Ceiling Beams Glossary Of Terms

Wood Beams: Wood Beams are ceiling beams manufactured from elegant hardwoods. Authentic Wood Beams are available in a number of both contemporary and antique styles. While listed in standard sizes, wood beams may be customized to include the addition of a fourth side. Due to their box design, they are relatively lightweight and easily manageable for a two-man installation. Wood beams come unfinished and are readily stained or primed. Not intended for structural applications; architectural use only.

Faux Beams: Faux Beams are ceiling beams manufactured out of high-density polyurethane. They are replicas of real beams and have the authentic look of wood, the performance of urethane and come in standard sizes and styles. Most faux beams have a three-sided box design, while select models are available in four-sided designs. Faux beams come factory primed and are readily paintable or stainable unless otherwise noted. Not intended for structural applications; architectural use only.

Faux Corbels : Faux Corbels are manufactured out of high-density polyurethane. With the authentic look of timber, corbels project from the face of a wall or under an eave, large cornice or ceiling beam.

Faux Straps : Faux Straps are manufactured form synthetic materials, primarily rubber, and have an authentic faux steel appearance. Beam straps vary in appearance from smooth steel to molded bolts to a hammered, weathered appearance.

Cleats: Cleats are furred strips of wood that are laid out along joists and secured to them with screws. Cleats allow for the attachment of faux wood beams to the ceiling.

High Density Polyurethane: High-Density polyurethane is an expanded polyurethane foam (not EPS or Styrofoam) possessing remarkable strength, rigidity and durability. Polyurethane has a closed cell structure which imparts its maintenance free properties- does not absorb water and resists both insects and decay. It may be finished with the water/oil based coating of choice. The average density is similar to that of white pine. Crisp details are achieved when the polyurethane is injected into encased moulds of handcrafted products.

Box Beams: Box beams are three sided beams available in polyurethane or wood, and are nearly indistinguishable from solid timber. The hollow box design provides a means of hiding unsightly beams, pipes, conduit and wiring. An added benefit to the box beam design is the dramatic reduction in product weight allowing for easier handling and more versatile installation locations.

Hand Hewn: Hand-Hewing is an arduous manual technique used to shape and form timber using heavy blows of an ax, adze & chisel. Aside from splits and cross-grain tear-out, hand-hewn beams are quite rustic and exhibit many aspects of rough timber. This method was used in early-American times before water-powered sawmills were accessible.

Hand Planed: Hand-Planing is an arduous manual technique used to refine the surface of timber using a hand-planar. Hand-planed wood beams exhibit an undulated, smooth surface. The many depressions offer an antiqued character. Hand-planed ceiling beams are more refined than hand-hewn and rustic.

Sawmill: Rough-Sawn wood beams are re-sawn and squared. They retain the teeth marks of the saw, have a rough texture and exhibit a refined rustic character in comparison to hand-hewn.

Rustic: Timber that exhibits natural distress as you would find in fallen timber.

Weathered: Weathered timber has an aged feel similar to sandblasted timber.

Alpine: This ceiling beam is an authentic looking pine beam with beaded (routed) outer edges. The style is comparable to that of timber used in chalets and cabins.

Tahoe: Hand-hewn rustic beam with a deep wood grain texture and a bold southwest feeling.

Mesa: Subtle wood grain texture with a rich, authentic southwestern appearance.

Cedar: Authentic ceiling beam with a cedar-like grain pattern.

Old Barn: Capture the essence of a hand-hewn timber, creating the ambience of old world charm.

Majestic: Stunning wood grain appearance, including knots and texture that all wood exhibit.

Vintage Wood Beams: Vintage wood beams are surfaced, sanded smooth and squared. They exhibit the quaint, refined character of our beautiful hardwoods.

Hand Planed Wood Beams: Hand-Planed wood beams exhibit an undulated, smooth surface. The many depressions offer an antiqued character.

Rough Sawn Wood Beams: Rough-Sawn wood beams are re-sawn and squared. They retain the teeth marks of the saw, have a rough texture and exhibit a refined rustic character in comparison to hand-hewn.

Routed Edge Wood Beams: Routed-edge wood beams are surfaced, sanded smooth and square. The edges are adorned with a beaded round-over profile with ½” radius.

Recessed Panel Wood Beams: Recessed-panel wood beams exhibit an embossed profile that remains graceful.

Decorative Edge Wood Beams: In addition to the embossed profile, Decorative-edge wood beams exhibit a decorative edge embellished with a beaded profile.

Contemporary: Smooth with a recessed panel face. The upper edge is adorned with a quaint bed moulding.