Plywood ceiling installation

[Chris_Y]

I am about to begin a project to install a plywood ceiling in an outdoor BBQ area. The ceiling slopes from the outer walls to a flat area in the center. I plan to install the ply with 10mm gaps between each sheet and there will be strips of thin ply painted black attached to the ceiling battens where the gaps are between sheets. I also plan to paint the edges of each sheet black.

The building frame is not very square and I was wondering if anyone has any advice on methods to help keep the gaps between each sheet consistent, especially at the points where the corners of 4 sheets meet.

Thanks.

 

[Holzhacker]

A couple thoughts:
- Since this is for a BBQ grille area I would suggest painting the plywood with a clear fire retardant paint. Runs about $100 a gallon around here for the good stuff.
- In terms of dealing with the out of square, start in the middle with your first 4 sheets so that the 'out of square' issues end up being addressed at the outside edges of the outer sheets

 

[mwildt]

In addition to the already great advice maybe you could potentially hot glue some spacers onto the sheets to help with the spacing. Then when up the could be knocked off.

 

[Holmz]

It is possible that some sheet would need trimming to make the gaps even...

 

[semenza]

I am about to begin a project to install a plywood ceiling in an outdoor BBQ area. The ceiling slopes from the outer walls to a flat area in the center. I plan to install the ply with 10mm gaps between each sheet and there will be strips of thin ply painted black attached to the ceiling battens where the gaps are between sheets. I also plan to paint the edges of each sheet black.

The building frame is not very square and I was wondering if anyone has any advice on methods to help keep the gaps between each sheet consistent, especially at the points where the corners of 4 sheets meet.

Thanks.

Welcome to the forum, Chris  [smile]

    Interesting design.  I take it the gaps are going to be "filled" with the thin strips?  Hence the need to paint the edges of the sheets? Curious is this purely decorative or for wood movement or something else?

    I think you need to do that like tile work and start from the middle to keep the gaps all aligned. Have any miss alignment end up at the sides.

Seth