Truckee Ceiling Drywall & Recessed Lighting

The project began with full home protection, including floor coverings, furniture protection, and dust containment to manage the inevitable debris from overhead drywall work in a finished home.

Furring strips were installed at 16 inches on center across the entire ceiling, creating a uniform substrate for drywall while leaving room for new insulation between the existing tongue-and-groove and the new finished ceiling. Spray foam was used to seal any gaps between the original ceiling and surrounding framing, and Rmax rigid foam insulation was installed between the furring strips to bring the ceiling assembly up to a much higher thermal performance.

Drywall was installed across the entire upstairs ceiling using a drywall lift to accommodate the height and angles of the vaulted space. All joints were taped, mudded, and finished to a level 4 standard, and the finished drywall was caulked to the existing beams to maintain a clean transition between the new ceiling and the existing architectural elements. The ceiling was then primed in preparation for the homeowner's selected finish color, which they planned to apply themselves.

New recessed LED lighting was installed throughout the room, wired into existing switched circuits. The layout follows the natural bay structure created by the beams, with one 6 inch downlight per bay and two 4 inch adjustable gimbals flanking the peak in each bay. The gimbals provide directional accent lighting while the central downlights handle ambient illumination, giving the homeowner layered control over the room's lighting feel.

The existing wood stove and surrounding stone hearth were also removed as part of this phase, with gas and electrical lines safely capped pending a future fireplace overhaul.

A change order added drywall work in the basement, which was framed, hung, taped, and finished to match the level 4 standard used in the main ceiling work.