How to Install Armstrong WoodHaven Planks to Cover a Popcorn Ceiling

Learn how to cover a popcorn ceiling using classic Armstrong® WoodHaven Ceiling Planks with Easy Up® tracks and clips. No need to scrape the ceiling first! The pre-finished planks can be installed right over popcorn ceilings.

The guest room times two update project that I have been mentioning in a few posts is completed. :-)

Popcorn ceiling covering options

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We chose to do the two rooms at the same time since both are visible when you are standing in the foyer. I wanted both ceilings to look the same. It is hard to show in a photo, but if you are standing in the foyer, you look right at the popcorn or textured ceilings in these two guest bedrooms.

Navy-blue-accent-wall-in-bedroom with popcorn texture on ceilings.
BEFORE Popcorn Ceiling in Guest Room #2

I was very happy with how I decorated these rooms. It was the covering the popcorn ceilings that I wanted to do. I did not have to remove them to get the desired look.

Popcorn Ceilings before getting a classic ceiling plank cover.

If you have older popcorn ceilings in your home, then you know they collect dust and look dirty after time. To make matters worse, stains and dirt cannot be easily cleaned without the popcorn raining down into the room. What a mess!

It was time to say goodbye.

popcorn ceiling covering ideas
Covering popcorn ceiling with a DIY wood plank ceiling system.

What we did was not remove it, but cover it. It was like laying a new wood plank floor, but in reverse – on a ceiling using Armstrong WoodHaven Ceiling Planks. That might seem complex but it really is just a DIY project.

In the past, a textured ceiling might have been covered with ceiling tiles. But that tends to be a dated look. And it requires more vertical space to install.

How to Cover a Popcorn Ceiling With Pre-Made and Painted Ceiling Planks

When it comes to removing popcorn ceilings, I tried the budget-friendly water and scraping removal method when I made over the guest bath a few years ago. The method works, but is extremely messy and I did expose a very uneven ceiling. For the guest rooms, I didn’t want to go this route to find uneven or damaged ceilings underneath the popcorn.

Unless you are sure about the state of the ceiling that is under the popcorn layer, you may be opening a can of worms as one contractor told me, especially in older homes.

The popcorn could be hiding a multitude of sins – water damage, an uneven surface and more.

One reason popcorn ceilings are used in homes is that they are an inexpensive way to hide imperfections, cracks, and marks. Since the three-dimensional texture is coarse and casts shadows, it can disguise or even completely cover those older, shoddy repair jobs and natural aging. No one would ever know until you try to restore the original smooth finish.

Should your remove a popcorn ceiling or cover it?

This is clearly the case in my house. We were far better off covering the popcorn ceiling rather than removing it.

That is what we did to update the two guest room ceilings… we covered the popcorn ceilings up.

Armstrong WoodHaven Planks in Painted White on a bedroom ceiling.
Ceiling AFTER in Guest Room #1 – Armstrong WoodHaven Ceiling Planks in Painted White

It looks beautiful – classic and cottage-y. I love it.

Armstrong Ceilings offers an Easy Up® track and clip system which makes installing beautiful ceiling planks over your existing popcorn ceilings very doable. We chose the smooth painted white planks, but there are many color and wood texture options available.

Armstrong WoodHaven Planks in Painted White on a bedroom ceiling.
Ceiling AFTER in Guest Room #2: Armstrong WoodHaven Planks in Painted White

If you want to no longer see these dated ceilings in your home, or just want to add classic character to any room, then keep reading to see how Ed and I installed this Easy Up system in our guest rooms. It was far easier than we thought that we think homeowners can do without having special skills.

WoodHaven Ceiling Planks with Easy Up Track and Clip Installation TIPS:

Tools needed to cover a popcorn ceiling.

Ed and I are DIY’ers but we’re not at the same level as the pros you see on home improvement shows. We definitely don’t have all of the cool contractor tools you see being used on HGTV, but found a few ways that made installing the ceiling planks easy for us.

When we decided to use the WoodHaven ceiling planks to cover the popcorn ceiling, we did some research online and also read all of the instructions included with each box of the planks.

What helped us the most though was watching wood working pro Ron Hazelton’s video a few times where he shows how to attach the planks over a sheetrock ceiling.

We also watched the installation video on Armstrong’s website. With the Installation Instructions booklet that came with the planks and the videos, we were confident we could install the planks without any problems.

How to install crown molding around plank ceiling.

Once we started the project, it wasn’t as labor intensive as we anticipated.

The hardest part of the entire project for both rooms was cutting the crown molding corner joints after the ceiling planks were installed. Thank goodness for caulk. :-) Installing the planks was so easy compared to cutting crown molding corner joints.

The other minor challenge was cutting around vents and electrical boxes. Once you get a few cut patterns created, it’s really fairly easy.

The Armstrong Easy Up Ceiling Mounting System

What do you need to install a Plank ceiling over an existing popcorn ceiling?

The Easy Up System is made up metal tracks and clips. The ceiling planks are medium density fiberboard planks made to go over drywall, plaster, joists or even drop ceiling grid.

You start installation by attaching the metal tracks to the ceiling joists using 2.5″ wood screws. Then you attach metal clips to each track. You could just do one clip per track, attach the plank, then repeat.

We found it easier to attach 3-4 clips per track at a time so you could focus on installing the planks. Our planks were 5″ wide so 3-4 clips worked well to keep everything in the same general area.

Painted White Armstrong WoodHaven  Planks covering a popcorn ceiling.
Covering popcorn ceilings with planks

The final step is to install the planks, inserting the tongue into the groove of the previously installed planks, then securing the next clip into the groove of the new plank.

  • WoodHaven Planks are pre-finished. No need for staining or painting.
  • When the ceiling is installed, it only lowers the ceiling height by approx. 1- inch.

Steps on How To Install WoodHaven Planks Using Easy Up® Tracks and Clips

Installation tips showing how to put up Armstrong WoodHaven Ceiling Planks.
  • Read the Installation Instruction Booklet that comes with the planks throughly. (Armstrong recommends going online to read the most up-to-date installation instructions) and watch the Ron Hazelton video so you understand the process in advance.
  • With the popcorn texture on the ceiling, we found it hard to get a good reading of where the joists were using a stud finder. Since the ceiling is going to be covered, don’t be afraid to drill a few holes in the ceiling to confirm the joist location.
  • When cutting your plank pieces, do not to use planks that are less than 26 inches in length to ensure that planks are attached to the track with at least two clips.
  • The screws that come with the planks were designed for installing the track directly to furring strips. Since we were going through a layer of popcorn and sheetrock, we bought 2-1/2″ long wood screws.
  • Use the cardboard from one of the boxes in which the planks came and a utility knife to make a template, if needed, for installing the planks around light fixtures and other ceiling penetrations. You may also need to purchase longer screws when you reinstall those ceiling fixtures.
How to use a chalk line tool and fill it up.

supplies needed:

  • Armstrong WoodHaven Ceiling Planks in Painted White: Item # 1148B The planks come 10 planks to a box that covers 29 square feet.
  • Circular saw
  • Miter saw
  • Jig saw (for cutting planks around light/ceiling fan fixture
  • Drill and drill bit slightly smaller than the size of wood screws
  • Wood screws – we used Power Pro Interior Wood Screws 9 x 2-1/2″
  • Long level
  • Chalk line
  • Stud finder
  • Tape measure
  • Rubber mallet 
  • Dust mask
  • Safety glasses
  • Wood shims
  • Painter’s tape
  • Pencil
  • Scrap piece of cardboard from plank box
  • Crown molding – enough to go around the perimeter of the room / finishing nails /recessed nail punch / hammer
  • Semi-gloss paint for crown molding. I used SW Pure White #7005
  • SPACKLE and sandpaper to cover nail holes on crown molding

Step 1: Measure the Square Footage of Ceiling

Using a measuring tape, measure the width and length of the room, to determine how many boxes of WoodHaven planks you will need. Order a little bit more square footage than needed just in case you make a wrong cut.

Step 2: Find and Mark the Ceiling Joists

Snapping a chalk line on a ceiling to install a plank ceiling.

Using a stud finder, locate the ceiling joists and mark the joists with a chalk line. (If installing the ceiling planks by yourself see the end of this post for tips on how to do this successfully.)

Find the studs in the wall and mark with painter’s tape. This will help you when it is time to attach the crown molding where the wall meets the ceiling.

Step 3: Screw Metal Tracks into Ceiling

Once your ceiling is marked with chalk lines you can install your first track.

Covering a ceiling using Armstrong Easy Up tracks and clips. Once tracks are up, snap-on clips are used to attach planks.

The first track should be attached 2″ from the wall. Subsequent tracks should be spaced at 16-24″ intervals. If you need more than one track to span the ceiling, attach the second track at least 1/8″ away from the first so there is room for the clips to slide back and forth. You should have a 1″ overlap where the first track in the line meets the second.

Your tracks will run perpendicular to your joists meaning they will intersect with the chalk lines you snapped.

Be sure that your tracks do not cross over your light fixture holes.

If necessary, adjust your tracks by reducing space between them to avoid having a space greater than 24 inches between tracks.

Popcorn ceiling cover up ideas DIY using the Armstrong Easy Up tracks, clips and planks.

Unless the track length is the same length as your ceiling, you will need to make cuts. The tracks can be cut with a hacksaw, sabersaw or snips.

We added a few cut tracks around the light fixture and air duct.

How to attach Easy Up Tracks to Ceiling when covering a textured ceiling.
  • Use a long bubble level across each track to make sure it is level. If not, loosen screws and place shims behind the tracks where needed in order to level each track.

Step 4: How Wide Should the Starting Plank Be?

Once all the tracks are up, you have to figure out the width of the room perimeter planks so the planks will fit across the entire ceiling. You’ll want to place the least seen “thinner” planks on one edge of the room, and have the middle be full width planks.

How wide should that starting plank be? There is a formula in the instructions that you’ll need to follow to figure out that measurement for your space. Simply follow the formula to figure out how wide it needs to be. I’ve also included the calculation below.

Ed says to just take it a step at a time without too much analysis and it will work out perfectly.

  1. Measure the length of the room (in same direction as the individual tracks have been installed).
  2. Divide the length in inches by 5
  3. Multiply the remainder by 5
  4. Add 5 to the total and divide by 2 to get the desired width of the first and last row of planks.
  5. Sample:
    1. Let’s say your room is 11 ft (132″)
    2. 132/5 = 26.4 (.4 is the remainder)
    3. .4*5 = 2
    4. (2+5)/2 = 3.5″

Step 5: Cut Tongue Side Off of First Border Plank

How to horizontally cut wood ceiling planks.

Cut the tongue side off of your first border plank.

The border wall planks are the first and last planks installed on your starting and finishing walls. Once your border planks are cut to size, install them 1/2 inch away from the wall, leaving 3/4″ gaps at the ends to allow for wood expansion.

What can I use to cover a popcorn ceiling?
  • Use one screw as pictured above to hold the border board in place. The screw will be covered by crown molding later on.
  • Only the border planks will need screws.

Next, attach a clip to each track and push the clips into the groove of the plank. 

Step 6: Start Attaching Ceiling Planks

Install the planks with staggered seams and continue adding on to the ceiling by connecting the tongue and groove planks.

Ideas for covering up a popcorn ceiling with wood planks.

The rest of the ceiling will go fairly quickly, especially if you have two people working on it!

Depending on the size of your room, you will have to make cuts in your planks to stagger them. Measure the empty space on each row, mark it with a pencil and cut to size using a saw and install!

Close up shot of Armstrong Easy Up Track, clip and plank.

Close up of a clip inside the groove on the plank.

Step 7: How to Cut Planks to Fit Around Light Fixtures

When you get to the section of the ceiling where there are holes for light fixtures and or HVAC elements, you will have to cut circles in the planks.

Close up shot of Armstrong Easy Up Track, clip and plank.

This may seem hard, but with a few tools it is pretty easy.

Make a template with cardboard to help when cutting planks around ceiling light fixtures.

Make a Cardboard Template:

First measure the diameter of the hole. Use this measurement and a compass to draw the size circle needed on the cardboard. Cut out with a pair of scissors.

How to make and use a cardboard template to cut out where ceiling light fixtures will go when installing a new ceiling over an existing one.

Attach a plank over the hole and then place the cardboard circle over hole. Trace around the circle with a pencil.

Close up shot of how to cut ceiling planks around light fixtures.

The pencil line is where you need to cut.

How to cut Armstrong WoodHaven ceiling planks around light fixtures using a template and jigsaw.

We used a jigsaw to cut the circle out of the plank.

Repeat the process on another plank to fit around the hole. Then continue adding the planks to cover the ceiling.

Helpful Cutting Tip: When using any saw on the planks be careful not to get scuff marks on the planks. If the saw leaves any grey markings use a damp rag with detergent on it to remove them.

Newly white plank covered ceiling showing circular cutouts where light fixture and HVAC vent will added.

Step 8: Continue Adding Planks

Clip each plank to the track, repeating the process until the ceiling is complete. Always leave approximately 3/4″ gap from the walls at the ends, which will be covered by the trim or crown molding.

The final row will be just like the first row… screwed directly into the metal track (and cut along the length of the plank). Again, be sure to leave 3/4″ from the edge. This gap will be covered with trim or crown molding.

Step 9: Add Trim or Molding

When installing the crown molding, you will only be attaching it to the wall not the ceiling. We used finishing nails, a recessed nail punch, and a hammer to attach the molding around the room.

Two crown molding installation tips if you’re not a pro:

What type of molding to use around a plank ceiling.
  • If you don’t have a miter saw, buy corner blocks where wood is sold at the home improvement store.
How to make No miter cut corners for crown molding

When these blocks are installed in each corner of a room using caulk, no compound miter cuts are needed. Only flat, straight cuts that you can do with a circular or hand saw. Sanding the cut edges will ensure a nice seam.

How to install No miter cut corners for crown molding

Once up, apply caulk all around the blocks and molding to make it….

Corner of a ceiling with decorative crown molding and Armstrong WoodHaven Planks

…all look seamless.

Another option for easier crown molding corner cuts:

  • If you have a miter saw, make crown molding corner cut samples. These will help take the guessing game out of cutting corner joint cuts correctly. This is a crown molding cutting tip from Sandra at Sawdust Girl. Her post about crown molding makes the compound cutting process make sense.

How to Install WoodHaven Ceiling Planks By Yourself

Can I cover a popcorn ceiling by myself?

Installing the WoodHaven Ceiling Planks is easier done with two people, but not impossible if you are going to install the ceilings by yourself. This is pretty much what Ed did. I helped with painting and running for tools, and taking photos, but he did most of the work by himself.

When working by yourself, here are some handy installation tips:

  • Attach the border tracks first. Doing this will help with making the chalk lines.
How to snap a chalk line by yourself when installing a plank ceiling.

Don’t screw the screws in all the way around the border tracks around the room. Leave them halfway out until you mark all the ceiling chalk marks.

How to make a chalk line on a ceiling when installing Armstrong WoodHaven Easy Up Ceiling

You can use the screws to attach one end of the chalk-line as you carry the other end to the opposite side of the room to snap the line.

Popcorn ceiling makeover
  • Make spacers out of scrap wood. To make it easier to space the tracks evenly across the ceiling, cut scrap pieces of wood to the joist spacing measurement. Our joists were 18″ apart.

This made it easier for Ed working by himself, so he didn’t have to measure every time he added a new track. It also meant he could hold the new track against the two spacers, ensuring the track was precisely parallel to the previously installed track.

How to install ceiling planks by yourself.
  • Use two ladders. It will save you lots of time going up and down. When up on one ladder, you can simply reach for what you need when placed on second ladder.

The New Plank Ceiling After Reveal

Later this week I will share a walk-through video of the upstairs of my house and you will get to see the ceilings in more detail.

Bedroom popcorn ceiling after getting WoodHaven Plank installed over it.

The new white planks on the ceilings have changed the vibe of the rooms to more classic and cottage feeling.

After photo of Popcorn ceiling cover DIY idea

No more dusty, dirty looking popcorn.

Bedroom ceiling makeover using WoodHaven Ceiling Planks over an existing textured ceiling.

Now when family and friends stay with us and are lying in bed, they will look up and see pretty ceilings. :-)

New Plank ceiling in bedroom that covers up a previous popcorn ceiling.

Where to Purchase Armstrong WoodHaven Ceiling Planks

Planks are available at your local home improvement store. Click here to see which Armstrong Ceiling distributors are located in your area.

I hope reading how Ed and I did this project and had great success inspires you to cover your popcorn ceilings or if you simply want to add a classic touch to any ceiling in your home.

You might wonder if it’s cheaper to remove popcorn ceiling or cover it?

A quick internet search shows that it is one to two thousand dollars cheaper to cover popcorn ceilings versus having to remove them. I think it depends on your DIY skills and the ceiling tile choice you make. I also think a few other factors are more important.

A textured finish hides a multitude of problems. Stains, cracks, and other imperfections. It may take many coats of joint compound or drywall mud to cover all of these imperfections. It also takes some spackling skills.

Perhaps more important for older ceilings is a healthier alternative of covering rather than remediating asbestos.

I also love the faux wood plank finish!

The fast and easy way to cover up a popcorn ceiling.

More DIY Home Improvement Ideas

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55 Comments

  1. Wow, that ceiling looks awesome! I’ve seen online , and that this can be hung on existing drop ceiling grids and that Armstrong sells only the clips. Do you know if we can use tongue and groove planks that we already own? I’ve seen the question asked, but Armstrong always responds with a “we only recommend Woodhaven ceiling planks”, which makes sense…they want to sell their product. But do you or your husband know if any tongue and groove planks could be used with these clips? Thank you in advance.

  2. Can you share what color of white your walls are painted to match the Armstrong painted white ceiling planks?

    1. Diane Henkler says:

      Hi Allie – I used KILZ brand paint from Walmart. The color was Ultra-White – one of the premixed colors. I used a satin finish.

  3. Janet Sarah Allison says:

    Hiii!!! I had a question – does the ceiling have a semi-gloss or matte-like shine? It looks so lovely!

    1. Diane Henkler says:

      Hi Janet – After removing the popcorn from the ceiling, I painted it with a matte paint. Using a flat or matte paint hides the imperfections in the surface. If you use a shiny paint – it will accentuate the flaws in the ceiling.

  4. Elaine Guenther says:

    HI Diane! Thanks for that wonderful ceiling fix blog. I’m giving it to our son and he will take care of things. What a guy, huh? Nice Job!
    I have to give you a great big covid hug (( )) on your weight loss. You look fabulous, Diane. I’m going to slow down a bit and get better results. Congratulations, my friend……..e

  5. Can these planks be used on shower stall ceiling? If not then do you have a product to use for shower stall ceiling please?
    Thank you.

    1. Diane Henkler says:

      Hi Shon – Good question. I am not sure if they can be installed above a stall shower. Here is a link where you could ask: https://bit.ly/3ettswe

  6. Looks great! I just wondered how you reinstall the light fixtures to the mounting brackets? Now that you have the additional thickness of the planks. Do you just buy longer mounting screws?

    1. Diane Henkler says:

      Hi Jane – It all depends on the light fixture and how it is attached. If the screws are short that came with the fixture, then you will need to buy longer ones in the same size. We had one that we could use the existing screws. The other room, we needed to buy longer screws.

  7. Diaene Vasti says:

    I cant seem to pin your post “no more ugly popcorn ceilings”. The link does not seem to be working.

    1. Diane Henkler says:

      Hi Diane – Thanks for telling me about this. Can you tell me if you are viewing my site on a desktop/laptop or phone or tablet? It will help me figure out the problem.

    2. Diane Vasti says:

      I am using a desktop

      1. Diane Henkler says:

        Thanks for your quick reply. Did the problem happen to you today? I just checked on a Mac and a PC using the Chrome browser and it worked on both when I clicked on the pink PIN button at the top of the post and also when I clicked the red Pin button that shows up on the upper left hand side of each photo.

        I know Pinterest can get glitchy from time to time and this could be what is happening for you. One more thing I can look into – What browser are you using? Chrome, Firefox, Safari or another browser?

  8. Gorgeous! What a beautiful solution to an ugly problem.

  9. Catpainter says:

    Your ceilings look so crisp and stylish – even makes a room look neater. Love the corner molding trick, too. Adds so much style – love it! Perhaps one of my daughters has a room like this that we can we redo.
    Thanks for a wonderful option for any kind of uneven or damaged ceiling, as well. Wish I had that idea eons ago in a starter house with red masonite ceilings that had been wallpapered (ugh). I’ve had several houses where I could have used that trick.
    I’m seeing paneled ceilings in so many high=-end decorating magazines, too. Diane, you’re right on trend!

  10. Jaye Brown says:

    Fabulous, just love it.

  11. 1960s girl says:

    Hello, You are right about blogs, they help people stay connected and see what other people are up to! After waiting for 3 months to go out on my own, as I had a hip replaced last December, I was finally ready to enjoy my new freedom with a brand new hip and walking without a cane, but we are told to stay home and I comply with it.
    So, I decided to remodel my daughters’ old Barbie doll house that we made 20 years ago. It was collecting dust in the basement. It is completely “outdated” as they say on HGTV!
    The problem is that I would need to go to stores to buy a few things to make lamps, area rugs, etc. Silly me, last year I gave all my craft materials to a youth organization, thinking I would not need them anymore…
    Anyway, for now, I work with what I have at home and order a few things online. The problem with the fashion dolls is that most of items are flashy pink. My remodeled house will have nothing in that colour.
    I’m having fun planning the decor and making a list of what my husband and I can do (he’ll do the woodwork)!
    I feel silly sometimes when I tell people what I do, but anyone who loves dolls will probably understand my passion for miniature furniture and dollhouses.
    We now have 2 lists: 1 for our own home and 1 for the Barbie house!
    I keeps my mind busy especially since as a freelance worker, some of my contracts have been delayed.
    And I always enjoy reading your posts! Keep up the good work!
    Thank you.
    P.S.: Your guest rooms look great with the new ceilings. I will keep those in mind because we also have popcorn ceilings!

    1. Diane Henkler says:

      Hi Chantal – Glad to hear that your hip replacement is behind you, but no fun now having to be stuck in the house. Updating the dollhouse sounds like a very fun undertaking. Are you familiar with the blog, The Handmade Home? Ashley has a series called the Dollhouse Diaries where she DIY decorated a dollhouse for her daughter. I am sure you can get lots of ideas. Here is the link to the page where all the posts are listed: https://www.thehandmadehome.net/?s=doll+house

  12. Lorraine Ortiz says:

    Wow, I’ve never seen anything like this and it looks beautiful. Reminds me of a front porch ceiling. Enjoy and thanks. Yes, I’m doing home projects that I never had time to do. Just painted an old sofa table….. very satisfying. We need your posts more than ever.

  13. Stephanie @ Casa Watkins Living says:

    Diane this is AMAZING! WOW! thank you for sharing this. I will definitely have to look into this STAT!

  14. Valarie Sanford says:

    Love,love,love Diane! And I love how you let your husband off the hook on the crown corners ha!

  15. Sue Bauman says:

    I am blown away by this entire project and the difference it makes to the overall look and feel for each of the guest rooms! You research your projects so thoroughly to find the most innovative products to tackle all your renovation requirements! Your technical writing skills are first-rate, Diane and the photos are very spot-on as well. Ed is a very good DIYer, kudos to him! The manufacturer of this plank product would do well to hire you as an ambassador!

  16. Readers should definitely be aware of the multitude of sins that can be lurking in popcorn ceilings in older homes…one of them is asbestos. This is a fantastic alternative to scraping those nasty surfaces!

  17. Connie McGhee says:

    These ceilings are absolutely beautiful and you are so generous in detailing installation. i just wish I could do this! But even if I put this wonderful product up, I’d still have to scrape the popcorn off! It would be like dressing for a ball and not taking a bath! Is there hope for me?

  18. That is an incredible improvement.
    The two of you are a wonderful team.

  19. It is AMAZING!! I love it!
    You both did and wonderful job!!
    Congratulations!!?

  20. Oh my goodness! I am exhausted just looking at the photos. Don’t know where you get your energy. So glad we have orange peel walls and ceilings as I would not want to take this project on. Great job.

  21. Heidi L. McCuddin says:

    Fresh and beautiful. Love it! Perfect for your lake home.

  22. Susan R Freeman says:

    I had to giggle when I saw your Barney towel protecting the curtains. I ran across my son’s a while back. It was fun remembering how little he was and how he loved the purple dinosaur! Love your pages. Have been following for years.
    Susan

    Love the new ceiling!

  23. Absolutely lovely! What a a difference it makes. Enjoy and thanks for the great pics.

  24. Wow, just wow, this is amazing!! I love these ceilings!

  25. I know you live in the states and there will be a difference in the Canadian money but what did it actually cost for the ceiling to get done ?

  26. Marie Kenyon says:

    Those look wonderful!!

  27. Sherry Darlington says:

    These ceilings are fantastic! We have a lake cottage in northern Michigan that has wood paneling on the ceiling & this just might be the answer to brighten up that space! Thank you for sharing!

  28. Where did you get the ceiling fan with the gold finish? I would love to order one for our bedroom. I love the look of your new ceilings…and that you did it yourself!

  29. The ceilings turned out beautiful; a job well done! I need an Ed! :)

  30. Diane, I am so freaking excited and jumping for joy!! You did the hard work for me and now I can show my husband your post and convince him this is the right thing to do!! I’ve been looking at this product for a couple of months to solve the same issue in our condo. THANKS!

  31. hi diane! that is just an amazing transformation… ! wow, looks great! i’m curious… does the new ceiling affect the soundproofing at all? i have had friends that have removed their popcorn ceilings and were amazed by how much the popcorn had insulated the sound throughout the house. with your idea, you leave the soundproofing intact but get a lovely finish too! best of both worlds, i guess!

  32. Betty Baker says:

    All that I can say is that Ed is not just another pretty face. He is one clever,patient gentleman.I guess he is pretty lucky to have you too. You are great workers. Everything always looks fantastic. Have you ever considered coming to Wasaga Beach, Ontario, Canada. I could get you lots of work. lOLLove your blog.. Betty Baker.

  33. Oh my goodness! This is so amazing!! Never knew this product existed! Going to look at how it would work instead of a suspended ceiling system in my basement family room. Thanks for giving such great detail and insights from your experience! I’m going to have to plant my DIY hubby in a chair to read all of this!

  34. Well, Diane, here’s another wow project. I think these ceiling planks make your rooms look very nautical and perfect for your lakeside home. I loved seeing your “feather” quilt bedspread again. That guest room is so colorful and welcoming. You and Ed stay healthy and enjoy the beautiful spring. Have you decided what to plant in your new planters at the front of the house? xxoo

  35. Wow, you and Ed did an amazing job. The rooms look great.
    Smiles,
    Nancy

  36. WOW, this looks stunning and so bright and big, what a difference it has made to an already lovely room.
    I am so happy to see the online community is holding together, I am in self isolation in the UK right now, I have health problems so just not risking it. Thankyou for brightening my day with your fabulous home, take care.xx

  37. Jeanne James says:

    Gorgeous, Diane! Absolutely gorgeous! Now just one question-May I borrow Ed for a couple of months? I promise to take good care of him and my husband can be his helper. I will send him back whenever you say. I am always learning new and interesting crafts and projects from your blog. Please keep them coming. It is always a pleasure. PS Let me know about Ed.

  38. Diane, that looks fantastic! I love that as a solution for those old popcorn ceilings, and it really looks so clean and fresh!
    On another note, I appreciate your blog as an escape from all that is currently going on in the world. Things feel so surreal right now and out of our control, and having this escape is so welcome. I am glad you continue to provide us with fun, helpful information! Things will go back to normal eventually, but until then, enjoy the extra time to be home and do some fun projects.

    Stay well, and thank you!

  39. Your ceilings are beautiful. You know that you now want to do EVERY ceiling in your house and no doubt will tackle them all eventually. You and Ed are my heroes when it comes to DIY.

  40. Looks absolutely beautiful.

  41. This is such a timely post for us Diane. We are thinking about our ceilings in our home. You both have done such a beautiful job!

  42. Barbara Pilcher says:

    That looks lovely! Good decision, and nice job.

    There’s another reason it’s a smart idea to cover these popcorn ceilings. The earlier ones contained asbestos, so encapsulation is better than removing.

  43. Brilliant idea and kudos for such a comprehensive explanation. I love the finished product.

  44. Karen Baetzel says:

    Wow – what a great result. Love to see that Naval Academy education still being put to good use after all the years!! Looks beautiful Diane!

  45. Julia@Cuckoo4Design says:

    That ceiling looks fantastic Diane! Such a big difference.

  46. Wow. Of all the “ugly ceiling” fixes, this one is fantastic! Your ceilings look marvelous and the cottage-y feeling suits your location living on a lake. I really do feel location should have some influence on the design choices. It’s amazing how much this updates the rooms and freshens them up. I thought they were great before, but this takes them to a whole new level! Bravo!!! Good job!

    1. Denise Rogers says:

      Such a great solution that looks beautiful, too! We had popcorn ceilings in our “Craigslist” house, that we fondly call it (starting with the fact that we bought it off of Craigslist and have used Craigslist in a major way to do our renovation of it!) and drywalled over much of it, because the ceilings were high enough. But we have one more area left to attend to and that is the LONG and NARROW hallway that has paneling on both sides (which this entire house was mostly finished with), and we have simply painted a white color to it. We will be laying bamboo flooring down for one thing, but I am trying to determine what would be the best finishes to do this project in….remove the paneling and drywall? I’m thinking that doing the ceiling in this paneling would have a weird effect because of it’s length and width. I would appreciate anyone’s thoughts on this little dilemma!