Constructing and Putting in a Large Fake Beam on the Ceiling#Constructing #Putting in #Large #Fake #Beam #Ceiling

Once I white washed the ceilings, I needed to resolve the way to cowl the ridge the place the rows of planks from either side of the room ended. I didn’t even try to make them match them up completely and miter them collectively. I thought-about two choices: a easy flat trim or an enormous fake beam. Although I feel the straightforward flat trim would have completed the ceiling properly I went with a wooden beam look.

I knew I used to be going to misery the heck out of my beam to make it appear to be a very outdated wooden beam so I bought the worst wanting plywood sheathing I may discover. Sheets with numerous cracks and knots. Coincidentally that sheathing was additionally the most cost effective in order that was a fortunate bonus. (Not stress handled) 

My beam is extraordinarily giant to be proportional to the peak and scale of the room. Utilizing 8’ lengthy sheets of plywood, I needed to construct 4 sections to cowl your complete size of my ceiling. 

My beam is about 12” tall by 12” extensive. (11 1/2 x 11 1/2 to be exact with the intention to maximize materials.) There are three sides per beam part so it took 3 sheets of sheathing to construct 4 sections.

Constructing a Fake Beam

First, I used my monitor noticed to tear down every sheet into strips. It’s actually tough to push a full sheet of plywood by means of a desk noticed. I tried to bevel the strips with my monitor noticed however determined it will be best to only rip strips after which use the desk noticed to bevel the edges.

Solely the underside NEEDED to be beveled on each side however I needed to have the ability to type my items into the perfect matches after I  went to construct them so I stored all my choices open by beveling all sides. It gained’t matter that the ends that meet the ceiling are beveled as a result of that gained’t be seen.

Due to the scale of the beam and the crappiness of the wooden, I needed to hug the mission to carry items collectively till I may safe them with nails.

I added cleats to the within of every beam for energy and help, ensuring they had been no less than 4 inches down from the highest in order that they wouldn’t intervene with the nailer plate I ultimately used to put in them.

Painter’s tape helped shut up the mitered joints however the wooden was fairly flexible and warped, so I needed to drive the seams shut up in just a few areas.

Every part of fake beam I constructed slightly bit totally different, making an attempt to make the method simpler than the earlier one proved to be. Construct one part and set it apart to dry/set- after which begin one other one, and one other…

Distressing the Wooden

After the glue dried, I used a scraper to take away extra glue and to begin to misery the beam. I scraped the corners to take away the sharpness and make them look outdated and worn.

Any cracks I may see mild by means of, I added glue after which smushed sawdust into the cracks.

After that, I used a grinder with a wire sanding wheel and a wooden cutter blade and obtained creative. I scraped, sanded, nicked, reduce, dinged, and simply beat it up till I favored the way it appeared.

I wore a full face respirator, gloves and a protracted sleeve shirt as a result of wooden chips had been flying in every single place!

I didn’t even trouble to take away all of the stamped ink as a result of I favored the added character.

Staining and Ending

I introduced out an assortment of stain colours, all water primarily based so I may combine and match. My course of was: apply one product right here, one other factor over there, mix them collectively. Unfold one thing else round, add a unique one thing and let it dry. Then come again to it later and add extra.

I grabbed a bit of an precise outdated beam I introduced again from Idaho and set it on the desk subsequent to me for inspiration.

Regardless of my chaotic course of, I attempted to verify all 4 sections of the beam had the identical look.

The sections of beam had been truly fairly light-weight and I carried all of them upstairs myself. Nevertheless, in my view, they look like huge, heavy blocks of wooden.

Putting in a Fake Wooden Beam

Terry and I constructed nailer cleats out of 8 foot sections of 1/2 inch plywood and 2x2s. We prolonged the 2x2s off one finish of the plywood, leaving a naked part of plywood on the opposite finish. This allowed us to attach every part to the final, as we put in them. Having one, steady nailer plate, relatively than 4 sections made it simpler to maintain the entire thing straight as we put in it throughout the lengthy span.

We marked the middle line of the nailer plate and the placement of our ceiling helps.

As soon as we arrange a laser line on the middle of the ceiling, it was straightforward preserve out nailer plates centered as we secured them to the ceiling bracing with heavy responsibility lag screws.

On the primary part, we reduce off the portion of unsupported plywood and hooked up it to the ceiling with the 2x2s extending out. Every part after that match collectively like puzzle items.

The naked plywood ends had been secured to the 2x2s from the earlier part, centerlines aligned, then lag screws pushed into the ceiling bracing.

The nailer plate gave us an entire, steady, strong backing onto which we may safe the fake beam.

This room just isn’t 32 toes extensive so 4 8 foot sections of beam was an excessive amount of. Reasonably than having three 8 foot sections after which one quick one, we reduce all 4 sections into equal elements that may span the size of the room.

The beam straddles the nailer plate, then we used 2 1/2 inch building screws to drive by means of the plywood and into the nailer plate.

Working across the uncovered HVAC ducting required some uncomfortable physique positioning and I wasn’t sturdy sufficient to drive the screws in whereas contorting and standing on my tippy toes so Terry needed to do these. Heehee

We labored our manner alongside the ceiling and it was a fairly straightforward course of aside from awkward physique positioning and going up and down the scaffolding 100 occasions. Terry and I put in the nailer plate and the beam in sooner or later.

Hiding the Seams with Fake Steel Brackets

I lined the seams (the place the beam sections met one another) with fake steel brackets that I made out of quarter inch plywood. They’re not nice close-up, however at 20 toes up you may’t see particulars. You most likely wouldn’t have even recognized they weren’t steel brackets If I hadn’t proven you this image. 🙂

I nonetheless must trim out the opposite half of the ceiling, AND paint the opposite half of the steel beam, however then the ceiling will likely be completed!

I’m pleased with how my large fake beam turned out and much more pleased that I can cross it off the checklist as “done”.