Asked on Dec 29, 2015

Looking for ideas for repurposing plywood

Hi all! I am starting a massive remodel on my Dad's 1893 farmhouse. The kitchen is covered in wood paneling with a false ceiling of those hideous white grid-style panels. Everyone here seems to have amazing ideas for repurposing EVERYTHING so I am hesitant to throw ANYTHING out that I might regret in the future! Ideas for wood paneling and fake ceiling tiles welcome!
  9 answers
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Dec 30, 2015
    Heres two posts I found that may give you inspiration. www.hometalk.com/diy/bedroom/furniture/queen-size-chevron-patterned-headboard-2946513 and www.hometalk.com/diy/decorate/walls/diy-recycled-framed-wood-wall-art-with-monogram-painted-and-stained-589592
  • Johnchip Johnchip on Dec 30, 2015
    Use to surface an insulated attic floor/ceiling or garage ceiling?? Or 'kindling'.
  • Grace Gleason Grace Gleason on Dec 30, 2015
    What kind of paneling? The thin, cheap type or the 1950s thick, pine type? If it's the thick type, cut it in half, paint it, and turn it into wainscoting in your dining or living room.
  • Darla Darla on Dec 30, 2015
    If the paneling's in good shape, you can always paint it or refinish with gel stain. Just throw away the fake ceiling tiles, but be careful - they might have asbestos in them.
  • Skyval Skyval on Dec 30, 2015
    If the acoustic tiles don't have asbestos ( how would you know ? ) , they can make cute bulletin boards covered in burlap .
  • Tobey McCool Tobey McCool on Dec 30, 2015
    usually you can tell the tiles will be asbestos by the age of them. If they were installed in the 1950's or 60's or before that, chances are they are asbestos. You can paint them and seal them, and leave them up. it is once you start removing them and you disturb them that the asbestos becomes a problem.
  • LD LD on Dec 30, 2015
    Fake ceiling tiles may contain asbestos in them, so be very careful in removing them, and in most cases should not be repurposed (http://homeguides.sfgate.com/down-ceiling-tiles-38687.html). If the wood paneling is the solid wood type, then by all means be careful in removing it for it could be used below a chair rail molding or used for creating storage cabinetry and such. That type of wood paneling is hard to come these days and it can always be sanded and restained or painted.
  • Dee Dee on Dec 30, 2015
    Before pulling, painting, or refurbishing those ceiling tiles have an expert examine them first. If they are a form of asbestos they are considered hazardous waste and usually are required to be removed by professionals. Better safe than sorry.
  • Kelli L. Milligan Kelli L. Milligan on Feb 19, 2021

    You can donate to Habitat.