a room to make it feel completed and beautiful. From paint textures to exposed beams to moldings, people have been accessorizing their ceilings for hundreds of years.

History

Textured ceilings began in huts with building materials like mud, dung and clay mixed with hay or horse hair. In colonial times, it was fashionable to leave the strong wooden beams that supported the home exposed; in high renaissance Europe, palaces and estates would feature repeated moldings, hand-painted tiles or hand-carved ceilings. In French palaces like Versailles, you can see the ornate gilding, carving, molding and painting that went into each individual room's decoration. So, too, in Italy, where the most famous ceiling in the world exists in the Sistine Chapel.

Identification

A textured ceiling is any ceiling in which the entire plane is not flat; this could be raised moldings, paint textures such as the popular "popcorn" ceilings and tiling, carving or framing of any sort.

Types

There are many types of molding, from small repetitive designs to long pieces of rounded wood meant to smooth the transition of the eye from ceiling to wall.

Paint textures can either be faux, such as painting in such a way to resemble leather, marble or cloud banks, or they can be three-dimensionally textured, raised patterns of paint such as popcorning or making overt brush strokes for effect.

A tiling finish can be achieved by adhering tiles of repeating patterns, carved or molded designs or painted images to the ceiling.

Effects

Texturing a ceiling creates a more organic space; it draws the eye in a fluid motion from a complete and well-designed room to the ceiling and back down to the focal points of the room. Molding especially can add relatively inexpensive flair to an otherwise plain room; opt for small moldings (can be made in a DIY kit, pouring plaster into molds) in repeating patterns for a really dramatic effect.

Misconceptions

Not all ceilings that are gorgeous and dynamic are expensive. It does require a lot of sweat equity, but the results that hard work and creativity can achieve are very impressive. Painting is one of the lowest cost (both physical and financial) choices that you can make so that your ceiling is the cap to your home renovation.

Tags: paint textures, repeating patterns, Textured ceilings

Cathedral Ceiling Decorating Ideas

Cathedral ceilings add vertical decorating space to an interior room.

The dramatic height of expansive cathedral ceilings adds sophisticated vertical dimensions to an interior space, but the ceilings also present a design challenge for homeowners looking to create a seamlessly decorated interior. Whether you want to play up or tone down the size effects of your cathedral ceiling, creative decorating ideas incorporate your ceiling into the overall aesthetic of your room for a cohesive design.

Paint

Paint is one of the most versatile and cost effective options for decorating a cathedral ceiling. Traditional ceilings are often painted white, a color that contributes to a sense of openness. Add more dramatic visual interest to your space with an alternative paint color on your cathedral ceiling. Choose a ceiling color that is a shade darker than the color on the walls. For example, pair your saturated mauve walls with a burgundy cathedral ceiling or your mint green room with a grass green ceiling. Though dark colors make rooms appear smaller, the scale of a cathedral ceiling counteracts the effect to create a space that is dynamic and colorful. Another option is to incorporate a modern paint element into your room design by painting vertical stripes from the top of the walls to the peak in the ceiling; wide bands in neutral colors are subtle but interesting while several thinner stripes in multiple colors offer a playful option.

Wall Decals

If painting your ceiling is too labor intensive, use adhesive wall decals as a contemporary option for decorating your ceiling and adding visual interest to your room. Wall decals are self-adhesive stickers that apply to flat wall or ceiling surface to create playful, sophisticated or classic patterns. Though decals adhere to most surfaces, you can't create a clean seal if you have a textured or popcorn cathedral ceiling. Wall decals are often too distracting and imposing for traditional flat ceilings, but cathedral ceilings offer expansive space for even the most daring decals. For a whimsical family room, choose floral-inspired creeping vine decals in pale green or yellow. Bold, contemporary spaces pair well with black or lime green decals in geometric shapes or nature-inspired trees. If your tastes are even more eccentric, choose a striking decal, such as a shadow of a dinosaur or a nighttime sky scape to add visual dimensions to your lofty ceiling. If you ever change your aesthetic, the decals simply peel free to leave a clean space for redecorating.

Texture

Add visual interest to a cathedral ceiling through varied textures and materials. For example, many historical homes feature cathedral ceilings with exposed natural wood beam support structures. For striking visual contrast, leave the ceiling white and treat the beams with a dark cherry-colored finish to add a sense of rustic luxury. Create your own spin on beams with molding; choose a detailed molding to create pattens of panels on the ceiling. If wood beams are a bit too rustic for your taste, fabric is a more romantic and sophisticated option for adding texture to cathedral ceilings. Drape large sections of sheer fabrics from the peak of the ceiling to the edge of the walls so that they billow gently in the center. Single colors are classic while several panels of different colored fabrics are a bolder contemporary option.

Tags: cathedral ceiling, cathedral ceilings, visual interest, your ceiling, your room, beams with

Install Suspended Ceiling Grids

You can install suspended ceiling grids.

Hanging drywall for ceilings can be a very difficult and daunting task. A good alternative is doing a suspended ceiling. Areas like a basement, where water lines, pipes, cables and duct work run between the floor joists are especially good for suspended ceilings. This layout will allow you to maintain access to those lines should the need arise. Here are the steps for hanging a suspended ceiling.

Instructions

1. Determine the maximum height of the suspended ceiling. Typically about 4 inches from the existing ceiling joists. This will provide enough space to angle the tiles into place. However, if installing drop lights, then go 6 inches from the joists. Mark the wall and then draw a line around three sides of the room using your level. A 360 degree laser level work best, or use a standard a 3-foot or 4-foot level to draw a line around the entire room. If using a hand level you'll need to use a chalk line once the marks are made, so you have a straight line. Laser line levels will provide a nice bright red line around the room.

2. Nail or screw in the perimeter molding once the perimeter lines have been established. Drill pilot holes with a drill and a bit for the screw installation. Screw the L-shaped bracket, that came with the grid kit, into place. Use a stud finder to screw them into wall studs, so that the top edge of the bracket lines up with the perimeter line. Cut the molding to fit with tin snips in corners or along oddly shaped walls. For long walls, butt the ends of two pieces of molding. For outside corners miter each bracket at 45 degrees and butt together.

3. Before installing main runners, use string to lay out where the main runners are to go. They will sit perpendicular to the joists and should be 4-feet apart. Measure the length and width of the room from the center of the string runners, so the ceiling appears balanced from side to side, depending on the size tile you are using. Doing this saves time as the string is easier to move than the main runners.

4. Once the string grid for the runners are in place, and you are happy with the balance, install the main runners perpendicular to the joists 4-feet apart. Depending on the type of ceiling grid system you use, the main runners will either be in sections of 4-foot, 6-foot or 8-foot sections that snap together. Support the main runners with 16-gauge wire into eye bolt screws that you will screw into the floor joists about every third joist. Use string stretched between perimeter moldings to determine height of runners. Use a smaller level every 4-feet across the runners as you hang with wires, to keep your runners level all the way across the room.

5. Tie the runners together with the cross tees. Start in the center of the grid to square the grid. Keep in mind the type of system you've chosen, either 2 x 4-foot or 2 x 2-foot panels, and place the cross tees in accordingly. It's a good idea that as the cross tees are placed, place a few tiles in along the way. Not all the tiles should be placed at this time in case you need to move a few of the cross tees.

6. Trim the tiles to fit as needed. If the tile you choose is smooth cut on the finished side, cut on the back side to trim. Always use a sharp utility knife because there will be less dust and better results than with power tools.

Tags: main runners, cross tees, suspended ceiling, line around, 4-feet apart

Lay Out The Grid For A Suspended 2x2 Ceiling

Suspended ceilings have improved and evolved from being simple white tiles to decorative three-dimensional decorative ceilings. The choices of styles and designs are varied, but the size of the ceiling tiles is limited to two standard sizes. The most common is a 2-foot by 4-foot tile, but a 2-foot by 2-foot tile also is available and offers a great many choices in tile designs.

Instructions

1. Take careful measurements of the entire room. Measure each wall and transfer this data to a scale drawing of the room. Graph paper works very well for this exercise. Use each line on the paper as one foot and mark the outline of your room. This will be your guide for the layout, the parts lists and the installation guide. This is your blueprint--an error at this point will be magnified as the project evolves, so check all measurements to ensure accuracy.

2. Mark the location of your main tee brackets. Regardless if you plan to install 4-foot tiles or 2-foot tiles, the main tee brackets will be placed on 4-foot centers. Begin at one wall and mark the first main tee on the fourth line. Repeat this across the page. Once all main tees are marked, you will need to mark the cross tees. The first set of cross tees will be 4 feet in length and will be placed every 2 feet between each of the main tee brackets. When this step is complete, you will have a grid of 2-feet by 4-feet openings. The only exception will be the final row, which unless your room is divisible by four, will be odd-sized. This section will be dealt with in a later step.

3. Draw the 2-foot cross tees. These will be centered in each of the 2-foot by 4-foot grid openings. They will run parallel with the main tees supported by the hanger wires. The cross tees will have no hanger wires attached.

4. Measure the final section of the grid that is less than 4 feet. If this area is 2 feet or less, your grid is complete. You will cut 2-foot square tiles to the appropriate size to custom fit each opening. If the openings are wider than 2 feet, you will need to add an additional main tee bracket and set of hanger wires. Custom cut cross tees for the final opening. The grid is now complete and ready for the installation of the ceiling tiles.

Tags: cross tees, hanger wires, main brackets, 2-foot 4-foot, ceiling tiles

Ideas For Painting A Low Ceiling

Make a low ceiling seem higher with paint.

A low ceiling can close in a room, making it feel cavernous and uncomfortable. If you have a low ceiling in your home and you're wondering deal with it, there are ways to make it appear higher than it actually is, using paint as your medium.

Cool Colors

Create the illusion of a ceiling that is taller than it actually is with cool colors. Cool colors reflect light and visually recede, making a space appear bigger than it is. If you want to give the space a hint of color, opt for cool shades of ice blue, pale green or even a paint that contains a tinge of lilac; these hues offer subtle color. If, however, color on the ceiling isn't your cup of tea, opt for a white that has a tinge of blue in it. Avoid warm colors as they absorb light and can make the ceiling appear lower than it actually is.

Satin Finish Paint

Another way to make a low ceiling appear taller is by using satin finish paint. This paint has a high gloss finish, which reflects light and automatically draws the eye upward and away from the floor. Just because satin finished paint reflects light doesn't mean that a darker shade of paint will work on your ceiling; you should still opt for a cool color paint. In fact, combining a cool color and a satin finish will do double duty, making your ceiling appear even taller than it is.

Vertical Stripes

Instead of painting the ceiling in this space, paint the walls. Painting tone-on-tone stripes on the walls will draw the eye upward, seemingly expanding the height of the room. Choose a color, such as blue, and select two tones of the color that are fairly similar -- light blue and powder blue, for example. Paint a base coat on the walls with one of the hues. When the base coat is dry, use a ruler and painter's tape to evenly space out lines on the wall. Use the second color to paint the stripes. When the paint dries, remove the tape and you'll have evenly spaced and straight stripes.

Same Colors

Paint your ceiling and walls the same color. When walls and a ceiling are painted the same color, they are differentiated, making it apparent that the ceilings are low. To avoid this, select a light, cool color, and use it on both the walls and ceiling.

Tags: ceiling appear, cool color, than actually, your ceiling, base coat, ceiling your

Wire Up A Ceiling Fan( With Pictures)

Ceiling Fan

This article will show connect up a ceiling fan's electricity. This article does not explain do the rest of the ceiling fan installation.

Instructions

1. Turn off the power that feeds the switch that you will be dealing with. This picture shows the basic electrical connections to the wall switch. This switch controls both the fan and the light. The ceiling fan also has some pull chain switches which additionally controls the fan motor and the light separately.

2. One thing that is always confusing is the fan connection has three wires, a white wire, a black wire and a blue wire. Now, what to do with the blue wire. Just connect it to the black wire. It feeds the light down below. There is generally a flag connected to the blue wire telling what to do with it but sometimes it's missing.

3. When you get to connecting up the light part there is opportunity to get confused again because you have to deal with the blue wire coming out of the fan motor. Well, just connect it up to the black wire on the light. And, of course the white wire connects up to the white wire.

Tags: blue wire, black wire, white wire, connect black, connect black wire, This article

How Finish My New Wood Ceiling

Applying a finish to wood ceilings prevents darkening with age and damage from smoke and grease stains. The species of wood used determines which finish to apply. Finishes applied to wood ceilings also protect the wood and make cleaning less labor-intensive. Experiment on scrap pieces of the ceiling wood with different products and finishes to determine the best fit for your room.

Beadboard Ceilings

Beadboard is a milled, tongue-and-groove lumber product used in homes on walls and ceilings since the late 1800s. Finish beadboard with stain, clear varnish or paint.

Prime and paint beadboard with an acrylic enamel. After priming, roll the paint onto the beadboard ceiling and use a brush to touch up any voids in the grooves. Beadboard is slightly rough in texture and fuzz from a standard paint roller will be an eyesore. Use a good-quality foam paint roller on beadboard to avoid this. Also use a foam roller to apply clear varnish to beadboard.

Knotty Pine Ceilings

If left untreated, knotty pine ceilings will darken over time and become hard to clean. the untreated wood absorbs moisture.

Apply orange or blond shellac to knotty pine to retain the natural color of the wood. Apply two or more coats of shellac and finish with a coat of water-based polyurethane. Use satin polyurethane for a low sheen.

Cedar Ceilings

Moisture in the air will stain unfinished cedar. Apply a coat of water-based polyurethane and sand with 280-grit sandpaper, then apply a second coat. If a third coat is necessary, sand first and then apply.

Be careful when stirring the polyurethane, as any air bubbles will transfer to the cedar ceiling and mar the appearance. Any bubbles transferred to the cedar will require sanding and another application of polyurethane.

Cherry Ceilings

Finishing cherry ceilings brings out the natural characteristics of the wood. It is labor intensive, but well worth the effort.

Apply a coat of light-brown stain and allow it to dry. Apply a shellac and smooth with steel wool. Apply brown mahogany gel stain, wiping to blend, and allow it to dry. Finish the cherry ceiling with two to three coats of satin polyurethane.

Barn Board Ceilings

Weathered barn boards are grayish in color. Any finish applied to the ceiling will darken it slightly. Apply a grade of clear polyurethane formulated to use on hardwood flooring. This seals the wood and simplifies cleaning.

Tags: Apply coat, beadboard with, clear varnish, coat water-based, coat water-based polyurethane

Home Ceiling Lighting Ideas

Not all chandeliers are fancy or come with an abundance of decorative crystals.

Ceiling lighting in a room brings both illumination and character to a space; although light fixtures address practical needs, for a light fixture to fit into a room completely, it must also match the motif in the room. Fortunately, many different types of ceiling lights exist on the market, making the job of finding the right light for your needs an easier process.

Lighting Types

Before you can understand how best to use lighting to enhance your decorating motif, you might want to understand the different types of lighting in general so that you know use them. According to an article on "Home Decorating Made Easy," four different types of lighting exist ---ambient lighting, tasking lighting, accent lighting and natural lighting. Each of these lighting types serves a different function. Ambient --- also known as general lighting --- gives light to the whole room. Task lighting is just like it sounds; it illuminates little chores like bill paying or hobby work in a small space. Accent lighting brings light to decorative elements like artwork and windows, doors and skylights and represents the sources of natural lighting found in your home. Likely your ceiling lighting choices will most often affect the ambient light in the room, so be mindful of that when placing the light so that you receive maximum coverage in the room.

Theme Chandeliers

The word "chandelier" often conjures up images of a piece of lighting that drapes from the ceiling, possesses 8 or 10 mini-lights and has crystals hanging from it. That's one type of chandelier, but it doesn't represent the only type. When choosing a chandelier for your ceiling lighting needs, think about how the chandelier will fit into your decorating theme. For example, if you've chosen a French country decorating style for your kitchen, be on the lookout for a red rooster chandelier. Roosters are a common decorative theme in French country decorating, and the types of rooster chandeliers are many. They range from chandeliers with roosters painted on the lamps to roosters formed from iron.

Art Deco

According to "Decorator's Secrets," Art Deco lights became trendy again in 2010, and the trend continues into 2011. Art Deco ceiling lights come in a number of styles like the lights that hug close to the ceiling as well as those that hang on chains. The Tiffany company put out many light fixtures during the Deco era, and many Tiffany and Tiffany-style ceiling lamps exist on the market even today. However, Tiffany wasn't the only company to put out Deco light fixtures. If you're looking for ceiling lights in an Art Deco style, the BBC website recommends that you look for light fixtures made from chrome and glass decorated in subtle colors like pale greens and blues as well as pink, beige and coffee colors.

Japanese Lanterns

Japanese paper lanterns add soft warmth to the overall lighting scheme in a room, according to Apartment Therapy. These bulbs come in a variety of colors and can be easily recognized by their soft paper exterior and numerous folds. When using lanterns as your ceiling lighting source, you may want to hang several lanterns up throughout the room because the light that comes from these light fixtures tends to be muted. You may also want to augment the light with task lighting sources like floor lamps in key areas of the room.

Tags: light fixtures, ceiling lights, different types, your ceiling, your ceiling lighting, ceiling lighting, country decorating

Make Your Own Ceiling Lamp

Dress up a hangling lighting kit with a drum shade for a DIY ceiling lamp.

Ceiling lamps are a frequent interior decorating problem; they often look dated, clash with other fixtures or decor, or they give off the wrong type of light. Take down your unattractive light fixtures and replace them with a cost-effective light fixture you can make yourself. DIY ceiling lamps take approximately an afternoon for most people to complete, after which you'll have a light fixture that is pre-matched to your room's decor and diffuses light pleasantly.

Instructions

1. Pull off the band of fabric around the bottom edge of the drum, keeping the band intact.

2. Lay your fabric face-down across a large, flat work surface. Place the bottom of your drum in the center. Trace around the edge of the shade, creating a 1/4-inch space between the border you're drawing and the drum itself.

3. Cut out the circle you just traced. Turn the drum upside-down. Apply fabric glue around the edge of the drum. Turn the drum right-side up again and place it on top of the fabric, attaching the fabric to the glued edge, and centering the drum as perfectly as possible. The fabric will diffuse the light and hide the bulbs from below.

4. Glue around the exposed edges of fabric around the drum and then fold the glued border over onto the face of the drum. Trim off any excess fabric. Re-attach the band you previously removed using still more glue and covering the exposed fabric. Allow glue to completely dry.

5. Remove the collar from the top of the pendant fixture and set it aside, leaving only the wire at the top. Stick the entire pendant fixture, sans collar, into the drum shade. Pull the un-collared wire through the hole at the center of upper metal frame of your drum shade--where the lamp finial would have attached--allowing the socket to hang in the very center of your drum, about a quarter way down from the top of the shade.

6. Screw in a low-watt bulb in the fixture's socket. Re-attach the collar at the top of the fixture and wire the fixture as you would any ceiling lamp to complete the project.

Tags: your drum, around edge, ceiling lamp, drum shade, edge drum, fabric around, light fixture

Flat Basement Ceiling Ideas

Flat Basement Ceiling Ideas

Several options, with varying degrees of effort and expense, exist for finishing a basement ceiling. Before choosing, you must first consider some factors specific to basement ceilings. Because of plumbing and wiring, you may need to access the ceiling periodically for repairs or maintenance. Therefore, you must choose a covering that allows you to remove part of it when necessary.

Drywall

Otherwise known as sheetrock, this option is perhaps the most professional way to finish the basement ceiling, and you can paint it whatever color you like. However, it is also among the most expensive because it is usually advisable to hire a professional to install it. It is overwhelming to weekend do-it-yourselfers because they generally do not have enough experience in taping and using the joint filling mud. People quickly notice blemishes in a drywall installation.

Dropped (Suspended) Ceiling

This system of lightweight ceiling tiles suspended from a framework of metal brackets is attached to the bottom of the ceiling joists. It is far less expensive than drywall and much easier to install yourself. Also, homeowners can easily remove individual tiles for maintenance and repair purposes. In addition, the tiles have sound-deadening qualities that make the home quieter.

Many homeowners do not like the look of a dropped ceiling because it looks too commercial or industrial. However, some alternatives exist within this option that look different from something you might see in an office or retail store. However, tiles can eventually sag and discolor over time, and you will have to replace them eventually.

Another drawback to suspended ceilings is that they must be suspended a minimum of eight inches below the ceiling joists, causing a loss of room height. In a basement, the room height is usually less than the rest of the house to start with, so this may be unacceptable. However, there are newer suspended ceiling systems on the market that take up much less headroom.

Paneling or Bead Board

You can screw sheets of faux wood paneling or bead board to the floor joists above a basement room to provide an attractive ceiling. This solution is fairly affordable, depending on the material used. In addition, it is easily installed by a do-it-yourselfer. The main disadvantage to it is that it is not as easily removed for maintenance as tiles are.

Fabric

You can suspend fabric from the overhead joists in a basement ceiling to provide coverage. It would be fairly easy to dismantle the fabric installation to access plumbing and wiring, and the range of colors and patterns is almost endless for this solution. Installation is fairly fast using only a staple gun. There are also fabric systems designed specifically for ceilings on the market that you can choose from. This solution can be very inexpensive, depending on the fabric, and easily installed by the homeowner.

Tags: basement ceiling, Basement Ceiling Ideas, basement room, Ceiling Ideas, ceiling joists, easily installed, Flat Basement

Diy Fiber Optic Star Ceiling

Fiber Optics can turn an ordinary ceiling into a work of art

A fiber optic star ceiling is the perfect addition to any home theater or kids' room. It consists of a ceiling outfitted with thousands of fiber optic lights which give the effect of looking into a star field when lit up. Although this project is time-consuming, the ceiling is easy to install. If you do a little planning and make sure you have all the pieces you need, this project will go very smoothly.

Measuring the Ceiling

The first and most important step is determining what size panel you'll need to create a fiber optic star ceiling. This is crucial: You will need to know how many "stars" to use (they should be placed evenly), and larger panels are harder to install. Once you decide which area you're covering, cut a piece of medium-density fiberboard or plywood to those specifications.

Cutting the Plywood

When cutting the plywood, you want to make sure the finished product is the exact size of the ceiling. If you are just covering a rectangular area, a table saw may be your best bet to get straight lines. However, if you are constructing a ceiling with an odd shape, you will probably want to use a hand saw or router to get the edges you need.

Also, keep in mind how you are mounting this to the existing ceiling. If you'll have access above the ceiling, you may want to bevel your edges so the star field sits on the old portion of the ceiling. If not, leaving the square edges should be fine. Also, if you do not have access above the ceiling, remember to add spacers to the existing ceiling to which you will attach the star field. The spacers will leave room for your fiber optics.

Installing the Stars

Installing the stars will be the most time-consuming part of this project. The best thing to do is to split your false ceiling into even sections, then divide the fibers by the number of sections so each section has roughly the same number of stars. Since you want the fibers to fit snugly into the plywood, drill the holes for them using the smallest drill bit possible.

Once all your holes have been drilled, feed the cables through the wood. Feed one cable through each hole and make sure each goes completely through the wood and sticks out a bit on the other side. Think about how you're going to bundle the fiber optic cables and where they are going to travel. Use the shortest length of cable possible, because you will want your light source as close as possible.

Installing the Star Field

Once all the stars have been threaded, it is time to install the star field. First make sure your fiber optic cabling is connected to the illuminator and that the illuminator works and is placed in an inconspicuous place, such a ventilated attic. If you don't have room above the existing ceiling, try to tuck the cables out of sight---hide it in piping down the wall, perhaps. Bolt the false ceiling to the existing ceiling.

Tags: existing ceiling, make sure, star field, fiber optic, this project, above ceiling

Monitor Audio In Ceiling Speakers

An analog VU meter. This uses a needle to show audio volume.

Ceiling speakers allow businesses and homes to funnel audio from a single source into a room or rooms. This can be beneficial when providing your customers with mood music or if you wish to have the freedom to go room to room in your house while still listening to music. In order to ensure that your audio levels are suitable for your environment, it is helpful to have a VU (Volume Units) meter to monitor the cables. These meters use LEDs or a needle to indicate the level of the sound being played.

Instructions

1. Locate the audio source for your speaker system.

2. Unplug the RCA cables from behind your sound system. These should be the cables coming from the "Audio Output" jacks.

3. Plug the cables that you just unplugged into the "Audio Output" jacks behind your VU meter.

4. Plug your additional RCA cable into the the "Line Input" port on your VU meter. There should be two ports, and two cables.

5. Plug the other end of your RCA cable into the "Audio Output" jacks on your audio source.

6. Plug your VU meter into a power source.

7. Turn on your VU meter.

8. Turn on your audio source and press "Play." You should see your audio levels as pulsations. If you have an LED VU meter, you will see the lights pulsing to the right going from green, to yellow to red.

If you have an analog VU meter with a needle, you will see the needle pulsing to the right. It will pulse further to the right depending on your volume level.

Tags: your audio, your meter, Audio Output, Audio Output jacks, audio source, Output jacks, analog meter

Choose Behr Paint Colors

Choose Behr Paint Colors

We've all stood in front of hundreds of paint color charts in the store trying to decide which paint color would look best on our walls and which trim color would look good with the wall color and what color should I paint the ceiling? We end up coming home with books and hundreds of color charts.

Here is a solution to that problem. Now you can walk into any hardware store or paint store that carries Behr Paint and have a pretty good idea of what you are looking for and save yourself some time.

Behr Paint has an online website with a virtual project center where you can coordinate your walls, trim and ceiling colors together and it also provides you with the paint name and number. Now you can walk into the store and simply look for that name and number on the paint color charts.

Instructions

1. First, go to Behr Paint's website. I have listed the link below. Once the page loads, over to the right on the top you will see "Project Center". Holding your mouse over that tab, a drop down box will appear. Go down to "Visualize with Color Smart".

2. A smaller box will start to load. Once that appears, hit browse colors. From there you choose which color family you are interested in (Reds, Blues, Greens, etc.). Choose the color and explore. You can lighten or darken the color. Once you choose your main color, you hit "Coordinate". Color Smart will group together two other colors with the main color. From there, select which grouping is close to what you are interested in, and again, you can fine tune those two colors. Once you have all three colors to your liking, hit "Preview".

3. Now you can either load your own photo, or use a sample. You can select the room, or the exterior. Click on your 3 colors and place them where you want it in the room (wall, ceiling, trim).

I hope this information is helpful to anyone who is about to begin a painting project.

Tags: Behr Paint, color charts, paint color, Behr Paint Colors, Choose Behr, Choose Behr Paint, Color Smart

Vaulted Vs Cathedral Ceilings

Although similar in the feeling of spaciousness they impart, the cathedral and vaulted ceilings are actually quite different in structure and appearance. Both styles offer a dramatic architectural effect and make rooms seem larger than they are.

History

Cathedral ceilings have been popular since the Middle Ages. Cathedral churches are so much a part of history that many people today refer to any tall ceiling area similar to one in a church as a cathedral ceiling.

Technically, a church being officially designated as a cathedral has nothing to do with its ceiling or architecture. According to the Catholic encyclopedia, a cathedral is the chief church of a diocese, where the bishop has his seat, or throne.

Based on the old Roman basilica, the architecture of the earliest medieval Christian cathedrals was Romanesque style and later ones were built in the Gothic style. These dramatic structures often incorporated cathedral ceilings, elaborate architectural details and fantastic art work.

The word cathedral is derived from the Greek word kathedra and the Latin cathedra, which means throne or elevated seat.

Vaulted means "built in the form of a vault" or "arched."

Vaulted Ceiling

In a room with a vaulted ceiling, one wall of the room will be taller than the opposing wall. The ceiling slants toward the lower wall. The vaulted ceiling is less expensive to construct than the cathedral ceiling, while still creating a sense of spaciousness.

Cathedral Ceiling

The center point of the cathedral ceiling is higher than the walls. It is a high sloping ceiling attached directly to the roof trusses. The cathedral ceiling rises to the top of the house.

Although they're dramatic and beautiful, cathedral ceilings do have their drawbacks. The height makes it difficult to paint the ceiling or change light bulbs. The extra air space increases heating and cooling costs. Adding a cathedral ceiling to an existing home involves more work and more expense than adding a vaulted ceiling.

Adding a Vaulted or Cathedral Ceiling

An experienced carpenter can usually add a vaulted ceiling or a cathedral ceiling to an existing home, even if the room has a flat ceiling. In order to add a cathedral ceiling, the roof trusses need to be wide enough (around 12 inches) to allow for proper ventilation and insulation. If they're too thin, you won't be able to insulate the house. If you fill the gaps with insulation, there won't be proper ventilation.

Structural Change Requirements

Extensive modifications will require a special building permit. Roof rafters are a vital structural support for your home. Before making any structural changes, consult a structural engineer or an architect.

Tags: cathedral ceiling, Cathedral Ceiling, cathedral ceiling, cathedral ceiling existing, cathedral ceilings, ceiling existing