Blog Guides Ceiling and lighting
A brief introduction to cedar ceilings
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A lot has been said about how expensive and luxurious hardwood floors can be. However, in this short read, we’re going to talk about wood ceilings, particularly cedar ceilings.
While cedar is a softwood and not a hardwood, it is a great wood for ceilings for both outdoor and indoor ceilings. A cedar-lined porch ceiling is a thing of beauty, while nothing says rustic luxury like a cedar bathroom or master bedroom roof.
cedar ceilings costs
Cedar ceilings are sold most often as tongue and groove cedar planks. The material cost itself for a 500 square foot ceiling would be between $1,203.5 and $1,719.80. Note that this does not include sales tax, delivery charges to the site, and other allied costs.
The installation process takes around 15 hours or so. If you choose to hire professionals to handle the installation for you, expect an additional cost of between $1,119.45 and $1,916.91.
Pros of cedar ceilings
- Cedar is exceptionally beautiful to look at. The unmatchable visual appeal of red cedar is one of the biggest advantages of choosing it as ceiling material.
- Cedar is also very durable, so much so that it is used as an outdoor roofing material as well. In fact, it is harder than asphalt shingles are.
- Cedar is also a great natural insulator, so while it will make your home better insulated, it will also bring down heating bills.
Cons of cedar ceilings
- Like most things wood, it is not particularly affordable.
- It will need regular maintenance to prevent the growth of moss and mildew.
Installation process
Cedar ceiling material by itself is not particularly cheap, and with the added cost of labor you could end up spending upwards of $2,500 on a single room’s ceiling. More than half of this cost is labor itself. However, cedar ceilings come in easy-to-install tongue and groove planks. So if you’re one of those homeowners who enjoys the challenge of DIY projects and is handy around tools, you could follow these simple instructions to install your own cedar ceiling.
- Calculate how many planks are based on the square footage of the ceiling. Depending on the cedar plank manufacturer you choose to work with, you might find a calculator on their website to make this easy for you.
- Organize your approach. Start from one wall and work in a straight line until the end of the other.
- Use a brad nailer to secure the planks onto the ceiling. The planks will hold better if you alternate the direction of the nails.
- A bead of construction adhesive is a great way to ensure the planks stay in place.
- There may be some gaps at the end of each row. You can fill those later either by cutting planks to specific shapes and measurements or by using crown moldings.
- With every new row you begin, start with a shorter board than you began the last row with. This will help you create a staggered effect.
- Always feed the tongue side of a plank into the groove side of the plank that is already nailed in, push it flush and nail them together.
- As you keep progressing, always push the tongue and groove edges into place first before sliding the lip together on the ends.
- Each row ought to finish a little shy of where the previous one had ended.
- Cedar does not need to be stained or sealed. Left as is, it ages into a deep, dark brown that is quite pleasing to the eye.
Written by Narayan Shrouthy. January 3, 2022
Narayan is a content writer for Kukun. With experience in both content writing and editing, Narayan mixes his writing and love for reading with his passion for music. As an active musician, He aims to be a key player in Kukun's content experience.
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