Restoring a Tin Ceiling 10/16

One of the most pleasant parts of owning an "old house" is finding those unexpected surprises -- those parts of the house that have been covered up during one of (usually) many remodeling projects. For me, the most spectacular of these was finding a vintage tin ceiling behind a 1950s-style drop ceiling. Now, the ceiling was really in deplorable condition. The house had had fire and water damage and parts of the ceiling had rusted away, but its elegance still shone.

My Tin Ceiling

Tin ceilings were a common design element in the late 19th and early 20th century. Tin was cheap and the stamped panels were an affordable way to add a little Victorian detail to a room. These ceilings can still be found throughout the Midwest and East Coast, in residences and storefront businesses. Many an Ohio corner bar had a tin ceiling -- some still do.

Tin ceilings generally come in square panels, stamped with a repeating design. Common patterns include a fleur-de-lys, a laurel wreath, and diamond shapes. Ceilings usually were "framed" with border pieces in a complementary pattern.

To restore your tin ceiling, first access the damage (if any). Slightly broken pieces can be carefully repaired with plaster. Larger pieces can sometimes be matched with an identical or complementary new panel. I chose to hide the worst of the damage to my ceiling by installing a large light fixture in place of the damaged panels.

A coat of high-gloss "rustoleum" paint will add new life to your ceiling. One or two coats will be needed. If you're lucky enough to still have the original tin color intact, you can protect the ceiling with a clear polyurethane coat.

If you weren't blessed with an authentic tin ceiling, don't despair. Several companies manufacture new ceiling tiles in the old, traditional designs. Panels are generally 24" squares and run from $15 to $75 per panel.

Tin ceilings are relatively easy to install. The light weight of the material helps, but you need to be careful not to bend or dent the panels. For a step-by-step guide to installing a tin ceiling, see this article from HGTV.

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