Pine Ceiling Installation

Wood ceilings come in several types, with pine being one of the more popular. Pine ceilings don't have the same problems that pine floors do with cracking and wear, because, obviously, no one walks on the ceiling. Since pine is a softer, lighter wood, it's easy to work with when you're installing it overhead. Make sure to let the pine planks acclimate to the environment for a week or more before installing them.

Stud finder
Pencil
Level
Tape measure
Tongue an groove ceiling planks
Miter saw
Trim nailer
Table saw

Instructions

- 1
  Use an electronic stud finder to find and mark joists in the ceiling. Extend the lines over the whole ceiling to show placement of the joists, using a level and pencil.
- 2
  Measure the length of the ceiling along the edge where you want to begin the courses, perpendicular to the joists. Transfer the measurement to a wood ceiling plank. Cut the plank to that size on a miter saw.
- 3
  Hold the board against the ceiling, putting the grooved side toward the wall and sitting 1/2 inch out from it. Secure it to the joists with a trim nailer, shooting the nails straight up through the surface of the board at each point where it crosses a joist. Use two nails per joist.
- 4
  Measure and cut the next plank. Lock it to the side of the first plank, fitting the tongue and groove edging tightly together. Secure it there with nails shot through the sides rather than the face of the plank, at an inward slant, using one nail per joist.
- 5
  Repeat for each board, building across the ceiling. Cut the last board along its length so it fits along the far wall with a 1/2 gap there. Ceiling trim will cover the gaps.

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