Name a finish more beautiful than a stained tongue and groove ceiling. Seriously, this is the icing of home improvement projects, and I promise, it’s much easier to install than you might expect.
Tonge and groove boards (also called T&G) have been around for a long time and are used for surfaces from flooring to walls to ceilings. They are easy to install by inserting the tongue side into the groove side, creating a tight fit and essentially locking the boards in place. Adhesive or nails are added to secure the boards to a flat surface like wall studs or joists. Here are the steps I took to install an outdoor tongue and groove porch ceiling.
Watch the full front porch transformation
Tools
- Nailer and air compressor I love this and use it All. The. Time.
- Caulking gun
- Speed square
- Rubber mallet
- Miter Saw
- Tape measure
- Jig saw or hole saw if adding a light
Materials
- 12 foot 1×4 inch pine tongue and groove boards (real measurement 3/4 x 3 1/2)
- 16 gauge finish nails
- Gorilla Construction Adhesive
- Wood filler
- Caulk
- Stain/ sealer- I used Thomson’s semi-transparent in walnut
- Primed trim
- Lead test kit
Steps:
- Remove the old ceiling, trim and prepare the surface
First, test for lead if you are working in an older home. Remove the existing ceiling, adhesive, nails and anything else until you are down to the exposed joists. If your joists look like photo below, you should be able to attach the tongue and groove directly to the joists marked with the yellow arrows.
If your joists are uneven or damaged , you can attach 1x4s or plywood to create a flat surface for the T&G boards. Remove any trim associated with the old ceiling.
- Measure the space and prep your T&G
Determine how long your boards need to be. First measure the ceiling area end to end and across. Subtract 1/2 inch from the length and width to leave a 1/4 inch expansion gap on all sides. The gap will be covered by trim later.
Cut your T&G and stain. Consider the amount of exposer your boards will have to the elements. If you expect rain or sun exposure, do more than one coat with a water sealing stain and cover all the unfinished surfaces of the boards.
- Mark the center and make a plan
Find the center point of the ceiling and mark on both sides. As you are installing the boards, when you hit the center marks, the boards should be even on both sides. If not, you’ll need to work to correct this otherwise your last board will look very crooked. If you plan to add in a light fixture, mark that as well. The first board you attach is the most important. THE MOST IMPORTANT. Take some time to measure a quarter inch from the end on each side and be sure that everything is aligned. Watch the video to see how.
- Attach the tongue and groove boards
Apply adhesive to the joists in workable sections. Face nail your first board. That means that instead of going in through the tongue (which you will do for all the other boards), you will nail directly through the face of the board where it will be covered with trim. Then nail through the tongue of the first board, being careful not to damage the tongue. I nailed to the board at a slight angle to make sure that the nail didn’t disrupt the tongue and groove connection. Slide the groove of the next board into the tongue and use a rubber mallet if needed for a tight fit. Nail into the tongue side. Do not face nail the second board. Continue like this, adding adhesive to the joists as necessary, until you are complete.
- Trim, caulk and add light fixture
I added the box for my light fixture when I hit the center point rather than after I had attached the boards all the way across. If you have a hole saw, you can attach all the boards and then cut out a hole for your light box. I didn’t have a hole saw so I used a jigsaw. At the halfway point, I traced half the light box and cut a half circle, then attached two more boards and traced the other side of the half circle and made my second cut. This approach worked well.
I added quarter-round on all sides of the tongue and groove cieling and caulked. It turned out great and the actual instillation only took a few hours with two people.
And that’s it!
There you have it. An easy porch ceiling install with tongue and groove boards. Slide up for the before and after. And if you like the door, check out my post with 5 tips to paint a flawless front door.
