INTERIOR COVERINGS FOR CEILINGS AND WALLS

                The finished wall subcontractors will be ready to start after all the mechanicals are “roughed-in”, inspected and approved by your appropriate local building code bureaus, and after all batt insulation is installed.  Batt insulation should be installed in gable and dormer studwalls, in conventional roof systems (unless blown in) and any interior walls you wish.

                There are many available coverings for interior ceilings and walls.  For wood ceilings and/or walls you may purchase one-inch tongue & groove products in many species of wood.  Sheetrock is also a popular option for walls and ceilings.

                The most important aspect of installing interior wall coverings is to not run the wall covering on main floor walls all the way to the ceiling.  All main floor partition walls should be “floating walls” as described in the previous section entitled “Interior Partition Walls” and should have approximately two-inches space above the top plate of the studwall.  The wall covering should stop at the top plate of the studwall and should not extend upward, covering the space above the top plate.  This space was left to allow the second floor to be lowered as the logs settle.  Wall coverings installed within two-inches of the main floor ceiling run the risk of being damaged during log settlemenr.  With all second floor walls, however, wall coverings can be run all the way up to the roof.

                Emphasize to your sheetrock crew the importance of keeping sheetrock mud and paint off of the beams, wood and logs.  These objects will be exposed to view when the home is completed and any mud and paint will have to be removed.

                To finish a studwall with sheetrock and to apply two coats of paint and furnish all materials and labor will cost approximately $.75 -$1.25 per square foot of wall area.  For example, a 20-foot studwall which is 9-feet high may cost $180 (20’x 9” = 180 sq.ft. x $1.00 = $180.00) for one side to be finished.  Remember, if the wall has two sides, you should double the cost.

                There is a vast selection of tongue & groove wood products for your interior walls.  Tennessee Log Homes provides several different products in the $1.50-$2.50/per square foot range.  This price is for materials only.  Labor costs should be added, usually $1.00 - $2.00 per square foot of wall area.