Keep wood ceiling under tiles?

1524 Views 9 Replies 6 Participants Last post by Drhoda, Jan 17, 2013

Drhoda

Discussion Starter · Jan 16, 2013

Just bought a house and noticed that there is a wood plank ceiling (4 inch wide plywood planks) underneath the old ceiling tiles. They are not tongue and groove, just planks and are in exceptional shape.

Could I just stain or paint the planks as is, or must I recover them with drywall? I would love to keep the wood and not cover but my concern is whether this will create air draft or dust issues. There is currently rolled fiberglass insulation on top of them but I may need to blow in some additional insulation as well.

Any advice or suggestions?

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joecaption

· #2 · Jan 16, 2013

Got a picture?
And your right there will be dust, and drafts, as well as possible code issues if it truely is just old wooden boards.

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Drhoda

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jan 16, 2013

I'll try and get a picture to post.

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oh'mike

· #4 · Jan 16, 2013

You need fire stopping---If practical---leave the plywood and overlay it with drywall---this way you won't have the mess or expense of removing the existing insulation.

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PoleCat

· #5 · Jan 16, 2013

I believe the question is....what is above the planks? Are they screwed straight to the ceiling joist? There may be lath and plaster or drywall there. Check before you go off on a tangent.

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Drhoda

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jan 16, 2013

I assume they are nailed to the joists with fiberglass insulation directly above them. Haven't been up in the attic yet to investigate.

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Seattle2k

· #7 · Jan 16, 2013

Just curious...Did you get a home inspection before purchasing?

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Jim F

· #8 · Jan 17, 2013

One thing I saw on tV about a wood ceiling is that when combined with the wood floor above and if there is air space in between it will act like a subwoofer and amplify the sound of footsteps in the floor above. People that want a wood ceiling are advised to put accoustic insulation in the space between the floor and ceiling.

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Drhoda

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jan 17, 2013

PoleCat said:
I believe the question is....what is above the planks? Are they screwed straight to the ceiling joist? There may be lath and plaster or drywall there. Check before you go off on a tangent.

Thanks PoleCat. I want and checked today and it appears there IS drywall or some similar type barrier between the wood and the joists. So it appears like I habe both a fire and air barrier as well as something to keep the dust from the attic....:thumbup:

My current thinking is to just spray paint it white. Ceilings are only 8 foot so I think leaving them natural will make the room look smaller?

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Drhoda

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jan 17, 2013

Seattle2k said:
Just curious...Did you get a home inspection before purchasing?

Hell I only gave $23,000 for the house. I buy these kind of distressed properties....pretty much assuming the worst.

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