Manufactured Home Ceilings | TMH 019
In this post, I am going to talk about Manufactured Home (MH) ceilings.
MH ceiling are most commonly tile ceiling board or paneling (same as on the walls), and just like other materials, they are very specific to MHs. Also, MH ceilings can be flat or cathedral (mirroring the pitched roof) - which is my favorite and what drew me to the idea of MH living.
The first material is tile. Tile ceilings are not actually tile like ceramic tile, but what is often called “Ceiling Board”. It can be as thin as 5/16”, because like all other materials in MHs weight is a factor. The width can be as little as 16” or as much as 48’. It is installed like board and batten with the batten covering the seam, and can have intermediate support with what are called rosette - decorative nail heads. It should be noted that these run the width, not the length of the MH. Repairing a warped or water damaged ceiling can be a little tricky - see this link MobileHomeRepair.com and MobileHomeLiving.com - but painting follows the method for wall paneling.
The second material is paneling. This can be the same paneling that goes onto the walls. It comes in the standard 4’-0” X 8’-0” sheet, or tongue and groove boards. The only difference is that it will need to be more securely affixed to keep it from sagging or falling. On a cathedral ceiling with beams, faux or real wood paneling can be extremely striking.
Because I am in love with MHs that have cathedral ceilings which imitate stick framed mid century homes, I want to talk about their treatment. Firstly the beams. The central beam, really it’s the joist, is the remnant of the two MHs that are joined to make a double wide. This is actually a very important structural element. See TMH #002 for more on structure. Now if you really want to play up the beams and joists, you can enhance them with faux metal plates and bolts sold by various companies - see LINKS at the end of this post.
The second element of the cathedral ceiling is the actual ceiling. This can be a tile ceiling board, sheetrock, paneling, or wood board. All three of these ceiling materials can also be used on flat ceilings, but for the cathedral ceiling, paneling and board really shine.
Faux wood works very well because it’s a little further away from the eye and therefore can pass for the real thing more easily than when it is on the walls. The opening looks almost like rosewood, so a faux version could work.
There are also faux wood board ceilings. Armstrong has a product called Woodhaven that looks very realistic and installs with a clip system attached to furring strips (for the most part, this would be the same method for attaching real wood boards). Also, you can use laminate flooring on the ceiling. The method for attaching can be the same as above, or it can be brad nailed only without clips. Most importantly, it can be dirt cheap! The price can be as low as $1.00 a square foot, and, because it doesn’t in anyway need to be as hard wearing as actual flooring, you can select it based on looks alone.
A note on calculating square footage.
For paneling sheets, you can calculate the price quickly based on square footage. The actual quantity of sheets required will be determined after the design is laid out on paper. Keep in mind “boards” that are on the sheets will run the length of the MH, and should give the appearance that they are bridging between the beams.
For boards, you can calculate the price quickly based on square footage. The actual quantity calculations will be based on pieces, not square footage. If the quantity is based on square footage it will have to be installed with a brick pattern. This is actually a structural issue unless one board can span between the beam. This is because where two boards butt up against the next in line, they will be on a furring strip and receive a clip, then another board will cutter up that seam.
Woodhaven boards are 84”, and laminate floors are just shy of 48”. The beams in MHs are fairly close, so both Woodhaven and laminate should be able to span with one board.
Wood ceiling with painted walls, or wood walls and painted ceilings? This is an important question to ask before you move forward. Look at some examples of both and see what suits your style. I’m in favor of wood ceilings and painted walls.
UPDATES AND CORRECTIONS:
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LINKS:
*Not necessarily test or endorsed
3. Faux Beam Straps - via
B. ArchitecturalDepot.com, and
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