8 Best Materials to Replace RV Ceiling Panels

The joy of touring the country in your RV is enhanced by having a beautiful and effective ceiling. Fortunately, there are several ceiling options to choose from and they include:

Wood panels
Metal panels
Fabric Panels
PVC or Vinyl Panels
Styrofoam and Plastic Panels
Fiberglass Panels
Stencils
Paneling

Let’s have a glance at each option:

1. Wood Panels

Wood offers a better alternative when thinking of replacing your RV ceiling. Why? It gives you an array of options to choose from.

You can opt for tongue-and-groove wood planks, plywood, wooden panels, false beams, etc. With such a wide variety of selections available to you, you can get a design that matches your budget and carpentry skills.

More often than not, buyers tend to opt for plywood because of its cost-effectiveness. It is also easier to cut and shape to suit almost any design specifications.

Better yet, you can paint or stain it to get achieve any specific look.

Sadly though, plywood is more vulnerable to water damage than most other woods, so you’d need to examine your ceiling once in a while for leaks and correct them as fast as you can.

Also, keep in mind that plywood catches fire quite easily, so you’ll need to have to be careful with wiring and other fire hazards.

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2. Metal Panels

Metal ceilings are slowly gaining popularity as one of the priority ceiling options for recreation vehicles.

Not only is it elegant, but it is also durable and will save you a lot of money on maintenance costs. Perhaps the most cited advantage of metal panels is the ease of installing them, all you need to do is nail them in place.

While they are resistant to leaks, you’ll need to make repairs on your RV’s roof to prevent your roof from rusting in the future.

Having metal as your ceiling means you won’t have to contend with ugly cracks and similar issues that come with age.

Better yet, you can paint it as easily as you would with plywood to meet your design specifications. It is also easy to clean and doesn’t absorb odors or moisture.

If you want to hide the imperfections o your RV’s ceiling, you’d most likely want to do so with low maintenance and fire-resistant metal panels.

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3. Fabric Panels

Fabric panels are quite unpopular but can be a great alternative to any RV owner looking for a cheap and easy to install ceiling solution.

You just need an adhesive or glue and you’ll easily stick them on your RV ceiling.

They are warmer to glance at when lying on your bed provides superb insulation. And if you like shooting videos or recording podcasts in your RV, you’ll appreciate their sound enhancement properties.

There is a relatively larger variety of options to select from. Very much like metal panels, they are a great choice if you want to hide the imperfections of your ceiling.

The bad side of fabric panels is their high vulnerability to fire and water leaks. They are also harder to clean when compared to most other ceiling options. Fabric panels are incredibly good at absorbing moisture and odors.

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4. PVC or Vinyl Tiles

They are a better option if you are looking for a combination of beauty and durability in one RV ceiling solution.

This material’s durability is one of the reasons why manufacturers like to install it by default in areas prone to high humidity such as kitchen and bathroom areas.

Vinyl also comes handy when you want to install a custom ceiling, a quality that makes it common in high-end RVs.

They stand up to wear and tear relatively well when compared to fiberglass, wood, and fiberglass. Except for being vulnerable to fire hazards, it is impressively waterproof and easier to clean.

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5. Styrofoam and Plastic Panels

Styrofoam or plastic RV ceiling is lightweight on your RV and delivers similar benefits you would get from other popular options.

They are less of trouble; you can easily cut them with scissors of a sharp blade and stick them on your clean ceiling with glue.

When installed properly, they can last longer and hide numerous ceiling sins. Cleaning them is easier too, all you need is a moist piece of cloth and appropriate soap.

But they aren’t as durable as PVC/Vinyl or Metal and can turn ugly especially in the kitchen area where they are more exposed to smoke.

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6. Fiberglass

Very much like plastic, Fiberglass panels are thin and lightweight and can be easily installed using recommended glue. They are also durable, easy to clean, and waterproof. However, their performance depends on the conditions of your ceiling. So you’ll need to clean and prepare your ceiling properly before installing them.

7. Stencils

Stencil ceilings can be made from any material but have beautiful patterns engraved in them to improve the appearance of your RV ceiling. Their pros and cons depend on the material of manufacture.

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8. Paneling

The paneling option comes in multiple colors and patterns. You can also paint it as you wish to improve the look of the patterns. It is similar to plywood in most aspects. Again, you’ll need to prepare the surface appropriately before installing them.