Q on leveling an existing wavy ceiling


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Old 02-19-13, 10:21 AM
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Q on leveling an existing wavy ceiling

This is for my northern Michigan vacation cottage living room. What's a good way to install a new ceiling over wavy joists? Just guessing but there's maybe a total high/low of an inch. My ceiling is right at 8 feet and it's just 1/4" paneling on those joists, with foil-faced insulation laying on the back side. The walls in the living room are the same (the rest of the cottage is log cabin). This low-buck construction is very common there and lasts longer than drywall which often cracks in the winter when the cottages are shut down.
But I want a stronger, nicer looking ceiling so I was considering T&G V-grooved pine or bead board. I suspect that even with the lines in the wood to visually break up the long ceiling expanse (27x19) I will still be able to see the waves telegraph through. Another option I'm considering is a coffered ceiling but that might be a bit over the top for a cottage, and a lot of work.

Any suggestions how I can get a flat-looking ceiling without breaking the bank or my back?
 
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Old 02-19-13, 10:48 AM
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Shim out the joists to make the underside straight. Simple/straight forward task but not necessarily quick or easy.
 
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Old 02-19-13, 12:36 PM
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2 issues come to mind:
1 - the insulation was put in before the paneling so it's stapled to the joists. Sistering new joists (not sure if that's what you meant by shimming the joists) would mean pulling down the insulation--along with 40 years of whatever might be found in/on it. Did I mention there's also vermiculite up there? Maybe not in the addition (living room), but for sure there is in the original attic space. I'm motivated to find a way that doesn't disturb this possible carcinogen.
2 - How do I determine "straight" if I do try to make it perfect rather than hide it?
 
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Old 02-19-13, 01:21 PM
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OK, shim under the paneling that's there now. A laser level would help you find the lowest spot and shim exactly to that point everywhere else.

You'll just need to use extra long screws on the new drywall to make sure you hit structure.
 
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Old 02-19-13, 03:23 PM
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Either a laser level or a long straight edge will help with getting it all fairly even. Plywood strips make for good shims although if the joists themselves are wavy, it might be better to sister a 2x along the existing. Mitch is thinking drywall but the same is true for a wood ceiling, make sure the nails are long enough to hit the rafter, not just the shim.
 
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Old 02-19-13, 04:30 PM
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String lines also help get things straight.

You should run strapping perpendicular to the joists. That will make it easy to shim them even. Then put your T&G on.
 
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Old 02-19-13, 05:18 PM
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Yeah, sorry - wood, not drywall. That said, my process for the ceiling 'leveling' remains the same other than long nails instead of long screws.
 
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Old 02-20-13, 07:32 AM
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I like the idea of furring perpendicular to the joists. This would allow me to run the planks the same direction as the joists (long dimension of the room), plus not disturb the existing insulation. Installing the T&G should go quicker being able to see the nailers, too. A big downside to this plan though is losing almost 3" of ceiling height, which already feels low because it's dark & big.

Would there be any advantage to putting 3/4 foam board between the strapping...or does the "thermal bridge" of the wide strips negate any gain?
 
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Old 02-20-13, 04:06 PM
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Where do you get 3" from? You'll have 3/4" for the strapping and 3/4" for the T&G. That's 1 1/2".

On further thought, you might be able to skip the strapping and fur out the T&G as you go.
 
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Old 02-21-13, 09:41 AM
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Originally Posted by drooplug

Where do you get 3" from? You'll have 3/4" for the strapping and 3/4" for the T&G. That's 1 1/2"
You're forgetting the error that must be shimmed out. If it's 1" overall then we're at 2.5" lost ceiling height.
 
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Old 02-21-13, 04:13 PM
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Are you trying to level the ceiling or make it flat?
 
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Old 02-21-13, 06:35 PM
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It's wavy so I just want it flat...or hide it.
 
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Old 02-22-13, 04:43 PM
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So you have ceiling joist that hang 1" lower than the highest ones? That's really bad. There is only so much you can do with something that bad.
 
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Old 02-22-13, 05:24 PM
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+/-0.5% is hopeless? .
 
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Old 02-22-13, 06:32 PM
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.5% of what ?
 
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Old 02-22-13, 06:34 PM
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8 feet .
 
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Old 02-23-13, 05:31 AM
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It's not hopeless, but you will have to give something up to get it. What's more important, being flat, or not losing 3" of ceiling height? You have placed quite a few restrictions on your project. There isn't anything wrong with that, but it does make achieving your goal with the ceiling more difficult.
 
 

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