I enjoy doing drywall and plaster. Using a lift turns the heavy work of installing ceilings into a job that one person can do alone. Double skim coating and sanding is extra work, but the result is far superior.
On this ceiling we placed a layer of ¼-inch drywall over the entire room to hide a heavily swirled and cracked textured pattern. An additional beveled border of drywall produced the tray ceiling. A Level 5 finish and fresh paint made this well-worn 1950s ranch living room new again.
Ceilings are the most underused and misused surfaces in most homes. Eliminating the “popcorn” and repainting is an easy way to brighten a room and raise the ceiling. If you don’t have enough height for a coffered ceiling, you can use thin battens to produce a frame and panel effect.