I am remodeling the middle room of our earth contact home. This particular wall is 11′ tall and 42′ long. Originally, it had sheet rock from the floor to 8′ high and the remaining 3′ was paneling. After replacing the chipboard ceiling with sheet rock, replacing the paneling with sheet rock was the next step. However, after removing the paneling it was found that it wouldn’t be that easy. There is a wall cap where the sheet rock ends and 2×6 go on up to the ceiling – 24″ centers (and yes, this is a load bearing wall). The wall itself is 2×4’s so the 2×6 extend to the outside surface of the sheet rock.
So, anyone have any off the wall ideas to finish this space? One idea was to turn it into shelving/nook space for whatnots and such (not keen on that due to difficulty in dusting), another would be to install decorative panels, or replace the 2×6’s with 2×4’s on 16″ centers and going ahead with the sheet rock. Not completely opposed to this, but started to view this as an opportunity to make lemonade out of lemons and try something a little different.
Any ideas greatly appreciated!
Thanks
Replies
Any photos we can peek at, jkrew?
J
Are you saying there's an offset at the 8' level and the 2x6 section is built on top of a 2x4 wall?
If so, what's the problem with sheetrocking that offset-drop a valance over it and install some lighting (rope or other) for some accent.
Or,
just rock it and tape it.
11' wall issue
Calvin: Well, there's not an offset, sorta. Looks like the original builder built an 8' wall, then decided to raise it higher with the 2x6. So, yes, the 2x6 section is built on top of the 2x4, and the 2x6 edge is flush with the outside edge of the sheet rock. Since he put paneling on the 2x6's and a trim piece in between, it wasn't a problem, as the paneling appeared to be flush with the sheet rock. Now, since the wife doesn't want paneling, there's a problem... Do like the valance idea though...
Here are some "before" pics.
11' wall
Here are some "after" pics with a couple of close ups
That is some unusual construction.........
If you don't want to attempt to "flush" up the upper to the lower, mask the offset with something.
faux beam (to go along with those beams you have already-they come close to lining up with the offset).
A ledge or built up trim that deceives the eye with the difference. Step it out or in a few times, no one will know the difference.
Is the ceiling sheeted with osb and did they popcorn over that? I see some odd stuff where you removed a wall.
Unusual doesn't come close...
Well, the beams are gone. They were decorative, and were kinda in the way. We installed Solatubes to bring more light into the middle area and they were blocking some of the light. Plus, just didn't ever really care for them. But I see what you mean about putting something up to take the eye away from the difference.
Haven't taken a wall out, you might be talking about where we're redoing the end wall. There was orignially barnwood and cubby shelves and got rid of that for sheet rock & wainscotting.
Yes, the ceiling was OSB, however when we bought it, it was stained. Wanted to do something about it, but money short after buying house, so thought, "yeah, put a little paint on it and call it good!" WRONG!!! Bad thing was, I knew better. After spending more in paint and material than it would have cost for sheet rock, it still looked like crap. Threw popcorn at it trying to polish the turd and you can see how well that turned out. But, sheet rock up now, just need to tape, mud and paint.
j
when I have trouble visualizing, I do a mock up of what I'm trying to "see". Often it only needs to be a few feet long, but it helps give you the idea.
Best of luck.
I would cover the wall floor to ceiling with 3/8 drywall. You could do a tray ceiling or have a big cove for interest.
covering the wall
I thought about rerocking the wall, but if I were to do that, I feel that I'd need to remove the old rock to eliminate more work around the door frames and also remove the 2x6's and replace with 2x4's on 16" centers to get everything flush. I'm not completely opposed to this, but thought it might be a good opportunity to try something a little different, a little "off the wall" if you will. I think I'm leaning toward throwing rock where the paneling was at and doing the cove/valance lighting thing. Which leads to the question, how would one figure how much light I'd need to light up the room - maybe not as the primary light, but more than a night light? The wall is 42' long, the cove would be at 8' with 3' of clearance to the ceiling and the room is 15' wide. since the other wall is 8', I'm thinking of only running the cove along the "tall" wall since having the cove at 8' wouldn't look right or perform right on the short wall, and the kitchen is on one of the ends of the room, so the cabinets & refrigerator would pretty much block it on that end.
I thought that adding a 3/8 drywall layer would give a flush wall since the 2/6 seems flush with the surface of the drywall. you may have to make jamb extensions, but that is fairly easy.
As far as calculating the amount of light needed, look at this site http://www.gelighting.com/na/business_lighting/education_resources/tools_software/toolkit/
You're right, my head was someplace else as the 2x6's are mostly flush. Thanks for the lighting link!
As far as lighting................
I've seen many a kitchen with white christmas lights laying along the top.
You could try a 40 ft set of those new LED christmas lights. Cool, cheap and long lasting.
Way better than investing in rope lighting-check your dust periodically.
Just a cheap ass'd thought.
Wife bought some of those after last christmas if I remember correctly, now if I can figure out where she put them... Problem with checking on the dust periodically is that if someone catches you, you have to clean it!
Blast em with a leaf blower now and then.
I like the leaf blower idea! That's my idea of dusting!
I'd just rock over it and cover the transition with a piece of wood trim.
J
I know this is old news but I haven't been here in a long time just thoughtI'd do it like this putting cans in either recess type or eyeballs so you could direct light along the walls. I also thought of flourescents in the box and cut some of those 2x4 drop ceiling plastic light panels to fit