Tiki Bar Ceiling - Need Advice Quickly!!!!

I am in the midst of rebuilding my Tiki bar, which burned down about 6 months ago. I am now considering the ceiling. I was planning on putting up Luan covered with Seagrass matting and then criss crossing it with Bamboo poles. This idea comes from what I think to be the construction I see in various pictures on the web.

Can anyone offer anything better for an idea with regard to materials or configuration?

I also need advice on how to criss cross the poles. I assume you just notch them to fit and then join them at the crosspoints by wrapping with rope or something, right?

I could use some help here...

Thanks,
Russ

Follow the link in this post:
http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=16725&forum=18&vpost=189585

Start scrolling through the photos and you'll see some good ceiling details. No notching needed for great looking results.

Paint it ultra-white like Bamboo Ben does all his jobs.

Looks like thatch gathered together above the poles. Can I buy thatch like that in preconstructed panels? What about fire retardant? It seems to me that thatch all over a ceiling like that would just be one giant fire waiting to happen. Do most people get fire retardant sprayed on afterwards or buy the thatch pre-treated?

This picture shows my ceiling and I think it is what you are talking about doing.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/105/303214979_a8a50fca86.jpg

The bamboo is not notched on mine. If you want a closer picture of detail let me know and I will take one. This was here when I bought the house so I am not sure how it was done. I can tell there is brown paper like stuff under it all. It was all put up by the original owners of my '62 ranch house.

http://www.flamestop.com

On 2007-11-29 11:09, catmomma wrote:
This picture shows my ceiling and I think it is what you are talking about doing.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/105/303214979_a8a50fca86.jpg

The bamboo is not notched on mine. If you want a closer picture of detail let me know and I will take one. This was here when I bought the house so I am not sure how it was done. I can tell there is brown paper like stuff under it all. It was all put up by the original owners of my '62 ranch house.

you bought a house with a tiki bar already in it???

Nice score!!!

On 2007-11-29 11:06, pablus wrote:

Paint it ultra-white like Bamboo Ben does all his jobs.

Oh No!!! Not the "ultra white" celing thing again. That's too funny! I did mine with half poles as my celing is only 8'. I used rope and a hot glue gun to make "faux lashing" around the cut joints in the bamboo. The woven matting I got from http://www.tikibosko.com and it worked great.
http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?mode=viewtopic&topic=24891&forum=1&start=0

[ Edited by: Tiki Bill 2007-11-29 15:38 ]

you bought a house with a tiki bar already in it???

Nice score!!!

Yeah I got this house almost 5 years ago and it is pretty much untouched 1962 greatness. The realtor kept apologizing for the "outdated" interior but I had to tell her that is exactly WHY I was interested in this house. Knotty pine and formica kitchen, 20x20 foot tiki room, pool, mirrored walls and daisies on the livingroom tile floor. I was in love then and still am :wink:

Semi-Gloss 'Ultra White' Ceiling Paint !!!!!
2 coats should do it :>

Thanks to one and all for your responses. Bamboo Ben - that is the perfect link. I have already contacted them.

Now what is all this talk of Ultra White painting. Is that an inside joke or something?

I found all the thatch I need for the ceiling but the panels seems to come as loose thatch gathered at the bottom. How does one turn these into useable ceiling panels? I guess this is where I ask for a tutorial or where I can find it. I am pretty good with basic construction but I have to admit that I am fumbling around in the dark with a lot of this stuff. I pleaded a few months back for someone in and around New York to come out to Long Island for a fee and help me. The only response I got was from a fella named "Tiki Kev". After offering to pay him every penny of his asking price for the job and then praising him up and down for the effort - he stopped e-mailing me or returning my calls quite mysteriously. All my efforts to get assistance here have been wasted and, believe me, I have tried! So...now I am doing this myself (so I know I am working with someone I can trust)!

It will wind up being my own interpretation of what a Tiki Bar should look like but at least this forum has given me lots of great ideas and I think I will be proud when it's all over.

-Russ

You don't need to use thatching for the ceiling. This ceiling in the photo below uses lauhala matting.

Here's a closer look:

My local supplier is these guys: http://www.amazuluinc.com/. Their major clients are Disney World, Seaworld, Universal Studios and Busch Gardens, so you know it's quality stuff. I found them to be a pleasure to work with. Even easier than using matting on the ceiling is to use their ceiling tiles or their decorative boards. I have used their woven bamboo plywood on a ceiling and it cuts easy and adheres simply with liquid nails. And since it's stiff, it won't sag like matting. You can then trim it out with either full or half-round bamboo, which they also have. Their half-round bamboo trim saves loads of time trying to split it yourself and goes up easy with a brad nail gun and some liquid nails. As far as I know, they ship everywhere. They will also send you samples if you ask.

Oh, and the white ceiling thing is a joke that started some time ago in another thread. I believe it has now exceeded its mileage, gone past its warranty period, and is over its "best used by" date.