How to Cover a Floor Joist With Fabric

Floor joists are the support structures that hold a floor up above another level in a building. In some designs the joists are hidden by a drop ceiling. But in other home designs the joists may be left exposed, appearing to stick out of the ceiling in the room below the floor. You can make joists more aesthetically pleasing by covering them with fabric that matches the decor of the room.

Measuring tape
Heavy wood staples
Fire-resistant fabric
Ladder

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the length of the joist from wall to wall. Cut a sheet of fabric to this length.
- 2
  Measure each side of the joist from where it meets the ceiling to the bottom of the joist (the height of the joist). Add each side's measurements together. Measure the width of the joist and add this measurement to the two-side total.
- 3
  Cut the sheet of fabric from Step 1 to the width of the sum from Step 2. Line up the edges of the fabric so the sheet wraps around the joist and the ends line up flush where the joist meets the ceiling.
- 4
  Staple the fabric in place using heavy wood staples. Be sure to staple where the fabric meets the ceiling, on the bottom of the joist, and on the sides of the joist.
- 5
  Repeat these steps for each additional joist.

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