Can You Put Wood Planks Over Popcorn Ceiling?

A wood plank is a rectangular piece of wood that is flat and long, with parallel surfaces that are higher and longer than the breadth. Planks are widely used in carpentry and are utilized in the construction of ships, houses, and bridges.

Can You Put Wood Planks Over Popcorn Ceiling?

You can install wood planks over the popcorn ceiling. All you need is the appropriate equipment and the right skilled people for the task, who will know how to protect the wood planks from falling through the ceiling. There are numerous reasons why you might want to consider using wooden planks to cover your popcorn ceiling.

Some of these considerations are listed below:

  • Covering your popcorn ceiling rather than completely removing it might save you a lot of effort and money in the end.
  • Depending on the age of your property, removing popcorn ceilings might be risky. Because most homes were constructed in the 1950s hence they contain asbestos.
  • It’s also worth remembering that removing a popcorn ceiling is a filthy job. If you are not careful, the dust from the broken ceiling may dirty you or, worse still, enter your eyes.
  • In a smaller apartment, removing popcorn ceilings may not be the best use of restoration funds.

How to Install Wood Planks Over Popcorn Ceiling

Some of the tools and supplies you need include a tape measure, chalk line, stud finder, jigsaw, miter saw, nail gun and air compressor, rubber mallet, brad nails, and a caulking gun. These are a few steps you need to follow:

Step 1: Remove ceiling fixings

The first thing you need to do is to remove fixtures from the ceiling. This includes air vents, chandeliers, lights, and remove anything you have hanged in your ceiling.

Step 2: Locate ceiling joists

Carefully remove all of the crown moldings. You will be nailing your wood planks to the ceiling joists. So, use a stud finder to locate ceiling joists and then mark them using a chalk line.

Step 3: Install the wood planks

Installed the wood planks making sure the tongue is facing out. Using brad nails, fix the first wood plank making sure it’s laid square on the popcorn ceiling. Cut the remaining wood planks and install them one after the other.

It’s advisable to stagger your joints to ensure all of them are not on the same side of the room. Leave a small gap approximately ¼ inch around the outside edges of the room for possible swelling. The gap will be covered by finishing trim or crown molding.

Step 4: Caulk all the cracks

Once you are finished installing your wood planks, the next step is to caulk all the cracks. Caulking is a form of painting intended to fill gaps and holes with caulk coating. First, apply caulk coating in a small bead along the edges of the wood planks using a caulking gun. Use your fingers to smooth the coating to create a seal between the wood planks and walls.

Step 5: Paint the ceiling and trim

If you used pine wood planks, you may decide to leave your planked ceiling as is. If you used other wood planks, you can decide to lighten up the space by painting your ceiling. Otherwise, remove the stains from your planked ceiling before you begin the painting work.

Step 6: Return your ceiling fixings

You will need a jigsaw or miter saw to cut and fix vents and light fixtures.

What Planks Size Is Best?

Normally, planks are more than 38 mm (1.49 inches) thick. They are generally wider than 64 mm (2.5 inches). In the U.S, wood planks vary in length and are 51 mm (2 inches) long by 200 mm (8 inches) wide. Some of the more commonly stocked planks include 51 mm (2 inches) by 300 mm (12 inches) and 51 mm (2 inches) by 250 mm (10 inches).

The best plank size for you varies depending on many factors such as your preferences and purchasing power. To help you choose the best size for your room, here are few other factors you need to consider:

1. The humidity of the room to be installed.

Living in a very humid or arid area will greatly determine the type and size of planks to buy. Natural wood expands, warps, and curves in humid conditions, while it shrinks in dry ones, exposing unfinished seams to insect infestation.

2. Width paneling on the ceiling.

When considering the width of the planks to buy, ensure that the width of the planks matches that of the ceiling paneling.

3. Ceiling length

Before making any purchase, you need to measure the length of your ceiling to determine the length of the longest planks. Consider covering that strip with a ceiling beam built at the right angle if the boards you need are slightly shorter and terminate parallel to one another.

Cost of Installing Wood Planks Over Popcorn Ceiling

Typically, the cost of a plank ceiling ranges anywhere from $3 to $7 per square foot. The cost of installing pine wood planks may go as high as $7 per square foot whereas the cost of installing oak planks, American Cherry planks, or Teak wood planks ranges between $5 -$10.

The average cost of installing wood planks over a popcorn ceiling varies depending on a number of factors such as the type of wood planks, the size of the ceiling, the height of the ceiling, the ceiling design, and additional services.

There are two varieties of wood planks: softwood and hardwood. The complexity of the ceiling design will cost higher compared to a simple design. Any additional services requested such as complete finishes to the ceiling also affect your total quote.

Advantages Of Wood Planks Over Popcorn Ceiling

Using wood planks to cover your popcorn ceiling has many advantages. Top of the list include:

  • Wooden planks, especially if given a blending paint, will enhance your ceiling’s natural charm.
  • There are numerous different varieties of wood planks to select from, ranging from rustic to Continental minimalism.
  • Wood planks are more durable compared to popcorn ceilings especially when exposed to liquids such as water or when a heavy object is placed on them.
  • When compared to popcorn ceilings, wood plank ceilings are more resilient, especially when exposed to different climatic conditions such as humid and dry climates
  • Wood planks allow you to customize your design and match your ceiling to your preferences. This is the case since wood has a structural dimension and texture that allows the homeowner to inscribe a variety of patterns as desired.
  • Using wood planks enables the homeowner to manage what could have been considered noise pollution to the outside. They act as sound insulators in places like shared apartments and schools.
  • Wood planks allow the homeowner to decide whether to use natural wood or engineered wood in constructing the ceiling.

From the health and financial point of view, it makes sense to install wooden planks over the popcorn ceiling. It reduces the time and money that could have gone into removing the popcorn ceiling while preserving the health of those who could have been assigned to remove the popcorn ceiling.

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