

Depending on the ceiling design and type of wood you choose, you (or your contractor) may opt to frame the sides and bottoms of the faux beams directly on the base beams. To ease the process, it’s a good idea to paint or stain the wood before installation. The next step involves constructing the faux beams. The end result should resemble a checkerboard pattern on the ceiling, which is the skeleton of a coffered ceiling. The base crossbeams run parallel to the joists and therefore don’t attach to them instead, they’ll connect to the inner edges of the main base beams with adhesive and a nail gun. The base crossbeams, which complete the grid pattern, should be cut from the same type of lumber as the main base beams. The main base beams serve as the support beams for the rest of the ceiling, so it’s important to attach them securely with adhesive and a nail gun (like this one available on Amazon).

At this point, the base beams are only pieces of lumber, such as 2×4s or 2×6s later, they’ll be wrapped with additional wood to mimic the look of heftier beams. Then, after planning the design, the next step is transferring it to the ceiling with chalk lines to represent the position of the beams.įollowing the standard method of installation, you should first position the main base beams, which run perpendicular to the direction of the existing ceiling joists. To achieve a uniform pattern, make sure to figure out the proper ceiling dimensions and coffer dimensions first. Homeowners must decide on the number of coffers they desire, as well as the depth and width of the beams.
#TIN CEILINGS PROFESSIONAL#
Whether you decide to DIY a coffered ceiling or design and work with a professional to implement your plans, the first phase takes place on paper. Photo: Zillow Home in Minneapolis, MN THE INSTALLATION PROCESS Painted pine will be less expensive than stained cherry or red oak, and ornate designs will boost the cost even further. The detail in the design, as well as the type of wood you choose, will affect the final cost as well. Expect professional installation costs to be at least $25 per square foot.
#TIN CEILINGS INSTALL#
If you’re planning to install a coffered ceiling, know that the labor-intensive endeavor does require advanced carpentry skills and structural work-that those without proper carpentry know-how should hire a professional for the job.

The majority of coffered ceilings are purely decorative, constructed entirely from hollow faux beams. In fact, if you want large and deeply recessed coffers, an engineer may require additional ceiling support (since even faux beams may add too much weight to a ceiling, depending on the existing joist structure). One exception would occur when adding a second story to a ranch home: Homeowners may opt to install a coffered ceiling to camouflage necessary overhead support beams. Most coffered ceilings in residential homes aren’t load-bearing, meaning they’re not part of a home’s structural system that supports weight. Also keep in mind that the deeper the coffered indentations, the higher the existing ceiling should be-this ensures the bottoms of the beams don’t interfere with head space or visually overpower a room.įaux or functional beams. Rooms with lower ceilings may feel too claustrophobic or cluttered with the addition of coffers. Given this construction, coffered ceilings work best in rooms with high ceilings, nine feet tall or more. Although coffered ceilings draw the eye upward, the beams extend downward into a room, taking up some overhead space. Photo: Zillow Digs home in Rye, NY COFFERED CEILING CONSIDERATIONSĬeiling height. Also keep in mind that the deeper the coffered indentations, the higher the existing ceiling should be-this ensures the bottoms of the beams don’t interfere with head space or visually overpower a room. These design choices make the show-stopping feature easily customizable to the style of any particular home.Īlthough coffered ceilings draw the eye upward, the beams extend downward into a room, taking up some overhead space. Homeowners often dress up the ceiling by attaching architectural medallions to the coffers, installing tin ceiling tiles or wallpaper in the center coffer panels, painting or staining the beams to create visual depth, and incorporating ridges and scallops into the wood and beams. While coffered ceilings found in residential homes are considerably less ornate than they’re counterparts in many large public buildings-courthouses, historic churches, and art galleries-the ceiling designs still create quite the focal point.
