You already know these little tasks that quietly drive you loopy for years, however you retain ignoring them as a result of they’re simply… up there? Actually?
That was our attic door our first 12 months of dwelling in our home.
And right here it’s now. Are you able to see it? (Pay no thoughts to the painter’s tape. We’re nonetheless getting there.)
Ever since we moved into this home, I’ve been at conflict with the ceiling in our upstairs hallway. Between the previous attic fan, an previous crusty vent, and the oh-so-charming tattered attic door string, it had all been begging for an improve for years.
It will get worse earlier than it will get higher, however this hallway will look utterly totally different after we paint it to have contrasting trim and wainscoting.
Now that we’re deep into our hallway makeover, I lastly had the motivation to sort out certainly one of our greatest targets on this house: hiding that attic door within the ceiling and smoothing out all of the visible muddle.
We already patched over the previous attic fan (good riddance). And the subsequent mission? Make that attic door disappear whereas including a layer of appeal to the house within the course of.
Enter: the tongue and groove ceiling.
Not solely did this mission clear up our “learn how to cover attic door in ceiling” drawback, but it surely additionally gave our hallway a cottage-core glow up that I can’t cease swooning over.
Right here’s how we did it, step-by-step:
Find out how to Conceal an Attic Door within the Ceiling with Tongue and Groove Planks
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Instruments & Supplies
Step 1: Take away the Previous Trim, Molding, and Attic Door
Clear the ceiling. We took down the present attic door panel, trim, and crown molding so we had a clear slate to work with.
Step 2: Measure Your Ceiling + Plan Plank Placement
Measure the size and width of your ceiling to calculate what number of planks you’ll want. Use a scrap piece of tongue and groove plank to mock up a structure. Mark the position with a pencil so you may be sure to’re not left with an excellent skinny plank alongside the crown molding or attic door. A bit of planning right here saves main frustration later.
Step 3: Begin Putting in Planks Alongside the Fringe of the Attic Door
Apply a bead of building adhesive to the again of your first plank and safe it to the ceiling utilizing 2-inch 16-gauge end nails. We began alongside the sting of the attic door opening so the structure could be symmetrical and look seamless.
Step 4: Lower the Subsequent Plank at a forty five° Angle
Utilizing a miter noticed, bevel reduce the tip of the plank that can meet the attic door at a forty five° angle. It will assist create a tighter, extra polished look across the door and make that seam nearly invisible as soon as all the pieces is painted.
Step 5–6: Proceed Putting in with Beveled Cuts
Repeat the method, bevel chopping every plank that hits the sting of the attic door at 45° angles. Adhere and nail them in place as you go. The tongue and groove system helps lock them collectively snugly, making the ceiling appear to be one steady floor.
Step 7: Add Crown Molding (Elective)
As soon as your ceiling is totally planked, you may reattach crown molding across the perimeter. We use a coping noticed to get these nook joints excellent. For those who want additional assist with this step, our DIY Image Body Molding tutorial walks via the coping course of.
Step 8: Lower Planks to Match the Attic Door
Measure the size of your attic door opening, and reduce tongue and groove planks to dimension. Once more, use a forty five° angle on the ends that meet the ceiling planks in order that they align completely. That is the half that actually makes the door mix in with the remainder of the ceiling.
Step 9: Connect Planks to the Attic Door Panel
Use building adhesive and ending nails to connect the planks to the attic door. In case you have a heavy attic door, ensure that your hinges are bolstered to deal with the added weight.
Step 10–11: Fill Nail Holes + Caulk the Edges
Use wooden filler to fill any nail holes and seams, and caulk across the crown molding the place wanted. Let all the pieces dry totally earlier than shifting to the subsequent step.
Step 12: Sand, Prime, and Paint
As soon as your filler and caulk are dry, sand the wooden filler till clean. Then, prime and paint the ceiling (and attic door) in your required colour. We went with a clear white for a crisp, traditional look, however I’m not above portray a ceiling in a moody colour later. (By no means say by no means.)
Step 13: Substitute the String with a Hook & Pull Equipment
No extra creepy dangling string! We added attic hook and pull package a couple of years in the past to make the attic door much less noticeable, and now that the planks are in place, it blends in completely! Now it opens and closes simply with out being an eyesore.
Attic Door Earlier than & After
Now that our tongue and groove ceiling is in place and the attic door is totally hidden, our hallway feels taller, cleaner, and far more intentional.
Now we will put our large vintage mirror again up, roll out a runner rug to melt the ground, and somewhat gallery wall second to carry all of it collectively.
I truthfully can’t consider we waited this lengthy to sort out this mission. Hiding that attic door was the lacking puzzle piece in giving our upstairs hallway the character and appeal it was begging for.
Right here’s somewhat peek now that the trim is getting painted. 😉
Have a ceiling eyesore you’ve been avoiding? Let this be your signal to cowl it with some good old style tongue and groove magic.
Let me know in case you give this mission a strive or tag me on Instagram @blesserhouse in case you achieve this I can cheer you on!
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