Using Luan Plywood as a Ceiling Finish

Have you thought about using Luan Plywood as a ceiling finish? Well there are low quality plywoods ceilings that you can use, such as luan plywood. Here is an idea to use. 

Here is a video with a brief instruction as to installation.

Instructions on Installing Luan Plywood Ceiling 

• 1
  Using a stud  locator through the drywall ceilings to locate the joists points. Then chalk a line to pin point the length of the position in each of the joists. from here install luan plywood over drywall and/ or firmly to ceiling joists. .
• 2
  Measure at 90 degrees across the joists from the wall, to the center of the joist. The ends of two adjoining pieces of luan plywood must center on a joist. Use a table saw to cut the luan plywood to exact sizing.
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• 3
  Measure and cut a two-by-four stud with a miter saw for support on the opposite end of the luan plywood where it butts into the wall, if required. Screw it flush to the inner portion of the joist using a drill/driver and 3-inch screws.
• 4
  Install one sheet of 1/4-inch  luan plywood across two sawhorses for drywall installation. Install one sheet luan plywood for open joist installation. Luan  Plywood typically has two faces, A is the premium face. The back, graded B, may have small defects. The A side should be facing down.
• 5
  Sand the edges lightly with a hand block and 100-grit sandpaper to remove splinters, high spots, debris, chips or irregularities -- but don't sand dips in the edges. Check the thickness along the edges. Issues associated with luan plywood can include uneven seams due to irregularities in manufacturing. If you notice irregularities in the thickness, mark it. Use the irregular edge against a wall.
• 6
  Use construction adhesive to the joists and/or blocking. Raise the luan  plywood to the ceiling using a drywall. Install it perpendicular across the joists. Push it into the corner, tight against the wall. Shoot 1½-inch staples, spaced 12 inches apart, through the luan plywood into each joist and on the blocking if applicable.
• 7
  Repeat measuring, cutting and installing luan plywood and blocking where required. Fit each piece in succession, ensuring that both ends are centered on joists.
• 8
  Staple 1/4-inch-by-1½-inch-by-96-inch pieces of pine lath or batting centered along each seam using 1-inch staples and construction adhesive. Use  lath with  luan  plywood. Saw them to length as required with the miter saw. Butt adjoining pieces together. Saw pieces to length using a miter saw.
  
  
  
  There are some additional topics covered below:
  
  
  
  How to Glue or nail Hardwood to Plywood:
  
  
  Luan Wood Some people will not be satisfied with merely nailing Luan plywood boards to hardwoods, such as Maple and Oak. So in this case it may be better to consider gluing your project as well as just using nails, or screws on the project.
  
  
  When should you consider gluing Luan plywood to solid hardwood materials?
  If the project were a specific and small area and could be secured with just nails alone, that is not a problem. But, if you want to reinforce with glue and screws you'll likely have a more secure connection between plywood boards and a solid hardwood base. A Few small glue blocks, which should be applied to the underside of the woodblock, and then along the front and sides of the plywood, should give you a pretty solid hold. Then you can use glue and miter the joint to additionally secure the connection.
  And there you go.
  Now, another question that many people ask is:
  
  
  Luan Wood Video Series
  Bending Luan Wood Video
  Installing Luan Wood Video
  Cutting and Installing Vinyl Over Luan
  Installing Luan Over Subfloor
  Laying laminate over Subfloor
  Making Tile Flush With Subfloor
  Attaching Luan To Subfloor
  Working With Luan For Do It Yourselfers
  
  How do You Bend Wood Without Stem?
  
  
  This is how you do it.
  
  You set the depth of the saw so that you don't cut through the wood all the way. Leave a 1/8 to 1/16 inch of wood at the bottom, so you don't go all the way through.
  
  Then, mark the wood and cut in to your desired points along the wood paneling. Again, do not cut the wood all the way, otherwise you'll break or cut through the wood. You just want to cut it enough through the wood to make the board flexible.
  
  Next, the step is to make a curving shape from a piece of wood. This will act as a jig for bending the work piece, so the curve must be as deep as you want in the work piece to be. Save the piece of the wood that you make the cut-out for.
  
  Last, you should position the wood that you have made the incisions for to make it flexible in the jib and then clamp it together. Allow the wood to sit overnight. And so, the wood will be shaped as you desire when you return.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  How to Glue or nail Hardwood to Plywood: Luan Wood Some people will not be satisfied with merely nailing Luan plywood boards to hardwoods, such as Maple and Oak. So in this case it may be better to consider gluing your project as well as just using nails, or screws on the project. When should you consider gluing Luan plywood to solid hardwood materials? If the project were a specific and small area and could be secured with just nails alone, that is not a problem. But, if you want to reinforce with glue and screws you'll likely have a more secure connection between plywood boards and a solid hardwood base. A Few small glue blocks, which should be applied to the underside of the woodblock, and then along the front and sides of the plywood, should give you a pretty solid hold. Then you can use glue and miter the joint to additionally secure the connection. And there you go. Now, another question that many people ask is: Luan Wood Video Series Bending Luan Wood Video Installing Luan Wood Video Cutting and Installing Vinyl Over Luan Installing Luan Over Subfloor Laying laminate over Subfloor Making Tile Flush With Subfloor Attaching Luan To Subfloor Working With Luan For Do It Yourselfers How do You Bend Wood Without Stem?     This is how you do it. You set the depth of the saw so that you don't cut through the wood all the way. Leave a 1/8 to 1/16 inch of wood at the bottom, so you don't go all the way through. Then, mark the wood and cut in to your desired points along the wood paneling. Again, do not cut the wood all the way, otherwise you'll break or cut through the wood. You juste to cut it enough through the wood to make the board flexible. Next, the step is to make a curving shape from a piece of wood. This will act as a jig for bending the work piece, so the curve must be as deep as you want in the work piece to be. Save the piece of the wood that you make the cut-out for. Last, you should position the wood that you have made the incisions for to make it flexible in the jib and then clamp it together. Allow the wood to sit overnight. And so, the wood will be shaped as you desire when you return.
  
  
  
  

Using Luan Plywood as a Ceiling - To Strengthen Beams

Step 1 - Find the Ceiling Joists

Use the stud finder to locate all ceiling joists and mark the location with a pencil. Mark the joist by snapping a chalk line across the ceiling. The luan plywood will be installed perpendicular to the joists.

Step 2 -  Luan Plywood Installation

Glue the precut plywood in place using panel adhesive. Apply the adhesive to the luan plywood in a thin serpentine patterned line. Place luan  plywood on the ceiling pushing it against the edge. Use the pneumatic nail gun to put the luan plywood in place. Place the nails where you marked the ceiling joist.

Continue this process for each luan  plywood panel, using a rubber mallet to butt the panels as close together as possible.

Step 3 - Wood Molding

Place construction adhesive on the back of the precut wood molding. Align the molding with the edge of the ceiling. Use finishing nails to fasten it in place.

Step 4 - Sanding and Prep

Cover all nail holes with wood putty using a small putty knife. When the putty has completely dried, use sandpaper to smooth any imperfections in the wood and the putty. Use a soft cloth to remove any dust from sanding.

Strenghten Beams Using Luan Plywood

How to Strengthen Beams Using Luan Plywood 

By adding a luan plywood on top of  both sides of the beam, it can provide what home renovators refer to as shear strength.

 This type of luan plywood fortification is also commonly used on the exterior of frame buildings to add accumulative strength to vertical support studs spanning across the structure.


Measure the width of the beam at the point where two parts of the beam intersect or are joined together at any point.

2 Cut four pieces of luan plywood the same width as the beam on a table saw. Cut them parallel to the grain of the luan plywood.


3 Mix the powdered resin glue with water according to manufacturer's directions. Liberally brush one side of two pieces of luan  plywood with the glue using a paintbrush. Place one strip on each side of the beam, centered over any intersection or joint.

4 Shoot staples through the luan plywood pieces 2 inches apart randomly down the length of the strips with a staple gun to secure them the sides of the beams.

5 Paint two more pieces with glue. Place them on top of the other two pieces. Shoot staples through them just as you did the first two.


Wait 24 hours for the glue to dry before handling the beams.