Hey folks, I'm tackling the project of putting up a shiplap ceiling to cover the ugly drywall in my upstairs, which is about 1200 square feet. I just removed the popcorn ceiling, and it looks terrible right now. I'm considering using forty 1/2" MDF sheets, then ripping them into strips myself and routing grooves with my handheld router. After that, I'll tack them up and spray paint them once they're in place. It seems like this approach could save me about a third of the cost, but I'm concerned about the time and labor involved. I estimate it'll take about half a day to rip the strips and another to router the grooves, plus a full day for priming and painting. Do you think this DIY project is worth all the hassle? Has anyone tried something similar before? Given the absence of water sources above, I'm hoping MDF will hold up without issues.
11 Answers
1) Make sure you have a good supply of batteries for your tools if they're cordless!
2) It'll save you a lot of trouble if you paint the strips before you install them, trust me on this one.
The thought of all that dust is giving me anxiety! Make sure to use a good mask or respirator. Those edges and routed parts are gonna absorb a lot of paint, so prime them well. For what it’s worth, I’d advise going with drywall if you can—that’s a whole lot easier to manage!
Just a heads up about dust control! If you're cutting MDF, it creates a ton of fine dust, no matter where you're working. Also, have you considered using real wood? It might be easier to work with and still save you some cash if you plan it right.
MDF is heavy and cutting 1200 square feet worth is a massive job! Moving that many sheets is going to take a full day. Honestly, for a project that size, sometimes it pays off to buy pre-made products for uniformity. Maybe consider just skim coating your existing ceiling instead.
Honestly, if you haven't painted MDF before, it can be a headache. The edges can take ages to get smooth after priming and sanding. It took me forever to get this wardrobe done, so I’d think hard before diving into a big MDF project like this!
I think your time estimates might be a bit off. MDF is a nightmare when it comes to installation; it bends and conforms to any ceiling imperfections, which could ruin the look. I personally wouldn’t use it in my home, even if it was free!
While I totally see why you'd want to do this, have you thought about decorative ceiling tiles? That could be a way around the moisture issue with MDF above.
MDF can be pretty heavy! From my experience, it's easy to warp and might need a lot of nails or glue to keep it secure. I’d be worried about it falling off the ceiling, to be honest. If you're going for something lighter, maybe look into alternatives?
What lighter material would you suggest? I’d prefer to avoid plywood.
It seems like most people here are saying, 'DON'T DO IT!' I’d have to agree with that consensus.
You could save all that money and just fix your ceiling instead. There's plenty of DIY options out there. Maybe check out some tips online and then consider adding crown molding later for a nice finish.
Honestly, if you're going through all this work, why not just use a single sheet with shallow grooves instead? You'll save yourself the hassle of cutting strips and still get a great look!
Are you sure? Wouldn’t a sheet that heavy be just as tough to deal with?
I’ll just do all the cutting outside. Do you think my time estimates are realistic?