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Painting wood panel ceiling - should I caulk the seams?

7 years ago

We are painting a wood panel vaulted ceiling. Going across, there are sometimes two or three boards per row. We would like it to look seamless across each row, and were going to caulk the seams before painting. One painter seemed to think this was fine, but another said that it would be a disaster when the wood expands and contracts with shifting seasons. Any advice on this? Thanks in advance!

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Comments (4)

paintguy22
7 years ago
It's a risk, but caulk does flex so it will not crack unless there is some pretty significant movement.
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Paint sales at Home Depot
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
There is always expansion and contraction with the change of the seasons and relative humidity in the house. In a very dry climate, such as So. California, there is a better chance of holding, than in Chicago, with ts wild swings in temps and relative humidity. Such things as snow loading can also affect the stress on and movement of a roof structure. If you choose to caulk, don't go cheap. Buy the premium "elastomeric" acrylic caulks.
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Wow, looks like the Ponderosa Ranch on the old show Bonanza! Time for a change. I would start with painting all the wood panelled walls and window frames (advice given above re. primer 1st is key) One of the nice thing about wood walls is that you can hang a painting anywhere you like. Change the lighting to something modern and brighter. See how you like it at that point. Personally I would paint everything as the beams look too small to be interesting and the wood panelling isn't that interesting.I would go for a rustic Swedish country look which would be not that much of a stretch with your great rustic house. The furniture layout looks like it could be tweaked a bit as well. And just curious about the stair railing? Is there glass in between the posts or is it really empty space?
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Carlos Flores
7 years ago
My living area is exposed with 1x10 planks. I painted them white, but no caulk. I plan on caulking, filling knot holes, etc. and repainting to make it look more "refined."

Expansion/contraction is always present in wood, but should not be a huge concern in a conditioned space. You mentioned panels: Is this solid wood or plywood? Plywood is even less likely to be an issue.

Lastly, as mentioned, use a high-quality caulk: Price is proportional to quality. Some sealants allow for 150% elongation, which is insane for interior applications. And, don't forget to prime the joint BEFORE caulking.

Good Luck!
Amy
2 years ago
@Carlos Flores why caulk before prime? whoops. I am halfway through a project and did not prime first... I assume it helps it stick?

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