Interiors · Walls & ceilings
Walls and ceilings with warmth where it counts
Walls and ceilings set the feel of every room. Most surfaces are smooth painted drywall; wood is where you add warmth, like a tongue-and-groove ceiling over the great room or a paneled mudroom. Mix them to suit each space.
Every option is compared on the same five things:
Your options
Pick the finish for each space
Relative cost compares the installed finish per square foot. Most homes mix them: drywall in most rooms, wood where it shows off.
Smooth painted drywall
Smooth, painted drywall is the standard in most rooms: clean, bright, and easy to repaint when you want a new color. Our drywall crew finishes it smooth and ready for paint.
- Look / Style
- Clean, smooth, painted
- Maintenance
- Low
- Lifespan
- Life of the house; repaint as you like
- Relative Cost
- $
- Best For
- Most walls and ceilings
Why people pick it
- Most affordable wall and ceiling finish
- Easy to repaint and patch
- Suits any style
Trade-offs
- Low, raking light can show faint joints on long walls
- Dings show more than on wood
Textured drywall
A light texture sprayed on before paint gives walls a soft, hand-finished look and hides small flaws.
- Look / Style
- Soft, hand-finished texture
- Maintenance
- Low
- Lifespan
- Life of the house; repaint as you like
- Relative Cost
- $
- Best For
- Rustic or traditional rooms; hiding imperfections
Why people pick it
- Hides small dents and joint lines
- Softer, rustic feel
Trade-offs
- Patches are hard to blend in
- Harder to wipe clean
Tongue-and-groove wood ceiling
Pine, fir, or cedar boards that lock edge to edge make a warm, natural ceiling. It's our most popular showcase finish, especially over a vaulted great room or an entry.
- Look / Style
- Warm natural wood
- Maintenance
- Low
- Lifespan
- Life of the house
- Relative Cost
- $$$
- Best For
- Vaulted great rooms, entries, accent ceilings
Why people pick it
- Warm, natural character
- Beautiful over vaulted ceilings
- Installed by our own crew
Trade-offs
- Costs more than drywall in material and labor
- Wood darkens or ambers with light over time
Board paneling & shiplap
Wide boards on the walls, painted or natural: shiplap, board-and-batten, or vertical boards. A great accent wall, or a tough wainscot in a mudroom or entry.
- Look / Style
- Textured boards, painted or natural
- Maintenance
- Low
- Lifespan
- Life of the house
- Relative Cost
- $$
- Best For
- Accent walls, mudrooms, wainscot
Why people pick it
- Adds texture and character
- Stands up to boots and bags as wainscot
Trade-offs
- Costs more than drywall
- Painted joints can show hairline gaps as wood moves
Plywood panels
Sanded plywood such as Baltic birch or fir, clear-finished with crisp gaps between the sheets. A clean, modern look for walls and ceilings in studios, shops, and mudrooms.
- Look / Style
- Modern panels with reveals
- Maintenance
- Low
- Lifespan
- Life of the house
- Relative Cost
- $$$
- Best For
- Modern interiors, studios, shops, mudrooms
Why people pick it
- Modern, clean lines
- Tough, and you can hang things almost anywhere
Trade-offs
- Panel layout has to be planned around windows and outlets
- Shows scratches
Side by side
| Tag | Smooth painted drywall | Textured drywall | Tongue-and-groove wood ceiling | Board paneling & shiplap | Plywood panels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Look / Style | Clean, smooth, painted | Soft, hand-finished texture | Warm natural wood | Textured boards, painted or natural | Modern panels with reveals |
| Maintenance | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low |
| Lifespan | Life of the house; repaint as you like | Life of the house; repaint as you like | Life of the house | Life of the house | Life of the house |
| Relative Cost | $ | $ | $$$ | $$ | $$$ |
| Best For | Most walls and ceilings | Rustic or traditional rooms; hiding imperfections | Vaulted great rooms, entries, accent ceilings | Accent walls, mudrooms, wainscot | Modern interiors, studios, shops, mudrooms |
Every Bedrock home
How we build it
Drywall and paint are done by local crews we schedule and check; all wood ceilings and paneling are installed by our own crew.
Drywall checked, then finished smooth
A local drywall crew hangs and finishes the walls after we've sealed the house and walked it with you to check blocking. Walls are finished smooth unless you choose a texture or wood.
Checked before it's covered: blocking, insulation, air sealing
Smooth walls ready for paint
Paint: your colors
Our painting crew primes and paints the walls, ceilings, and any painted trim and doors. You pick the colors; we recommend low-odor paint and a wipeable finish in kitchens, baths, and mudrooms.
You choose every color
Low-odor paint for healthy indoor air
FAQ
Common questions
Is a tongue-and-groove wood ceiling worth it?
Over a vaulted great room or an entry, many owners say it's the finish they love most. It costs more than drywall in material and labor, so most homes use it where it shows off and keep drywall elsewhere.
What does Level 4 drywall mean?
It's how smooth the drywall is finished before paint. Level 4 is the standard smooth finish for painted walls. Level 5 adds a thin skim coat over the whole surface, for glossy paint or walls lit by low, raking light.
Who paints the house?
A professional painting crew we work with regularly. You choose the colors, and we schedule the painters between drywall and the final trim and flooring.
Want to see these in person?
We'll bring samples to your site during pre-construction and price the finishes on your plans.