Trim A Vaulted Ceiling

A cathedral ceiling is constructed following the slope of the roof, but a vaulted ceiling is often constructed with scissor trusses.

Vaulted ceilings date back as far as recorded history. Once gracing only the most opulent homes, churches, monasteries and palaces, vaulted ceilings are now popular additions to modest homes as well. Vaulted ceiling design is varied, ranging from simple sheet rock walls and sheet rock ceilings--both painted the same color--to open rafters with tongue and groove board ceilings to exquisitely painted designs, such as the Sistine Chapel ceiling. While few, if any, of us have the talent to match that of Michelangelo, it is still possible to have a vaulted ceiling that adds beauty and value to your home. Trim your vaulted ceiling with wallpaper murals and molding for an impressive impact.

Instructions

Plan

1. Measure dimensions of ceiling panels to be papered. Order wallpaper murals on line or from your local home decor dealer. If the mural design has a large pattern, you will need to purchase extra paper to allow for matching seams.

2. Measure for linear feet of crown molding needed. Measure the length of the vaulted ceiling where it meets each wall.

3. Count the number of angles in your vaulted ceiling. Multiple by the number of angles by 6 inches. Add this number to your linear feet measurement for crown molding. Order crown molding.

Prepare

4. Paint your vaulted ceiling and allow to dry thoroughly. Wallpaper applied directly to the sheet rock will be difficult or impossible to remove without damaging the sheet rock if you decide to change the wall paper in the future. Pour paint into your paint roller pan. Using a paint roller, roll on two coats of interior flat paint. Use your trim brush to paint the edge near the wall that cannot be painted with a roller.

5. Paint your crown molding. Lay molding out on saw horses or other supports and apply a coat of primer paint and two coats of interior trim paint.

6. Check the angle of the corner where you will begin wallpapering. Walls are seldom perfectly square. You will need this information to make certain that you begin your wall paper on a plumb, or straight, line.

Install Wallpaper

7. Follow manufacturer's instructions for wallpaper installation. Measure the length of ceiling to be papered. Add 3 inches to this measurement and cut. Lay this piece of wallpaper flat on the floor. Roll out another length of wallpaper, matching the pattern on the first piece of wallpaper. Cut away excess paper at the upper edge to facilitate ease of hanging.

8. Roll up the first length of wallpaper loosely and place it in a wallpaper water tray. Grasp the top edge of the wallpaper with the fingers of both hands and slowly unroll, removing the paper entirely from the wallpaper tray.

9. Apply the first sheet of wallpaper to the ceiling, beginning in the corner measured during preparation. Use a square to make certain that your first sheet of paper is laid perfectly straight. It may be necessary to trim a small amount of paper off the side that touches the wall, depending upon the degree of squareness of your wall and ceiling.

10. Cut each successive piece of wall paper by laying it out next to the sheet before to make certain that you continue with a matching pattern.

Install Crown Molding

11. Measure the angle at the corner where you will begin to nail crown molding to the wall. On a piece of scrap molding, practice cutting your angle and test it against the angle on the wall. Make adjustments as necessary. Cut the angle into the crown molding. If your length of crown molding is as long as the wall, cut the angle at the second angle at the other end of the crown molding. Practice your angle first on scrap molding.

12. Nail the crown molding in place with finishing nails. Continue around the perimeter of the walls by measuring each angle and cutting the crown molding to fit before attaching the molding to the wall.

13. Countersink finishing nails by placing a nail set on the nail head and striking a blow with your hammer. Make certain the nail head is driven below the surface of the wood.

14. Fill each nail indention with spackling. Spackling can be applied by dipping your finger into the spackling to obtain a small amount of spackling on your fingertip. Rub your finger over the nail indention to fill the hole. Rub your finger over the filled hole to remove any excess spackling from the wood.

15. With a small paint brush, paint over the spackled nail holes with your wood trim paint.

Tags: crown molding, vaulted ceiling, sheet rock, certain that, make certain that, wall paper, your finger