DIY Bead Board Ceiling
Installing a bead board ceiling as a DIY project saves a lot of money in labor costs and it is not nearly as messy and time consuming as putting up new drywall panels. Most large home improvement stores sell bead board in either 4-foot or 8-foot planks. Bead board is thin, lightweight and extremely easy to handle. This is a huge plus when working above your head on ceilings.
Tools and Supplies
Before you begin your bead board ceiling project, you need to gather the proper tools. Here's what you will need:
--Stud finder
--2 1/2-inch 4d finishing nails
--Hammer
--Nail set
--Construction adhesive (optional)
--Caulk gun
--Circular saw
--Chalk line string
--Primer
Preparing the Ceiling
Before you begin installing a bead board panels, you have to first prepare the ceiling. Wash it down with soap and water to get any dirt or dust off the ceiling. This is especially important in kitchens where they may be some cooking residue on the ceilings. You also want to give the ceiling a thorough scrubbing so the construction adhesive adheres properly, if you choose to use it. Over time, nails can work their way up and out of any surface. Many refer to this as the nail "popping." What construction adhesive does is give an added measure of protection against the bead board becoming loose. Using it is completely up to you.
Once the ceiling is clean and the boards have a coat of primer, you need to use a stud finder to mark your ceiling joists. Generally, ceiling joists are 16 inches apart. Once you have the ceiling prep done, do a little preinstallation prep work to the bead board by painting the back of the panels with at least one coat of primer. This coat of primer helps to prevent any moisture from penetrating and ruining the bead board. After all the prep work is complete, you are ready to begin installing the bead board panels.
Installing a Bead Board Ceiling
The most important board you install on the ceiling is the first board. If this board isn't straight, the entire bead board ceiling won't be straight. For this, you need to snap a chalk line string that is one quarter of an inch away from your starting wall. This is an expansion gap and when you do the finish work, you cover the gap with trim.
Next, if you plan to use construction adhesive, using the caulk gun, draw a bead of construction adhesive in a zig-zag pattern on the back of the bead board panel. Holding one end, while someone else holds the other end, line up the panel up with the chalk line, press it into the ceiling and check again to make sure the bead board panel lines up with the chalk line. If it isn't, adjust the panel by sliding it until it lines up. Once the board is in line with the chalk, it's time to attach it with nails.
Place the 4d finish nails in line with the ceiling joist marks and hammer them into tongue of the bead board panel and into the ceiling joist. Finish this first panel by securing the ends with two finish nails. To make this part of the job go much faster, you can rent a nail gun. Slide the groove of the second board into the tongue of the first board and again, nail through the tongue. Continue nailing the bead board to the ceiling, placing a nail every six to eight inches. As you get to the last pieces, measure and cut the bead board panels to fit. After all the boards are up, go around the ceiling with a hammer and nail set and countersink any visible nails.
Tags: bead board, bead board, construction adhesive, bead board panel, bead board panels, board ceiling, board panel