Good day all,
I’ve been asked to install 3/4″x16″x8′ MDF strips to a painted ceiling. It is a multi unit condo, I’m not sure where the structural members are. I’m thinking screws if they hit something structural and adhesive. What adhesive do you recommend?
Thanks,
Don
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PL Premium is a good choice. It'll hold anything in place.
Where there isn't framing to fasten to, you could shoot cross nails into the sheetrock, and/or put a brace from the floor to the MDF until the glue sets.
Had to do something similar with 1/2" MDF 4' x 8' around light fixture. Pre painted with design.
Drilled holes around perimeter
put on sheetrock jack, positioned against ceiling
drilled screw positions in predrilled holes
lowered jack and drove screw-in type anchors in ceiling
contruction adhesive, jacked up and ran screws home
molded perimeter with wainscot mold to cover screw heads and another molding around that to cover gap between that original ceiling.
Left and the faux painter finished his master piece, someday I hope to see the finished product, guy does some pretty impressive work.
Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end.
pardon my french but that seems like a bizarre use of MDFthere's sheetrock, MDO, plugged & sanded plywoodwhat are you / they up to?
My thoughts as well. That's some darn heavy stuff, and it has a lot of thermal expansion. Might look like hell after a couple years, but worse, if it moves enough, it'll be coming down on somebodies head.PL Premium is the best adhesive, but it will only be sticking this to the pained surface or the drywall finish.Since the OP is using 16" wide strips, it wil not be hard to find where the structural members are to be able to screw tight to them. He'll need to predrill for countersink though, 'cause MDF is so hardWish I knew what the goal was. I'm sure there is a better way to get there from here than using MDF
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Gents,
The ceiling along the exterior wall ( which is mostly glass; slider etc.) has a terrific river view. Each unit has a balcony off this wall. Each unit the owner has seen has a 3/4"x16" strip of ply screwed into the ceiling along the full length of the wall. The owner thought by continuing the effect around the perimiter of room it would improve the appearance, kind of like a coffered effect. I suggested MDF due to its purported stability and lack of expansion/contraction.
Thanks,
Don
you'd be better off by far using MDO and a trim molding to edge it.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Piffin,
Appreciate the opinion but I have the MDF already, and ripped to size.
Don
please pass the ibuprofen, let's put on our hardhats, two to hold & one to screw
and I'm striking if he supplies Piffin screws for the runs where the eight footers parallel the ceiling joistsand that layered look is probably hiding some moisture penetration
Edited 10/16/2009 1:02 pm ET by johnharkins
Time for a third hand or two, to hold them up
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
You're welcomeBest to you.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Piffin et al,Went to the job Saturday. The condo is in a brick 4 story apartment building on the shore in CT. built in the 50's. I removed a medicine cabinet in the bathroom and found aluminum studs 24"o.c. I surmised the ceiling was constructed the same way. I also noticed (carrying 16' crown up the stairs) that there were 16 steps in 1 flight. The ceiling height in the unit was 96". My thought is any common walls between units and the floors are masonry or concrete and the ceiling is suspended on the same type of aluminum studding/joisting. SInce the ceiling is painted in "popcorn" paint I didn't want to trust the adhesive/screw attaching method. I ripped down the MDF and fabricated an "L" that could easily be screwed to the wall at the ceiling and provide a solid surface for the crown to be attached to and at the same time bring it down to the elevation dictated by the plywood across the exterior wall-ceiling.
Thanks for your and everyone else's ideas.
Don
Sounds like you brought it down a bit more like a soffit, or what some call a bulkkhead.
I was picturing total ceiling paneling
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
The original idea was to mimic the existing 3/4"x16" plywood on the front edge of the ceiling by continuing it around the room. After a closer look I was nervous about the install I switched gears ripped down the MDF fabricated and installed inverted "L"'s on the wall/ceiling seam and set some crown moulding in the "L". It wound up looking fine.
Don