How to Build Faux Wood Ceiling Beams

Faux wood ceiling beams impart a glorious appearance to the room. You may find it challenging to distinguish the best quality polyurethane replica beams from the genuine natural wood beams, as they appear almost identical. The polyurethane faux wood finish beams are available in a variety of shapes and pre-finished shades.

Plan where you'd like to fix wood beams. The beams have a U cross section, open at the top. The open top of the beams will sit against the ceiling. These beams are much lighter than wood, and can be installed single handed. However, it is better to have another person to help you move them. They can be cut by a normal wood saw. Fix them to the ceiling with the help of screws and an adhesive.

Follow these steps to easily install the ceiling beams.

Materials and Tools:

  • Polyurethane beams
  • Wood filler
  • Mounting blocks 2x4
  • Anchors
  • Wood screws
  • Chalk lines
  • Construction adhesive
  • Power drill
  • Woodworking saw
  • Miter saw
  • Measuring tape
  • Bevel protractor

Step 1- Cutting Matching Blocks for the Beam:

Measure the inner width of the beams to be installed with a tape measure then cut the 2x4 blocks to fit inside the beam. You have to fix the blocks at every 3 to 4 feet inside the beam.

Step 2 - Marking the Block Locations:

Mark on ceiling the positions where the beam is to be fixed using chalk lines. Use can also use painter’s tape strips.

Step 3- Fixing the Blocks in Ceiling:

Fix the 2x4 wood block on the line marks made on the ceiling, about 4 feet apart. Use a power drill and masonry drill bit to drill into ceiling. Fix the blocks with anchors. Remove the painter’s tape or wipe off the chalk lines.

Instead of fixing the block directly to the ceiling, you can fix ceiling posts with anchors. The wood block can be fixed to ceiling post with the screws easily.

Step 4- Marking the Beam for Cutting:

Check the angle between wall and ceiling with a bevel protractor. It may not be 90 degrees. Transfer this angle on the protractor for adjusting the beam. If the beam length is more than the distance between walls, keep it about 1/8 inches extra for a tight fit.

Step 5- Cutting the Beam to Length:

Smoothly cut the beam to its required length, with a sharp woodworking saw, or a miter saw. Dry-fit the beam between the walls, to ensure that the length is correct.

Step 6- Fixing the Beam:

Apply the adhesive on the inside of the open top edges of the beam. This will prevent adhesive from squeezing out from beam. Slide the beam over the wood blocks fixed in the ceiling. Press it to touch the ceiling. Fix the beam to the blocks with screws on each side. Counter sink the screws. Allow the adhesive harden. Cut the adhesive with a sharp blade, if it squeezed out at any place.

Step 7- Hiding the Screws:

Fill the screw holes with filler putty of matching faux finish color to hide the screw holes.The beams can be fixed in different patterns to give appearance of solid beams like trusses.