A Beam, or Not a Beam?

Beams,whether hand hewn or sawn, are one of our most popular items. We have a huge inventory that includes dozens of species and sizes, from a wide range of eras.  Despite our diverse selection, we don't always have the exact match for our customers' needs.

Can you tell which of these beams are solid, fabricated, old or new wood?

When choosing beams for your project, there are many things to think about.  One important consideration is the weight of the beam, especially if you want to affix it to your ceiling.  Choosing a solid beam may not be the best choice since some of them can weigh upwards of 1000 lbs.  Our craftsmen have several solutions for this common problem.

One such solution is to fabricate a ceiling beam using veneer that is "sliced" from the outside of an existing beam.  Another method is "hogging out" the beam.  We hollow out the beam leaving the original outer character of three sides intact.  Hogging out is a good method to use when one side of the beam is less than attractive, but when using material that is antique and full of character, some would agree that it is wasteful.

Hogged out Beams

Another solution to the weight issue would be to hew beams from a lighter species of wood.  We did just that for a customer in Texas who was going for a "Tuscan" look.  We used white pine beams and some good old fashioned elbow grease to produce exactly the look he wanted.

Hand Hewing at our facility

Although most of our clientele prefers the old, rustic look, it's not for everyone.  Some people prefer a cleaner, more finished look.  For those tastes, we sand the surface smooth, and then either stain it to show off the natural grain, or paint the exterior.

Fabricated Ceiling Beams Painted White

Another popular use of beams is a vertical application, whether to be used as a true structural component, or to create the illusion of one.  Either way, beams are just beautiful when used in this manner.  Most of the time, weight is not as much of an issue, so a solid antique beam can be used.  There are so many unique characteristics in these old beams.  The farmers usually used mortise and tenon joinery, so often, there will be a beautiful mortise hole to show off.

Reclaimed Beam with Original Mortise Hole

In keeping with our philosophy of green building, we find a way to make use of almost every piece of wood we rescue.  One way we do this is to use the leftover beam veneer as a wall application.  It is easy to create a log cabin effect on the interior of your home using beam veneer.  Simply affix the material to the wall and fill with chinking, or any other material to resemble the chinking that was used to seal off the spaces between the logs in the old days.

Hand Hewn Beam Veneer Wall Application

From a single beam to an entire structure, we will help to make your ideas come to life!

Steve is always in the mood to talk about wood!  Give him a shout...855-676-4220