Got My Luan..Ceiling Here I come!!!

[sandman]

hey guys,

I finished installing all my roof spars yesterday and now I am ready to tackle skinning the inside ceiling. I went to Home Depot this morning and got 3 sheets of pretty nice moisture resistant Luan panels in 1/8" thick.

I have decided to not paint the interior ceiling but am planning on using vinyl headliner. I found some at Hancocks Fabrics while shopping with my wife. Has anybody else taken this route and have any tips???

Also, for adhering the Luan Panels to the spars, what type of adhesive would you use??? Can I use Brad Nails provided I turn down the air pressure so it doesn't shoot all the way through?

Any tips on installing the ceiling would be much appreciated.

[S.A.Mike]

Howdy Sandman
glue and staples might be better than the brads..
won't pull thru as likely. 1/4 crown staples H/f has a cheap one
still turn down the air
Mike

[tonyj]

I agree with Mike--use staples. Much better holding than brads. I bought a pneumatic stapler specifically for my build and now don't know how I ever got along without it.

I believe Steve Wolverton started to use headliner applied to luan and ran into installation problems (working with the material hanging down, pulling away from the adhesive). If you dry fit the luan, remove and install the headliner on the luan leaving it loose at the edges and then reinstall, that would make it a little easier. But how to attach the luan to the spars in the middle of the field? Construction adhesive or glue? Or staple and then cover with trim.

[Ira]

For adhering the headliner to the luan--3M spray adhesive.

[Alphacarina]

You can also use glue and screws to hold the luan in place. Cut some 2 inch squares of 1/4 inch ply and put the screw through the center and use that to hold up the luan. When the glue dries, take out the screws and putty in the holes

Don

[steve wolverton]

I have decided to not paint the interior ceiling but am planning on using vinyl headliner.

Ha! You think getting the sides squared up was frustrating... Welcome to my hell.

[mikeschn]

I used staples on the inside roof skin of the Baja Benroy. It was easier than using a bunch of sticks to hold the roof in place while it dried.

I did have to turn the air pressure down some, so I didn't drive the staples all the way thru the luan.

Mike...

[Airspeed]

Your about to have some fun! I would mark the luan so you know where
your spars are,cut a bunch of 1X2's or similar to prop up the luan while
you staple, and do use staples or screws, brads will not hold very well. I used TiteBond to glue mine. If you have a freind that can keep his mouth shut when you get frustrated, invite him over to help, take your time.
I used that moisture resistant stuff on the inside of my tear and I hated it. It cracked and was hard to bend. Thats why I covered it up with the luan door skins, you may not have the same radius I had so you might not have the same
frustrating time I had. The moisture resistant 1/8th" luan didnt want to bend for me, I soaked it in my hot tub for a couple hours and it was still
a pain to bend. When I covered it with the luan door skins it was a pleasure to bend, I didnt even have to use a single brace, the doorskins just curved into the radius like butter.
Take your time and have fun! Aaron

[Mary K]

Hey, Sandman

When I installed my interior skin, I just used Tightbond III glue and some braces. I know you are going to use a headliner so you can use the staples and they will be covered up. But, just for you viewing pleasure I'll post a pic.



Good Luck

Mk

[pauld3]

We did what MaryK did. We did not want to "patch" holes...but like Mary said if you are going to put a headliner over it any way...what the heck do you care if there are screws, staples, or patched holes. I can't wait to see pics of the headliner...it sounds like it will look very Plush!

Good Luck.

Lynn

[Laredo]

Step one: Obtain some industrial-quality Velcro dots and attach to the roof spars and to the roof-side of your luan. This will allow you to temporarily hold the luan to the spars for marking as outlined below. Should you choose to leave these dots in place after you mount the padded luan, it will do no harm and might increase the strength of the mount.
Step two: measure your ceiling and roof spars.
Step three: on the side of the ply that will be the ceiling, draw the lines where the roof spars will be.
Step four: along each of these lines mark a dot every 3'' to 4''.
Step five: drill a pilot hole thru the luan at each dot.
Step six: get some washers -- get as many as you have pilot holes plus about half a dozen in case of accidental drop/loss.
Step seven: get some 5/8'' long very thin screws the heads of which will not pass thru the washers from step six.
Step eight: get a sheet of thin insulating foam or go to a fabric store and get a piece of upholstery foam the size of your finished ceiling.
Step nine: lay out your vinyl, wrong-side-up, and draw the upholstery foam outline on it. Make sure you leave a 5/8'' edge all the way around on the vinyl.
Step 10: Mate the insulating foam or upholstery foam to the luan by putting a screw through a washer then screwing that through the luan into the roof spar at each of the marks from step four. You have now mounted the luan and padding to the roof.
Step 11: Spray 3M adhesive on the mounted foam, and following the directions on the can, smooth the vinyl over the foam with a roller from the center toward the edges, and AS YOU GO, tuck that extra 5/8'' under the edges of the foam; hold this in place with pinch clips until the glue dries. (Pinch clips are those black metal "paper clips" with the chromed-wire "ears" at office supply stores)
Step 12: remove the pinch clips.
Step 13: install edge trim of your choice around the ceiling.
This technique is stolen and slightly modified from upholstery-making as explained in a 1970s "sewing for the home" book, because there's no way a hand awl could drive beading wire into the roof spars adequately. The pinch clip modification is one we learned when we repaired the roof liner of a 1986 sedan that had collapsed because of moisture damage.
You need not use vinyl. You can use any sturdy fabric. If you want to do a 'theme' ceiling, you can use this technique with polarfleece, printed canvas, kite fabric, etc.