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DIY Rustic Corrugated METAL Ceiling

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How to Finish a Basement Ceiling with Corrugated Metal.

We put the Bar in barn

cat footprint hires22 12 1

Before & After

Exposed Structural Beams

DIY Basement Arcade - ceiling before picture. Exposed beams and unfinished floor

Corrugated Metal Ceiling

unfinished basement, before conversion, concrete basement floor, white insulation and exposed beams

Corrugated Metal – 50 shades of Grey

DIY Corrugated Metal Ceiling | TheCraftyCatsman
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Hey Guys, it's Jeremy with TheCraftyCatsman.com. Today, I'm standing under our corrugated metal roof. A project so nice, I would do it twice ….and I am and Before we get started I just want to thank those who have TLL’d. If you’re not familiar TLL stands for Tender Lovin’ Likes. It’s opposed to that Smash the like button trend on YouTube and we’re trying to change that. So I really appreciate it, we have a long way to go but I am confident we can get there This is the second video in my series dedicated to the speakeasy arcade – a bar arcade that I built in my basement for less than contractor wanted just to put up studs and drywall This ceiling conversion was one of the cheapest things and made one of the biggest impacts on this arcade and I am excited to show you how I did it. When designing the rustic vibe for my arcade, I knew that this exposed rafter look needed to go. There were two 60w bulbs unevenly lighting the area “Before” that were causing immense amounts of shadows. It was dark and Dingy. I looked online for options and came across the obvious drywall which didn’t fit my needs and I also looked at painting the rafters. But that seemed like a messy and time consuming nightmare. I decided that corrugated metal sheets was something that I could try out on my own and if I didn’t work out I didn’t really lose out on a big investment. My idea was an experiment I really didn’t see anything like this online and I wasn’t sure how it was going to turn out but I’m really happy with the results, and I hope I can encourage you do the same. Paired with the Govee lights above, I now have even lighting that I can customize. I can dim the lights, change the scenes and set the tone for whatever’s going on in the arcade. I sourced my corrugated roofing panels from FaceBook Marketplace and I highly recommend that you do the same. I found a barn locally that was getting rid of their roof. They were putting on solar and needed a new roof. So I negotiated a deal with the guy that was taking them down and put them up here. 01:41 Can we add a “whooshing” sound and maybe an arrow pointing up at the ceiling? Try it out but if you don’t think it looks good feel free to ignore this request Now you may go one FaceBook and only find shiny new metal, and I have a solution for that . I negotiated a price of $20 per 6 foot sheet, I needed 8 sheets in total so my total cost was $160. My panels did have their fair share of rust, I am going to show you a trick to enhance that Rust. If you come across some shiny new metal and that’s the only thing you can find, don’t worry – this is where things get crafty. 02:00 Please start the Peracetic Acid Video earlier. The goal is to not show me looking down at my phone To add character with a natural rust effect we are going to make some Peracetic Acid Don’t worry it’s pretty harmless, unless you’re a robot To make this Robot crushing concoction, you will need • hydrogen peroxide • salt • vinegar • A spray bottle • A safe outdoor space. 02:17 Please keep the Peracitic Acid video clip rolling. There is a part of this clip that shows me adding the ingredients to a spray bottle. Please try to line that up with the second bullet point. The goal is to not show me looking at my phone. First: • Clean the metal sheets to remove any oils or residues. • In a spray bottle, mix two parts hydrogen peroxide, one part vinegar, and a tablespoon of salt • Spray the solution evenly onto the metal. The chemical reaction will start to create rust. • Allow the metal to dry, and repeat the process to intensify the rust effect Remember, the more you spray, the rustier it will look. • Once you've achieved the desired level of rust, you can seal the metal with a clear coat to preserve the look and prevent further corrosion. I’ve rusted metal this way before and never sealed it, but that’s your choice. My panels came prepacked with their share of rust. But to give it an even look I sprayed each panel down with a hose and then scrubbed the rust across the length of the panel with a stiff brush and shop cloth. If you decide to do the same thing, make sure to wear gloves, also keep in mind that if you do this on a lawn, it will likely kill your grass. Once the sheets are ready to hang, be sure to put on cut resistant gloves and recruit a friend. Using a 1” hex head self-sealing screws drill directly into the corrugated metal. Keep the structural beam placement in mind and try to hit as many beams as possible. On each six foot panel I used 6 screws. Plan to overlap the sheets, this creates a nice and even look, but feel free to experiment with different patterns. You may need to cut some of the sheets to length, I bought a cheap pair of tin snips from amazon and made quick work this, but you really need to use Caution, cutting the sheets makes for extremely sharp edges. This video is not sponsored, but it should be, I have over 12 different Govee products in my house and these patio lights were the perfect addition to the arcade. The app is sleek, simple to use and it just works. The patio lights are lightweight and super easy to hang. I messed with my design a few times, I wanted to create a natural flow of lights without looking too structured. To mount the lights, I used small J-hooks. To install the hooks, I used a small drill bit then tightened the chuck of my drill around the hook and shot them up into the metal. It doesn’t matter if these hit wood ) just make sure that they are screwed all the way in. Space the hooks out to evenly distribute the weight. Your project is your own, but to help you out I just want to let you know that I used burlap to attach between the corrugated metal roof and the wall. The reason why I did that is because I had this horrible white insulation . attached to the concrete and I didn’t want to put up drywall so I used the burlap to cover. However, burlap is extremely flammable, so if you’re going to use it use extreme caution And that’s a wrap on this one, it’s a super simple project that should take a couple of hours as long as you can recruit a friend. I truly think it can transform your space in a unique way and its something that I haven’t seen online before. If you agree, please tap the like button. It helps encourage me to put more content on youtube. We have all of our instructions on the website at thecraftycatsman.com, feel free to check it out and get a text based version of this so that I can walk you through each step of the waay. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below, I would be happy to help you out. Catch you on the next one.

New Corrugated Metal

unfinished basement, exposed structural beams in basement, exposed wood

Aged, not rusted

rustic wall diy, different color aged wood, bookcase door back, dartboard, hook game, air hockey, corrugated metal roof and patio lights

Rusted Natural

Rusted Corrugated metal roofing, laying on green grass.

Rusted with touch

unfinished basement, before conversion, concrete basement floor, white insulation and exposed beams

Rustic Décor for our basement mancave

(Tetanus optional, not recommended)

DALL·E%202022 08 29%2019.17.14%20 %20 bro%20cat%20with%20backwards%20hat%20and%20headphones%20and%20safety%20glasses%20hammering%20on%20a%20wall ,%20cinematic%20lighting,%20digital%20art
Have you browsed those top 10 rustic decor pages but left feeling empty inside? Did you search for how to finish an unfinished basement ceiling but only found the same old paint or drywall solutions? Yeah my feline friend, I am  with you. Neither option was appealing to me either. Thankfully, I took a risk on a twist to traditional corrugated sheet metal interior design and am here to share my results with you.  
The Problem: Started from the bottom now we here, literally. We started from the bottom with paint and built some really cool things but when we looked up an exposed beam, nail ridden, randomly placed fixtureless lightbulb mess of an unfinished basement ceiling still existed. The internet and all those click bait puppy lovin' "top 10" home design tip websites tried to box me in to painting the beams. While I love a good cardboard box, the metaphorical box of options didn't fit the look that I was going for. Worse, I could not fathom a way to create even lighting without sacrificing head space. Our basement has relatively low ceilings and learning how to finish a basement with low ceilings was a challenge.
The Solution: I always loved corrugated metal, especially naturally rusted sheets. We have seen interior corrugated metal walls before but never a corrugated metal interior ceiling. The patina is unique and is a great way to add depth and character. The material is thin and doesn't take up a lot of precious head space. This allows us to maximize the ceiling height and makes for a great game of Pop-A-Shot. Better yet? This ish was cheap and EASY. The hardest part was getting the sheets home and into the basement. We put the entire ceiling up in less than an hour. We hope this rustic basement man cave idea works for you!
DALL·E 2022-08-17 13.52.13 - _studious bro cat with hat and headphones and Dewalt safety glasses_, _sitting at a workbench with a clipboard_, _scrappy bro cat pointing to the clip

Categories and Difficulty

Every Project is ranked by Tool Category and Difficulty Level.

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DALL·E 2022-08-17 09.54.10 - scrappy bro cat with hat and headphones and Dewalt safety glasses, walking through a brick alley between two row homes, holding a drill, cinematic lig

Alley Cat

I have the street cred and walk the block, but found an alley and acquired some nice things.

A bowl that always seems to have food in it and a warm bundle of blankets tucked in a place that never gets wet.

These humans keep staring at me making weird pst pst sounds. Looking in their window I see all kinds of cool toys to play with.

Corrugated Metal Basement Ceiling.

Tools

If you click through any of the below links then I may receive a small compensation from Amazon, even if you go on to buy something else. This is a great way to support the site without actually sending me money :). 

Green and black battery powered drill product photo

Drill

Corrugated Metal Basement Ceiling.

Materials

Corrugated Metal Basement Ceiling.

Source the Corrugated Metal

First we need to find our corrugated metal for the ceiling. My recommendation? I know, I say this all of the time – Facebook Marketplace! Facebook marketplace is your best bet to find used corrugated metal. Recycling companies will regularly post scrap metal on Facebook for hobbyists and people that need to make small repairs on their roof. 

The number of panels that you will need will depend on the square footage of the ceiling that you are designing. Corrugated metal is generally sold 26″ wide and in lengths of 8′, 10′, and 12′.

There is little overlap required between the pieces but you can overlap by more if you would like. Measure out your space and hunt for sheets that fit your need.

This is where you need to make your next design choice. Corrugated metal roofing can come in all sorts of conditions, from bright and shiny to hole ridden rust buckets. 

We wanted to put up pieces that were solid (no holes) but had a nice patina. If you want similar, find a listing that has rusted sheets but speak with the seller and make sure that their are no holes or rough edges. Don’t worry too much about how the rust looks, we are going to even out the look in a later step. 

 

You can cut the metal using tin snips – and cut resistant gloves. For real, cut resistant gloves.  

 

image of facebook marketplace showing corrugated metal listings

Corrugated Metal Basement Ceiling.

Get it Home

Not typically a step that I list, but corrugated metal roofing is long and thin. It makes for a challenging trip home. I would not try to strap this to a roof rack, instead find a friend with a pickup truck or rent an hourly truck from the home depot. Corrugated metal can be extremely sharp and those cuts sting so pack your cut resistant gloves for the trip. 

A pickup truck bed will likely be too short and so the panels will stick out. I highly recommend using some straps to hold them down. If you want to be extra careful, stick scrap cardboard between the panels and the straps. This will reduce the risk that the friction on the sharp metal causes any tears. 

 

 

The pickup truck’s rust is not the type of rust we are looking for.

picture of rusted metal roofing (corrugated metal), blue pickup truck with rust on it.

Corrugated Metal Basement Ceiling.

Spread The Rust

Keep the kitties away for this one.

Put on your latex gloves and grab some rags and or a brush. Working in direct light is helpful but not necessary.

Warning: The rust will kill grass. If you are not comfortable with this then be sure to take care of this step in a driveway or some other open space. I killed a good section of my yard, but this project was completed in the middle of summer – the grass all grew back within a week or so.

Working on panel at a time, pour water on the metal and rub the panel with a towel or brush. The rust coloring should start to spread around. If you are working in the sun then you can see the result pretty quickly.

If the color isn’t moving around, try using hotter or even slightly soapy water. A section shouldn’t take more than a few minutes to complete.

If the drying process is taking too long, keep a separate pile of dry towels to rub the sheets clean. Avoid using thin materials (like paper towels) as they will rip and get stuck in the corrugated metal. 

Be careful! Corrugated metal can have extremely sharp edges. If you are concerned, put your latex gloves on and then put the cut resistant gloves over them. I strongly reccommend using latex gloves at a minimum, you don’t want rust residue getting into any tiny cuts on your hands. 

 

 

Natural Rust

Rusted Corrugated metal roofing, laying on green grass.

Rust touch up

Corrugated Metal Roofing - even rusting, laying on grass

Corrugated Metal Basement Ceiling.

Hanging The Corrugated Metal

This was so easy it should be illegal.

Using metal roofing screws and a wonderful assistant, drill the screws into the wood support beams (use those cut resistant gloves). If you pay attention to the video, you can see that I have all of the screws lined up which takes away the guesswork on finding the support beams.

Beams should have a slight overlap and in my opinion you should line your overlaps up and make sure that they all go in the same direction. This is aesthetically pleasing and will help keep the installation organized.

 

Corrugated Metal Basement Ceiling.

Hang Lighting

Rusted metal roofing is a pretty unique look, traditional lighting may not fit the design. There are a number of ways that you can go with this.

I wanted even lighting throughout the arcade, I also wanted to give the arcade a look that really separated it from the rest of the house. My solution? Govvee outdoor patio lights. These are regularly priced at $99 but at the time of this write-up they were on sale for $75 when you clip the coupon on Amazon (https://amzn.to/3ZnXXJb).

To hang these lights, I used small hooks. My shortcut was to use the drills chuck to hold the hook while I drilled it directly into the corrugated metal. It worked for me but a smart alternative would be to use a drill bit and then screw the hooks in. They work perfect and hold the lights well. 

 

Corrugated Metal Basement Ceiling.

Step Back, Grab a Drink and Enjoy

Step Back, grab a drink and Enjoy

Congratulations Catskateer, you completed the metal corrugated roof project. We think the barn style roofing gives the arcade a truly special and unique look.

We would love to see your finished project (seriously, for real, stop being shy). Send pics to TheCraftyCatsman@gmail.com!

Hanging barn beam fixture, spalted maple bar, corrugated metal roofing, hanging lights

Next Up.

Let’s Continue the DIY Arcade Bar

Click Below to access my free series on how we converted an unfinished portion of our basement into a speakeasy bar arcade. All for less than the cost of what a contractor was going to charge to put up the studs!  

Next Up: How to Paint a Concrete Basement Floor – The Easy Way

used paint can, red with a red floor

Click the picture above to learn how I built a bar light from a scrap piece of a barn beam. 

Click below to see all of my DIY Arcade Bar Projects.

TheCraftyCatsman - Speakeasy Arcade

A collection of projects explaining how I built my arcade bar for less than a contractor wanted to charge to put up studs. All free for my feline loving friends. 

Congratulations!

DALL·E computer generated image - happy bro cat with hat and headphones and Dewalt safety glasses, giving a big thumbs up, cinematic lighting, digital art

I’m going to Level with you….

  

Like woodworking, I am learning how to design this website design as I go. One thing that helps a website gain attention is posting “short and sweet” articles, fun fact – humans are also inclined to look at lists first (that’s one reason why you see “Top ten TVs” or “Five must see living room makeovers”). If you have made it this far then you are a trend bucker, you also have realized that I don’t do short and sweet. That ish is for the birds, and you know what cats do to birds….

I support you and all of your dreams, however, if this page gets any longer those human brain picking robots may shove this super cool article so far down in the rankings that people like you never get to see it (go tell some friends, thanks).

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