Home Remodeling Improvement Wood Ceilings

People love wood floors - for me, I yearn for a wood ceiling. A wood ceiling to me feels as if the home is reaching out to hug me. A wood ceiling is more than just a warm glow, it also offers insulation and sound absorption. Even if you have planned or already have plenty of insulation in your ceiling, consider a dramatic statement in your home - just one room and add a wood ceiling. Journey with us as we review many possibilities from mahogany to oak to cherry to bamboo. The color variations are endless for each category of wood. Look beyond your home for great improvement ideas too - from commercial buildings to libraries - modern or traditional. Wood ceiling add an important architectural element to any room design. Wood ceiling can be simply wood paneling or wood flooring. To take the design up a notch, consider add in a coffered ceiling. The design ideas are boundless, let take a journey and enjoy the many choices.

From elegant to rustic, from simplistic to sublime, from drop ceiling to tongue and groove to even bamboo! Over 25 options for you to peruse. Read thorough and enjoy the visual delight!

Cambera Philippine Mahogany Wood Ceiling

Mahogany Wood Ceiling

Tongue and Groove Mahogany Wood Ceiling

Oak Wood Ceiling

"The woods are lovely,deep and dark."

-Robert Frost

"Let's leave 'em that way."

-Elmwood Reclaimed Timber

Beautiful Room with Wood Ceiling

Wood Ceiling with Blind Nails

Grooved Paneling

Within the world of grooved paneling there are three types of milled profiles available in the marketplace:

• Tongue & Groove
• Shiplap
• Square Edge

Plank Lengths and Widths and Thicknesses

Depending upon your manufacturer, there are a variety of different lengths and thickness available. Widths range from 3" to 12" wide. Thickness is often offered at 1/2", 5/8" or 3/4". And the length of your milled wood is standard from 2' to 12'. Prepackaged bundles commonly consist of random lengths from sixteen inches to eight feet. Premium tongue and grove will be milled on all four sides.

Rustic Verses Select

Rustic milled wood will contain tight knots and numerous character marks. Select wood is clear of knots and most other marks. Expect to may a premium for the select wood.

Armstrong Ceiling Planks

Armstrong offers a variety of options both for the home and industrial use. Perhaps the best known ceiling manufacturer in the world. The most popular wood ceiling is Armstrong's "WoodHaven plank, Natural Cherry". Armstrong states that it "offers that classic warmth and color, but can also deliver a contemporary feel to your space. It’s a natural for any room. Use our WoodHaven Ceiling Installation kit included in every carton."

"WoodHaven planks attach directly to ceiling joists or furring strips, so there's virtually no loss in ceiling height. Once furring strips are in, begin by measuring the room and converting to inches. Divide by 5, as each plank is 5". Take the remainder, add 5 and divide in half - this figure is the width of the first and last rows of planks. All rows in between will be the uniform width.

The use of WoodHaven Painted White ceiling really opens up this living room. The classic, white ceiling brightens up the room and complements the cozy décor."

Armstrong.com

Reclaimed Wood Flooring for your Home Remodeling Wood Ceiling Project

"Reclaimed wood flooring imbues a look and feel that you cannot match. We cannot begin to tell you how many customers of ours come back to us after purchasing one of our reclaimed floors to convey how much the wood has enhanced and enriched their space. All of our reclaimed wood flooring is 100% reclaimed from old barns, buildings, rural structures and sustainable sources of reclaimed timber. Out of respect for our heritage and architectural history, we only deconstruct buildings and barns that are condemned, abandoned or beyond repair. Our Old Growth Urban Reclaimed Wood Flooring is supplemented by local sources of newly felled trees such as tree trimmers, developers and landscapers, who previous to the induction of our program would have destroyed the logs either as mulch, firewood or simply landfill."

ARCHITECTURAL SURFACES, INC.

"ARCHITECTURAL SURFACES, INC. offers a wide range of Execuwood™ solid wood and wood veneer ceiling and wall systems. Introduce the classic beauty and charm of authentic wood to your next project. Linear, grill, open cell and coffer systems are available in all wood species. Affordable,high quality millwork with complete accessibility and easy installation.

Applications
Wood ceiling and wall systems find applications in executive areas, entries, public spaces, churches, schools, convention centers, shopping centers, banks, hotels or anywhere high design and the warmth of wood is desired.

Benefits
Execuwood™ wall system and ceiling system products are perfect for new construction or renovation. They install to or in standard T-Bar suspension systems, Easy installation, complete accessibility, acoustical, concealed suspension and attachment, Class I fire retardant, factory finishing, radius applications and complete design flexibility..

Materials used
Highest quality ,architectural grade, solid wood and veneers are hand*crafted to provide a professional look at a moderate price. All products are available Class 1 fire retardant treated or factory finished."

www.architecturalsurfaces.net

Oak Wood Ceiling

Milled Options for Wood Flooring

Tongue and Groove

n. A joint made by fitting a tongue on the edge of a board into a matching groove on another board.

Shiplap

n. Wooden siding rabbeted so that the edge of one board overlaps the one next to it in a flush joint. "Shiplap is a term used to describe a type of wooden board used commonly in the construction of barns, sheds, outbuildings and inexpensive or seasonal homes."

Shiplap - Tongue and Groove and More Options

A drywall ceiling is functional, a wood ceiling is spectacular. From modern to Victorian, these wood ceilings can compliment most any interior.

What is Shiplap Siding?

Shiplap Siding is similar to tongue and groove, but it laps over (1/2" depth of rabbet). Typically shiplap siding is kiln dried. It can be installed horizontally or vertically with the edge of one board having a recessed area along its rear which receives the shaped top-rear edge of the board next to or below it. On the exterior is is installed so as to exclude water during rainfall. Shiplap siding is similar to exterior clapboard but is more watertight and more attractive.

Shiplap is often seen on the exterior of buildings were it is extremely cold. Milled shiplap siding makes a smooth surface and is well suited to interior use. Simple to install and with nominal waste, this type of wood ceiling is great - as with all wood ceiling you are paying for quality. The workmanship will readily show with shiplap.

Acoustical Wood Ceiling Systems

Wood Ceiling Beaded Tongue and Groove

Coffered Wood Ceiling with Grooved Planks

Coffered Wood Ceiling - Painted White and Natural Stain

coffered wood ceiling

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Rulon Aluratone - Acoustical Product for Ceiling

Looking at acoustical wood ceilings? Then you must review this great option - an engineered line of wood ceiling tiles designed specifically for acoustical installations.

"Rulon Aluratone acoustical product line was engineered to provide our customers with the best acoustical characteristics and the beauty of real wood. Form and function come together in a product that is as diverse as it is useful. Rulon Aluratone is available in a large selection of face styles.

The face patterns include perforations, grooves, and custom slots. The variety of Aluratone styles, coupled with an unlimited veneer selection, assure there is an Aluratone product for any project. Rulon can match to any custom color or provide a clear coat to bring out the natural beauty of the wood."

Wood Styles and Selections

"Aluratone 100: Aluratone 100 utilizes a slotted face to pass sound through to the absorptive core. Using state-of-the-art CNC equipment, Rulon can custom cut any specified slot pattern. Our recommended slot is 3/8 wide, but can vary depending on scale of the project. Similarly, the length and spacing of the slots can be varied within reasonable structural limits. The Aluratone 100 panel is available in Composite, a 1-1/2 thick panel with acoustical infill, or Solid, a panel with an optional acoustical fabric backer. The panels can be edge banded with matching veneer for installations where the edges are seen.

Aluratone 300: The traditional grooved pattern of the Aluratone 300 face makes it one of our most popular Aluratone panels. Aluratone 300 is a composite panel created by encapsulating acoustical material behind a grooved face. The face grooves are 1/16 wide and spaced 3/8 on center. The face panel is also grooved on the back in a perpendicular direction before assembly. The intersection of the perpendicular grooves creates holes that pass sound to the absorptive core. Aluratone 300 panels are 1-1/2 thick. The panels are also typically edge banded with matching veneer."

"Aluratone 500: Aluratone 500 is similar to Aluratone 300, but the 1/16 grooves are spaced on 3/16 centers to create a fine finished look. The panel is typically 1-1/2 thick and is edge banded with matching veneer. Popular in high end spaces where acoustics are a concern, Aluratone 500 is the perfect choice for performing arts theaters."

Rulonco.com/products/aluratone.aspx

Cedar Wood Ceiling fromDuraGroove

Pine Wood Ceilings

Cedar and Knotty Pine Wood Ceiling from Dura-Groove

Paneling gone pretty. Looking for something rustic - check out the pre-finished knotty pine and cedar. Great for rustic-looking settings. Consider for not just ceiling but for coordinating walls and trim.

Benefits of Pre-Finished

What is wonderful about the pre-finished units, you can be assured as the wood shrinks, all the crevices are covered - no gaps in the applied stain. An important element to consider when applying your wood stain.

Dura-Groove

An industry leader in pre-finished wood is Dura-Groove. Dura-Groove is sealed on the face and on the edges - this results in eliminating these unsightly shrink lines. "Dura-Groove® is superior in all ways to field-coated tongue & groove and at 50% of the cost!"

www.DuraGroove.comWood Ceiling SystemsCommercial Wood Ceilings Wide range of solid wood and wood veneer

Walnut Wood Ceiling

Oak Wood Coffered Ceiling

Maple Wood Coffered Ceiling

Coffered Ceiling Definitions

• A coffer (or coffering) in architecture, is a sunken panel in the shape of a square, rectangle, or octagon in a ceiling, soffit or vault. ...
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffered_ceiling
• recessed panels created in a ceiling
  www.dcrinteriors.com/interior-design-glossary/
• Usually refer to a grid-work of beams with crown moulding. They can be any size and design, limited only by your imagination. Coffered ceilings add a refining touch to a room that cannot be imitated.
  custominteriorworks.com/glossary.html

Coffered Ceilings

Coffered ceilings take wood ceiling to new heights of grandeur and elegance. Coffered ceilings can be all wood, all drywall or a combination. Combining coffered wood moldings with the milled wood such as grooved wood flooring or paneling offers an expansive selection of design opportunities.

While the most traditional applications for coffered ceilings are in the library, family room or study, kitchen and bedroom and even hallways can benefit from this added rich detailing.

What is a Coffered Ceiling?

A coffered ceiling is a ceiling that consists of several recessed panels often in the form of a square, sometimes in the shape of a rectangle or octagon in a ceiling. Traditionally a coffered ceiling is usually trimmed with ornamental motifs.

Coffered ceilings date back to Greek and Roman architecture and have been records as far back as the 6th century. Used both a decorative element and also as a means of lightening the load of a heavy marble or stone ceiling. Reserved only for the very wealthy and/or Greek Gods.

Pre-fabricated Coffered Ceilings - New Innvation

Pre-fabricated coffered ceilings are now available which significantly cut down on the labor cost of installation.

Hometime details a great video on one of these pre-fabricated installations and showcases the simplicity - even for the home carpenter. "This all-in-one system comes with wooden runners and cross tees, just like a commercial suspended ceiling. Once the grid is in place, the oak panels just drop in. Custom-sized panels are used around the sides."

Hometime.com

The Creation of the Pre-fabricated Coffered Ceilings

"Jerry Young and his wife JoAnna founded Midwestern Wood Products Co. in 1968. Jerry had been a sales representative for mouldings and other building materials when he decided to get into manufacturing as a means to control both product quality and availability. Forty-two years later, Midwestern Wood Products Co. remains a family-owned business that designs and manufactures a wide array of high quality interior millwork, utilizing mainly American hardwoods. The factory is still located in Morton Illinois.

Always an innovator, Jerry is responsible for many one-of-a-kind creations used in projects throughout the country. One example is his patented WOODGRID® Coffered Ceiling System, which is manufactured exclusively by Midwestern Wood Products and has been featured in numerous magazines and twice on HOMETIME ®. Jerry offers a vast knowledge of the woodworking industry and today focuses primarily on commercial and high-end residential interior design."

"The patented WOOD GRID ® Suspended Coffered Ceiling System offers style and versatility for any project. Whether remodeling or building a new construction, this suspended ceiling system works quickly and economically. Its interlocking parts make installation simple, yet the finished product looks intricate and elegant. The WOOD GRID ® Suspended Coffered Ceiling System has been featured on HOMETIME ®."

Cherry Wood Coffered Ceiling

Coffered Ceiling

Coffered Ceiling How to Video

Coffered Ceiling

Coffered ceilings are more than just mill work, the complexities and the endless variations really set the standards as a work of art for your home. A coffered ceiling made of gleaming wood will add a luxurious touch to any room. The higher the ceiling, the greater the magnificance. Builders of high end estate homes always include a coffered ceiling in their architectural details. A coffered ceiling not only enhances the home's appearance but it's long term appreciation as a stately residence.

Not leaving or building a mansion - no problem, a smaller scale of the coffered ceiling has a place in every home from a library to a family. The amount of the square footage is not the purpose, the beauty and comfort of the room is the ultimate goal.

Mill work and the various molding options make the coffered ceiling unique to every residence.

The example given in the article include the casual rustic to the elegant cherry. As the examples showcase, there is a style of coffered ceiling for every taste and every budget.

Coffered Wood Ceiling

Cherry Wood Coffered Ceiling

Coffered Wood Ceiling Design Options

Coffered Drop Ceiling

Planning Your Home Improvements

Homes are typically what dreams are made up. Yes, there are cars and jewelry but where you live is important to both you and your family. Ultimately your home is for many of us our largest assets - not to mention the asset we spend the most time with.

Tackling a home remodeling project starts with a dream and a design idea. From vaulted ceilings to the skylights to room-sized bathrooms and closets. Whatever your project, plan and plan and plan. Research what you like and don't like. Review your budget and plan a schedule. Here are a couple of quick tips.

1. Print Out - Cut Out Your Home Remodeling Project Vision

Research and maintain a project file of visual design options. Review these options with your family. Compare how this project will affect the rest of your home.

Closely review all traffic pattern changes.

Review the budget and review your neighborhood. Will the improvement help or hinder you in the marketplace?

Consult with an architect and review this items together. Let the architect/builder help you visualize your project.

2. Search Out the Pitfalls of Your Home Remodeling Project

Use the Internet to find others who have successfully completed a project such as yours. Review their personal triumps and pitfalls. Watch videos from do it your self and other learning stations. Read carefully the message boards take in the feedback.

3. Review the Future with Your Family

Together with your family, review your plans for the next 2-5 years. Some projects have nominal return, some projects may take you to a price point in your neighborhood which make it difficult for you to sell.

Review your plans with a realtor. Realtors offer a keen and objective insight into the home market. Use their expertise.

4. Budget Wisely for Your Home Remodeling Project

Budgets can all too often go bust. Plan for the contingencies. Don't extend your home equity loan to the max. Always have a safety net of possible reserves.

5. Hire the Most Qualified for Your Home Remodeling Project

Even if you are doing this yourself, evaluate your strengths and weaknesses. Use your time wisely, be willing to contract out the technical items such as electrical and plumbing - this is not the time to learn. Do your own trade well, hire the professionals for their trade. You need to seek out qualified and licensed and properly insured professionals.

When re-roofing our home, I compromised with my husband, he could do it if he outsourced some of the massive heavy labor - the carrying of the shingles up to the roof. He finally agreed and he was safe and not overworked and the project went fairly smoothly - except for that rainstorm and the ceiling was raining - oh, the contingency plans!

If you have limited mill work skills, hire a professional - you want the joints to correct. This is a specialized skill. If you don't know - ask and learn. Don't expect to learn overnight - seek out the expertise and your project will go much smoother. Experts can save you trouble and save you substantial dollars!

Coffered Ceiling - No Wood

Budget Savings - No Wood

Coffered ceilings even without wood can add a great architectural interest. If you budget is limited, do the comparison between wood and drywall. Look at faux finishes too - many great options are available for those seeking allot of elbow grease and ingenuity. Look at the example at the right and see what a coffered ceiling simply with different paint colors can offer a large or small space.

Bamboo Wood Ceiling - 6 Options

Bamboo Wood Ceiling

"Bamboo is everywhere now, even in our undies, but at some point it just gets silly. Manufacturer Armstrong says that this bamboo ceiling tile "creates a natural exotic look sure to warm up any space" They continue:."Bamboo is a rapidly renewable resource - it is a grass that grows back when cut, making it environmentally friendly, sustainable and a natural way to help contribute to LEED® credits." We wonder how a heavy ceiling tile made from material shipped from China is environmentally better than a lightweight locally manufactured one, (or no ceiling tile at all) but that's LEED for you. Perhaps we are at a point with architectural bamboo where we have too much of a good thing." ::Armstrong Woodworks

"Bamboo creates a natural exotic look sure to warm up any space. Armstrong WoodWorks^®® credits (MRc6)." Bamboo panels are vertically grained and have all the inherent characteristics of natural bamboo. Bamboo, a rapidly renewable resource, is a grass that grows back when cut, making it environmentally friendly, sustainable and a natural way to help contribute to LEED

Our green ceilings are growing! FSC-certified options now available! Click here for more information.

"WoodWorks Bamboo has two rich, natural veneers available in Tegular and Vector^® edge details as well as Linear planks. Bamboo Patina is a standard finish and Bamboo Native is a premium finish option."

Crushed Bamboo (Esterilla)

"To make crushed bamboo panels or bamboo mats, the round bamboo poles need to be flattened. It is crucial to use fresh cut, green bamboo poles of about 4-5 years old.

Wood Ceilings for Your Home Remodeling Project

The world of home design in the United States has been denoted in recent decades with expansive kitchens and expansive bathroom, cabinets are proudly touted as 42" high; the standards for countertops has risen to granite and even flooring has seen the high-end influence with the shouting of wood flooring throughout home design and resale articles. Yet the benefit of the wood ceiling for your home has barely begun.

Wood is always a great option - and not just for floors any more.

Home Remodeling Advertisement - Southern Wisconsin

Brazilian Wood Flooring

Coffered Ceiling Books on Amazon

Comments

Ken Kline (author) from Chicago, Illinois on November 04, 2013:

Hi Ryan,

We always appreciate craftsman stopping by and contributing. Thank you very much!

Ryan on October 08, 2013:

Hi,

Great section on reclaiming wood flooring for the ceiling! It can give a fantastic vintage look! I have a client that offers a variety of ceiling products and we would love to have you join our partner program. To learn more, please contact me at ryan (at) adamriemer (dot) me.

Thank you, and I hope to work with you,

Ryan

H P Roychoudhury from Guwahati, India on September 11, 2010:

A beauty in new design. Thanks for sharing.