Best material to use for closet walls?
September 12, 2013 4:53 AM Subscribe
What should we do to the walls of the walk-in closet in our new bedroom. They are currently half concrete and half cedar (sort of). We have a carpenter coming to build the closet part (shelves, bars, etc) and need to be ready by Oct. 2.
So, we moved into a new house about a month ago, and the previous owners basically didn't do anything to maximize the potential of the small-ish walk-in closet in the master bedroom. Once the cheap IKEA free-standing shelves and cheap hooks were removed, what we are left with is a very dirty carpet, one long concrete wall (painted lime green) and one long and one short wall with cedar* nailed to the studs (and also painted lime green).
We have a high-ish end carpenter/closet maker coming in in the beginning of October to maximize the space (double bars, a few shelves, etc). When he came over to do an estimate and see what would work, we asked him what would be the best material to use for the main (cedar) walls, and he said he could work with anything, including the existing monstrosity. But, it's really ugly. Not just the color, but painted cedar just looks like plywood, plus there is a huge exposed strip where they had a bar, which won't match up with what he will be doing, so we don't just want to patch and paint the whole thing.
So, we are open to how to fix it (and to hire the right person to do it - we are not handy people), but don't really know what to do. Our regular fix-it guy suggested we just paint everything white because "the clothes will cover it," but we do not want to do that, we want to build a great closet from the bottom up.
First, we are going to replace the carpet. It is unfortunately not hard wood underneath. Second, the relatively narrow width of the closet means that our carpenter will only be builing on the "cedar" side and back walls. So, we are going to just paint the concrete wall (maybe add some purse hooks or something).
So what we need is to figure out what to do with that wall. I immediately thought of getting someone to drywall it, which the closet guy said would be fine. He said he has a stud finder, so that wouldn't be a problem. Is this the best/only thing to do? What about wallpapering over the painted cedar? Would wallpaper stick? Is this a horrible idea for some carpentry reason I wouldn't know about? The closetmaker didn't mind the wallpaper idea - he was sort of noncommital and flexible at the same time.
We are having trouble understanding what type of person to call to talk about real options (e.g. the handyman we use suggested just painting over it, another contractor we know of doesn't do such small jobs, etc), much less get it scheduled. The closet-maker carpenter does not do the type of thing we need to get the wall ready.
Our priority is not to get this done cheaply, it's to do it right so that we can enjoy the expensive closet we are builing on the walls for a long time. So, any suggestions about actually what to do or what kind of person to pursue to get opinions/do the work are welcome and would be much appreciated. We are in Philadelphia.
*From my understanding (and what the closet guy said), this really isn't a "cedar closet," per se, in the desirable sense of the term (we do have a real cedar closet in the basement) because it's not a sealed environment, it's just a few pieces of cedar nailed to the studs in a closet.
So, we moved into a new house about a month ago, and the previous owners basically didn't do anything to maximize the potential of the small-ish walk-in closet in the master bedroom. Once the cheap IKEA free-standing shelves and cheap hooks were removed, what we are left with is a very dirty carpet, one long concrete wall (painted lime green) and one long and one short wall with cedar* nailed to the studs (and also painted lime green).
We have a high-ish end carpenter/closet maker coming in in the beginning of October to maximize the space (double bars, a few shelves, etc). When he came over to do an estimate and see what would work, we asked him what would be the best material to use for the main (cedar) walls, and he said he could work with anything, including the existing monstrosity. But, it's really ugly. Not just the color, but painted cedar just looks like plywood, plus there is a huge exposed strip where they had a bar, which won't match up with what he will be doing, so we don't just want to patch and paint the whole thing.
So, we are open to how to fix it (and to hire the right person to do it - we are not handy people), but don't really know what to do. Our regular fix-it guy suggested we just paint everything white because "the clothes will cover it," but we do not want to do that, we want to build a great closet from the bottom up.
First, we are going to replace the carpet. It is unfortunately not hard wood underneath. Second, the relatively narrow width of the closet means that our carpenter will only be builing on the "cedar" side and back walls. So, we are going to just paint the concrete wall (maybe add some purse hooks or something).
So what we need is to figure out what to do with that wall. I immediately thought of getting someone to drywall it, which the closet guy said would be fine. He said he has a stud finder, so that wouldn't be a problem. Is this the best/only thing to do? What about wallpapering over the painted cedar? Would wallpaper stick? Is this a horrible idea for some carpentry reason I wouldn't know about? The closetmaker didn't mind the wallpaper idea - he was sort of noncommital and flexible at the same time.
We are having trouble understanding what type of person to call to talk about real options (e.g. the handyman we use suggested just painting over it, another contractor we know of doesn't do such small jobs, etc), much less get it scheduled. The closet-maker carpenter does not do the type of thing we need to get the wall ready.
Our priority is not to get this done cheaply, it's to do it right so that we can enjoy the expensive closet we are builing on the walls for a long time. So, any suggestions about actually what to do or what kind of person to pursue to get opinions/do the work are welcome and would be much appreciated. We are in Philadelphia.
*From my understanding (and what the closet guy said), this really isn't a "cedar closet," per se, in the desirable sense of the term (we do have a real cedar closet in the basement) because it's not a sealed environment, it's just a few pieces of cedar nailed to the studs in a closet.
Best answer: You could wallpaper over the cedar if you first apply a level skimcoat of drywall mud. Or you could just paint that skimcoat. I would not bother wallpapering a walk-in closet because nobody looks at it, and the paper will get banged up in no time unless this is very static storage. Best and most durable solution is going to be drywall all around, with primer plus two coats of good semi-gloss paint.
posted by beagle at 5:23 AM on September 12, 2013
posted by beagle at 5:23 AM on September 12, 2013
Best answer: Yeah, I would use drywall as well. It is a small job but keep asking. If there is a house being built or renovated nearby you may be able to get hooked up with their drywall crew or something like that.
For the concrete side, if you don't drywall it then put more than a few hooks. Go crazy with them! A wall full of hooks would be great. I bet you'd use it more than the other side.
posted by dawkins_7 at 5:28 AM on September 12, 2013
For the concrete side, if you don't drywall it then put more than a few hooks. Go crazy with them! A wall full of hooks would be great. I bet you'd use it more than the other side.
posted by dawkins_7 at 5:28 AM on September 12, 2013
Best answer: As to who to call: ask around in your neighborhood for recommended "handyman" type contractors. There are plenty of them around who can do the basic drywall job. Your problem is going to be getting one to schedule it on such short notice.
posted by beagle at 5:28 AM on September 12, 2013
posted by beagle at 5:28 AM on September 12, 2013
Response by poster: Awesome, thanks, everyone. You all are (obviously) the best.
posted by Pax at 5:31 AM on September 12, 2013
posted by Pax at 5:31 AM on September 12, 2013
Cedar walls are a really good thing to have in a closet as they repel moths but the cedar will not work if it's painted.
posted by mareli at 7:02 AM on September 12, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by mareli at 7:02 AM on September 12, 2013 [2 favorites]
I don't know why others are recommending drywall/sheetrock over the cedar… cedar is a great material to have; as mareli mentioned above it repels moths and makes your clothing smell fresh even after storage. There are no real advantages to having sheetrock installed other than its relative simplicity and low cost.
Sand and rejuvenate the existing cedar wall, and have new cedar panels installed over the concrete walls. Ensure that you seal the concrete with a mildicide and moisture barrier coating first.
posted by a halcyon day at 8:16 AM on September 12, 2013
Sand and rejuvenate the existing cedar wall, and have new cedar panels installed over the concrete walls. Ensure that you seal the concrete with a mildicide and moisture barrier coating first.
posted by a halcyon day at 8:16 AM on September 12, 2013
I just came across this and it might be a neat thing to do on the concrete side. (I mean the shoe part).
posted by dawkins_7 at 12:06 PM on September 12, 2013
posted by dawkins_7 at 12:06 PM on September 12, 2013
Response by poster: Interesting,dawkins. The problem with most shoe racks of this style is that, as evidenced by the array of shoes, it really only works with heels (I have four pairs of running shoes).
posted by Pax at 1:18 PM on September 12, 2013
posted by Pax at 1:18 PM on September 12, 2013
Does the concrete wall need to be insulated? I'd be tempted to furr it out, put up rigid insulation and then cover it with drywall. Unless the concrete is very nice, it seems pretty unpleasant in a closet, cold and somewhat scratchy with the potential to crumble around your hooks.
As for the cedar side, you could pull those planks off, and get them planed or sanded...you might even be able to just flip them around -- the inside may be raw and quite nice. Sand if necessary and then let your closet guy go to town.
Don't forget adequate lighting!
posted by amanda at 3:10 PM on September 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
As for the cedar side, you could pull those planks off, and get them planed or sanded...you might even be able to just flip them around -- the inside may be raw and quite nice. Sand if necessary and then let your closet guy go to town.
Don't forget adequate lighting!
posted by amanda at 3:10 PM on September 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
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Drywalling can be done by any competent builder or contractor. Ask your carpenter if he knows a guy; ask your neighbours; ask your friends; as a last resort, browse Craigslist or Angie's List.
posted by DarlingBri at 5:02 AM on September 12, 2013 [1 favorite]