Dear James: I want to remodel my living room cathedral ceiling by changing it from drywall to decorative real wood. Can it just be nailed or screwed to the old ceiling? — Don M.

Dear Don: Natural and stained wood ceilings are very attractive and can dramatically change the decor of the room. A sloped cathedral ceiling is a good candidate for this because of its height. With standard flat, eight-foot ceilings, a plain white drywall ceiling can make the room seem brighter and larger than a darker natural wood ceiling.

You might also consider installing a skylight at the same time. Once you have the scaffolding set up and all the tools out, it is not difficult to install a skylight in a cathedral ceiling. You won't have to build a lightwell between the ceiling and the roof as you would with a flat ceiling. The light from the skylight will also help offset the darker wood ceiling.

Before beginning your project, it is important to make sure the area above the existing drywall ceiling has adequate ventilation. There should be soffit vents and a ridge or several vents near the peak of the roof. If it does not, add them. This can be done from outdoors without disturbing the existing ceiling.

The need for adequate ventilation is to eliminate moisture buildup between the roof and the ceiling during the winter. During the summer, the ventilation will also reduce heat buildup in the roofing and rafters. This moisture and heat buildup does not harm drywall to a great extent, but it can be a problem for a decorative wood ceiling.

You have many types of wood from which to choose and your budget will be the primary factor in your decision. Selecting a less expensive type of wood, as opposed to cherry for example, and staining it might be your best option. Make sure to finish the surface of the wood before installing it on the ceiling. This is less messy than painting overhead and you can touch up any spots later.

Installing tongue-and-groove wood is probably your best choice for a do-it-yourself project. Nails are driven through the tongue edge of one piece and then the groove in the next piece will cover the nail holes. Bevel the edge of the first piece at the proper angle so it fits flush against the wall without a gap.

Don't just nail the wood to the drywall. Purchase an inexpensive electronic stud finder at your hardware store. You will use it for many future interior projects. Run it along the existing drywall ceiling and mark the locations of each side the ceiling joists. Use a chalk like and snap a line showing the centerline of each joist. You will drive the nails along these center lines.

Here is a useful tip. When working with tongue-and-groove lumber, the groove does not always slide easily over the tongue of the adjacent piece. Make a hammering block from a one-foot piece of scrap lumber. Place the groove over the tongue edge of stubborn pieces and hammer on this block. This avoids damaging the actual piece of ceiling wood.

Send your questions to Here's How, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit www.dulley.com. To find out more about James Dulley and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.