I want to install wood on my kids bedroom ceiling. I see the pictures in all of the design books–it looks really nice. Very warm.
I can find cedar and pine at the home centers. My fear is that the material is going to look like a it should be in a cabin, not a bedroom.
The pine I can find is really knotty. Also, I’m not a fan of stained pine…
I have tried to find douglas fir, but had little luck.
What material do you recommend?
Thank you.
Replies
A pine ceiling is a certain taste, and no matter how you slice it, its going to have a camp casual, rustic feel. If you were to spring for premium #2, Or Select #1 pine, it is going to cost in the 1.50 a board foot range, and thats 1x6 so about 3.00 a sqft. You can get v-match pine which is tongue and groove, but again its pine.
Cedar will have a distinct smell which can be very strong, especially with door closed or by adding heat, I would say stay away from that unless you are trying to keep the moths away from the kids, and others wondering if they spend their time in your cedar closet.
A possibility may be birch. You can get 1/4 inch birch ply both flat and bead board (looks like wainscoting). This would give you a ton of options how to finish. You could cut it into any panel size, and finish trim the edges. If you want to complicate things look into coffered ceilings. Birch is a beautiful light color, and can take stains and polys well. If you want to keep it as light as possible, use a waterbased Poly like polycrylic from Minwax, or StaysClear from Ben Moore. This is still not cheap but will bring you down a bit in price, I have seen 4x8 sheets for $20-30 depending on the quality. Dont forget that trim mold and poly will be an expense though.
Lastly, if that isnt what you are looking for, you could always paint the ceiling. Sometimes I think people forget that a ceiling doesnt have to be white. You could also hire a guy like me to come in and paint a mural on it. Also if they are old enough, it could be a great bonding experience to do the design and mural job with your kids, they wont care how it comes out, just that you took the time to do it with them.
-zen
I would recommend against Western Red Cedar. It's one of the woods more prone to alergic reaction. I get flu-like symptoms when I work with it in the shop.
Some of the laminate flooring manufacturers are making laminate ceilings now.
If you go to a real lumber yard, fir should be available. Still being used for flooring so you could find T&G. Or, real bead board. Not the fake 4x8 panels. Or, how bout poplar? It's a little greenish but you could stain it up. It's generally used under paint, cause it's not expensive and relatively knot free.
ShelleyinNM
Not sure if this is quite what you are looking for, but Armstrong (the flooring people) introduced a line of ceilings that they describe as "Natural wood-grain look; prefinished, durable laminate surface; superior humidity and sag resistance; maintenance free; easy installation. "
Check out their web site: http://www.armstrong.com/resceilingsna/
Edited 12/13/2004 9:58 am ET by Anne
Edited 12/13/2004 9:59 am ET by Anne
I did a coffiered ceiling in my living room earlier this year. I used the "good pine" at my local home center. It was hard to find what I would call good pine. Most had plenty of defects and was warped. So, be careful with the inexpensive home center pine (I am not sure it is really pine - some of it was called "white wood").
I did all the trim work in the attached picture...
Jeff
Jeff,
What lovely work. Thanks for sharing a picture.