The ceiling, which some designers say is the fifth wall of a room, can be the center of attention. When the ceiling is made of laminate wood planks, also called panels, it can be a striking addition and transform an ordinary room to extraordinary. A wood plank ceiling can add a charming contrast in a stark contemporary setting, or complete the look in a country-style room.
Today’s plank ceiling systems are designed for a do-it-yourselfer to install. The system includes random length tongue-and-groove planks that you secure onto wood furring strips or in a metal track designed to suspend them.
A carpenter will charge $1,381, which includes labor and material, to hang a plank laminate ceiling system on a drywall ceiling on furring strips in a 15-by-18-foot room. A handy homeowner can buy the materials for $800 and do the job, saving 42 percent. The materials include furring strips or a metal track, planks, and clips and screws used to hold the planks in position. To do the job you'll need a measuring tape, a chalk line and a power or hand saw to cut the planks to length. Use a cordless screwdriver to fasten the system in place. You’ll also need two ladders, one for the installer and another for a helper.
Pro Cost—DIY Cost—Pro time—DIY Time—DIY Savings—Percent Saved
$1,381—$800—8.8—17.5—$581—42 percent
