Tags: Ceiling Beams, Decorative Wall Panels, Faux Wood Beams, T&G Ceiling Planks, Tongue and Groove

Looking to upgrade your home with some T&G ceiling planks? Tongue and groove ceiling planks are a great option for a gorgeous ceiling that you can install yourself.

Keep reading to learn how to install T&G ceiling planks!

How to Install T&G Ceiling Planks

If you are installing tongue and groove ceiling boards on drywall or plaster ceiling, you will first need to add furring strips. Furring strips, also known as battens, are thin strips of wood that are used to level or resurface ceilings. You will need to fasten them to the ceiling framing using 2-1/2 inch screws.

You can also use a cordless framing nailer. Depending on how you want the planks to run, you can run the furring strips perpendicular to or in the same direction as the ceiling framing. Installing furring strips will also help even out an uneven ceiling.

Once you’ve prepped the ceiling, you can begin to install the t&g planks. Start your first board by placing it with the tongue pointing in the direction of the installation or away from the wall. The groove of the board should be against the wall. Use a nail gun to begin fastening the boards. A 15 to 16 gauge nail gun with 2-inch nails works best.

Nail the boards in using the blind nailing technique. Do this at a 45-degree angle into the shoulder of the tongue side of the board. This technique allows the nail to be hidden by the next board you attach.

For the next board, put the groove against the tongue of the board you just attached, hence tongue and groove. Repeat this process across the ceiling.

After you nail in each board, you will want to secure it. Do this by tapping a piece of wood or a tapping block against the tongue of the board you just attached. You can also use the side of your nail gun to tap the board in. Repeat this process after each board you add.

As you move along the ceiling, you will want to make cutouts in the boards for any light fixtures. Line up your board next to the light fixture and mark the board where the light fixture will need to fit in. You can also use a scrap of wood to measure and mark the length of the light fixture.

Then transfer those measurements to the board you plan on using. Use a jigsaw to cut a hole in the piece of wood. You can also use a hole saw to make the cut. Make sure the piece of wood fits over the light fixture before you nail it in.

When you get to the last board, you may need to remove the back of the groove on the board so that it can fit properly. Use a hammer to knock off the groove flange.

Nailed It

We hope this guide will help ease the process of installing a beautiful tongue and groove ceiling in your home. Tongue and groove boards are an easy way to upgrade your ceiling.

If you’re interested in learning more about our quality T&G ceiling boards, contact us here for more info!