Ceiling joist covering ideas..

[Revtor]

Hey guys, I've got a 100 yr old carriage house / garage and the ceiling is covered in old stained dingy beadbaord. It doesn't look particularly bad, but is fallign down in places and a bit darker than I'd like. I figure that now, before I redo the garage doors and pipe in more electrical conduit would be the time to think about renewing my ceiling.

Sheetrock is cheapest and easiest but I'd really love wood. Around 600 sq ft.

Any pics, links, ideas, or advise would be greatly appreciated!!

thanks
~Steve

 

[Stuart in MN]

Can you remove the beadboard and then reinstall it after cleaning it up? With its age it may be brittle and difficult to remove without breaking.

You can get new beadboard that's more or less the same stuff, but it is labor intensive to install. I did my back porch ceiling with beadboard and was happy with it in the end, but it took forever to nail it up.

They also make 4x8 plywood sheets that are embossed to look like beadboard, it's not quite as realistic but doesn't look too bad.

 

[Revtor]

Stuart, good idea about refurb, didn't even think of that! I may take my sander to a section and see if that brightens it up a bit. would save me $$!

~Steve

 

[kd3pc]

before you take the sander to it, you might try cleaning it, then bleaching or oiling it...if you do sand just rough it enough to lighten/take stain...

If it is real wood, you will be surprised how well it cleans up. I have done some boats that turned out beautiful.

 

[yeldogt]

Don't try and sand it -- it's normally a thin product with details that will be changed with sanding. If it's just discolored and loose -- you can carefully reattach it.

Take a picture.

 

[kbs2244]

It is most likely just dirt.
Try a pressure washer set on low and with soap.
After rinsing, use big fans to dry.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I've seen 100 year old headboard (or car siding as they called it, since it was similar to what was used on wood railcars) and it usually was stained and sometimes varnished. The darkness is mostly age and oxidation, not dirt, so the surface will probably need to be sanded some to get to bright wood. You may be able to flip them around and use the back side, if it wasn't exposed to air it may not be as dark.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

I'd try cleaning it with water and amonia first. Maybe a brush or sponge mop.

 

[Revtor]

Thanks for all the ideas guys, I'll get a pic today and show you what I'm dealing with. I'm going to give a sanding to a small area and a scrubbing as well, see how it works.

Tempted to buy new cedar 3"x1/4" T&G planking from HD, but... $800 or so for a ceiling. Not sure I can justify that.

~Steve

 

[tc-cad]

Pole Barn steel. Menards sells it cut to your length. Lightweight and already painted.