ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT INSTALLING TEAK CEILINGS

1. Why should I choose teak for my ceilings?

If you want to put your spin on the traditional look of a wood ceiling, teak is your ultimate option, for it is the noblest of all woods. The colors are radiant, ranging from dark golden yellow to a dark mocha with exposure. Whatever your preference, a teak ceiling provides aesthetic balance with its striking visual effect, adding warmth and distinction to the home.

Teak has been chosen and trusted for its undeniable strength throughout much of its history. If you ask a professional woodworker which are the most beneficial and flexible wood paneling products, teak will definitely among the top of this list.

It performs well in ceiling, wainscoting, and flooring as well, not only because of its characteristics as a hard wood, but also due to its dimensional stability, both qualities that perform well together when applied on the structure framework.

Furthermore, teak possesses a natural oil content which acts as a safeguard, protecting it from fungi, bacteria, and termite attack, which are primary enemies to hardwood species. The mechanism of the natural teak oil and teak's unique cell structure works to withstand humid conditions, so that teak ceilings are not susceptible to shrinkage or expansion.

Additionally, teak owes its strength to its silicon content which prevents the oxidization from metal or iron for a substantial length of time. This is why teak ceilings have been a popular choice for many homes, which can last for hundreds of years with proper maintenance.

2. What do I have to prepare prior installation?

Be cautious about the surrounding: Always check your local building guidelines and follow building codes before starting your project. If you are working with a qualified contractor or architect they usually handle all permits and inspections. As all architectural projects are unique, there will be plenty of variables, so it is essential to make sure that you consider all the materials required to complete your project. Remember to measure your current ceiling so you know how many teak planks you will need. It is advisable to multiply the length by width of the room to obtain the square footage, and add 10% to the result as a safeguard to cover for errors and waste.

Materials needed: ceiling joists, tongue and groove teak ceiling planks, and crown molding. To make it easier for you, the planks should be stained or painted prior to the project.

Safety precaution: Sawing, drilling, sanding and finishing wood planks are unavoidable steps which may cause wood dust. To avoid respiratory, eye and skin irritation, wear safety goggles and a face mask if necessary when you are carrying out with the installation. You might want to consider wearing long-sleeve clothing and gloves too. When not used, cutting equipment should be covered or stored properly to avoid accidents. Being able to work on a ladder is a needed skills for ceiling installation which acrophobia sufferers should consider carefully beforehand and leave it for professionals if necessary.

Handling and storing: Once the teak ceiling planks arrive at your home, you should let them adjust to the ambient conditions for at least 7 days. The reason is that any wood plank requires some time to acclimate to normal temperature and humidity conditions of the area where installation will take place. For the acclimatization to go smoothly, the teak planks should be placed where temperatures and humidity are generally stable throughout the year in your house, and ideally, in the room in which they will be installed is preferable. Storing them in a garage or any other enclosed area is a no-no.

During the acclimation period, avoid covering the teak planks with plastic or a drop cloth to avoid dust. There is a general misconception about this practice, which turns out to do more harm than good because covering the teak planks this way will trap moisture in, reduce the effects of the acclimation, therefore, this leads to stability issues.

Make sure to elevate the teak planks off the ground and not place them directly on top the ground or floor surface. You can either place the teak planks on top of a mat or big thick planks of wood to ensure no direct contact with the ground surface.

3. Does this guideline apply to all ceilings?

Each installation project has different variables which depend on the type of property, ceiling size, design and objectives, among others. In order to install a stable, long-lasting and suitable teak ceiling, it is recommended that you combine the following instructions with these variables of your own project, as there isn't a one-size-fits-all guideline for all projects.

4. What is involved in the installation procedure?

Prior to installation, it is suggested to do some cutting. When you put the teak ceiling planks together and you want them to overlap, you may do a cut on a 45-degree angle where the tongue and the face meet. This will create a v-groove at the edge which will be later used to form tongue and groove connection. You will need to place the v-groove teak ceiling planks directly on top the ceiling joists. Ceiling joists are the parallel beams of lumber used to support your ceiling systems.

When you install your first plank, make sure to install the tongue facing out to the room and the groove facing the wall. You can choose either glue or nail gun to nail the tongue of the plank and secure it in place. The following teak planks are installed by assembling the groove of the new plank into the tongue of the previous plank. Then work your way across the ceiling row by row. This is an advantage of tongue-and-groove teak planks – they are easy to work with and the teak planks fit snugly together. In case you come across some boards that might prove challenging to connect, can can hammer into a piece of scrap to push the groove of the board onto the tongue. Avoid hitting the tongue directly with a hammer, or else it will not be able to sufficiently interlock with other planks.

Note: you should keep in mind to leave a gap between the first teak plank and the edge of the wall and do the same around the entire perimeter of the ceiling. This provides the planks some space to avoid buckling in case of expansion. The gap can be hidden with crown molding. The same goes with individual planks which should be installed as tightly as possible to leave the smallest gap between them in case of shrinkage. Contraction and expansion depend on method of installation, project location, and climate. Luckily for teak ceiling owners, teak is the most popular hardwood because of its dimensional stability in all kinds of weather and through changes of humidity.

5. How do I finish the teak ceiling after installation?

Make sure to keep your hands clean to avoid smudges during the finishing process. Proceed with sanding the ceiling planks to a smooth level. Before applying any finish, make sure to clean all the sawdust off the surface after sanding. Use a damp cloth to wipe the whole surface down to secure a smooth finish with less amount of natural oil of teak on the surface of the wood.

Because of teak's natural oil content, oil-based finishes on teak ceiling planks will not dry properly when applied. On the other hand, there are plenty finish techniques and products, such as wax, sealers or paint. Remember to always test out finishing methods on separate planks first before actual application on your ceiling planks.

One recommended finishing method is paste wax. to attain a natural look on teak. Using a clear colored paste wax on teak planks will help maintain its natural hue. As mentioned above, teak has an appealing golden brown color with turns darker with exposure. Thus, leaving your teak ceiling planks glow with its natural look will add a sense of warmth and comfort to your interior.