Category: Architectural Product Blog – Design Tips, Inspiration, Industry Trends

Benefits of Flexible Moulding

Posted on by Paul Birkhead

As a home owner, there are many ways to upgrade finishes to increase the value of your home. One of the easiest ways to do this is to install interior moulding, which can make any space look more polished and appealing. While you may think that moulding can only be installed on straight walls and architectural features, flexible moulding products make applying trim around arched windows, doors, ceilings and curved walls a cinch. Here are three benefits to choosing a trim that molds to the shape of your home.

  1. Flexibility Although this is an obvious benefit, the advantages of flexibility are far reaching. If you have a curved window or doorway, a radius wall, a curved mantle, or any other non-straight surface in your home, a bendable trim product allows you to easily finish these areas.
  1. Wide Selection The options for this type of moulding are endless! There are so many size, shape, style, and color selections available, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the selection you have to choose from. This type of moulding is available in chair rail, casing and baseboard trim, and there are a wide variety of crown molding options, as well. You can achieve any one of an endless number of truly custom looks with this remarkable product.
  1. Durability Flexile trim is extremely durable. While it is stiff enough to maintain straight lines, it is also flexible enough to accommodate most curves. It can be painted or stained to achieve any look. It can be sanded, cut, and nailed into just as real wood can. It can be used indoors or outdoors, and unlike real wood moulding, it is impervious to moisture, heat and cold.

Choosing flexible moulding is a great way to give all areas of your home the polished and upgraded look of trim. Whether installed around a curved wall, window or doorway, this bendable product can enable you to carry your trim throughout your home. It can also suit any design concept or look as it comes in thousands of color and style options. Not only is flexible trim stunning, it is also durable and long lasting. Call 602.258.7373 now for more information about the benefits of flexible moulding from Volterra Architectural Products.

Create a Dramatic Effect With Exposed Ceiling Beams

Posted on by Paul Birkhead

Have you been looking for an affordable way to transform the look of your home? One of the most dramatic style elements you can incorporate into your home is exposed ceiling beams. Not only do they draw the eye upward, giving the impression of extra space, they also add warmth and texture to any room. Here are a few design ideas to consider when shopping for ceiling beams.

Beams That Make Scale Sense

With so many size, texture, and finish options for wood ceiling beams, it may be difficult to decide which look to choose. One guiding principle to help in your selection is scale. A smaller room with lower ceilings may be better suited for lighter, smaller beams to help promote the feeling of space and openness. Beams with dark finishes may make a small room feel closed in. Larger rooms or rooms with vaulted ceilings may accommodate darker, more dramatic beams without closing in the space.

Styles Galore

When you think of exposed ceiling beams, you may envision straight, rectangular beams that run across a ceiling. While these standard beams are beautiful, there are so many more options to choose from to make the space unique. Some of these include corbel-cut end beams (which is a style of beam that includes a decorative structural support on either end of each beam), U-shaped beams, and arched beams.

Go Faux

There are some noteworthy reasons to choose faux wood beams for your home. Not only are they less expensive, they are also easier to transport and install. They weigh considerably less than real wood beams and, therefore, put less strain on the structure of a ceiling. Many types of faux wood are just as durable and have the same detail and look as real wood.

Beams for Any Room

Ceiling beams can be beautiful additions to any space in your home—the kitchen, family room, dining room, entry way, etc. They can make spaces appear bigger while lending a cozy, rustic feel to the room. There are many textures, finishes and materials to choose from to create a look that is uniquely yours. Call 602.258.7373 today for information about the many styles and sizes of faux ceiling beams available at Volterra.

Faux Wood Beams for Minimum Maintenance and Maximum Efficiency

Posted on by Paul Birkhead

The modern house is a marvel of architectural advancement, able to sustain life, technology, age, and an incredible amount of weight. Ceilings and walls decorated with accessories like chandeliers and ceiling fans or with functional speakers or sprinkler heads look much more clean when wires can be hidden within hollow faux beams. As any professional contractor knows, wires, cables, even unsightly structural beams can be difficult to hide.  Using beams can add a decorative flair while providing a useful function. Smart homes with automated security and in-home sound and entertainment often have extensive equipment and wiring that needs to be hidden. U-shaped faux beams can hide internal wires, and fixtures can be installed directly onto the surface of the beam. Another advantage of the faux beam is that it is excellent for indoor or outdoor applications because it is resistant to many of the factors that wear down natural wood products, such as weather, moisture, heat, insects and rot which can cause warping and breakage. If you are considering implementing faux beams into the building of a house, you should only trust the experts with the finest materials, such as Volterra Architectural Products. Volterra manufactures faux wood beams that are made from high-density polyurethane foam, all of which are created to duplicate the beauty and fine details of natural wood beams. The material used to build these beams ensures that each and every one is of the highest possible quality.  Additionally, the installation process is easy, even for novice do-it-yourselfers. Their catalog includes standard beams, box beams, arched beams, and decorative beams, along with planks and corbels to match. All of these fixtures are reasonably priced and require little to no maintenance, allowing you to focus on more urgent matters. These faux wood goods are created for residential and commercial building, and the natural look they imitate guarantees universal application, regardless of the details. If you are interested in purchasing faux beams, call Volterra Architectural Products at 602.258.7373 today.

Are Faux Wood Trusses Right For Your Home?

Posted on by Paul Birkhead

While vaulted ceilings can add an old-world charm and grand appeal that makes any room more striking, they can also come across as outdated and feel like a huge waste of space. If you have a room inside of your home with an open area ceiling, you may have already wondered if there is anything that you can do to add character to the otherwise unused space. Faux wood trusses are a great way to add rustic charm that is both timeless and eye-catching in an otherwise uninteresting ceiling space.

At Volterra Architectural Products, we are a leading manufacturer of faux wood trusses and other polyurethane architectural details. Our lightweight decorative truss kits are an easy way to transform the look of an open ceiling area without breaking the bank.

Volterra Faux Wood Beams

What are Faux Wood Trusses?

Faux wood trusses are a collection of faux wood beams that interconnect to replicate the appearance of natural timber structural frames. Unlike natural wood roof trusses that bridge the space above a room and provide additional roof support, faux wood trusses are decorative. Even though decorative trusses do not provide any additional structural support they can easily add character and beauty to your ceiling space. The natural color and gorgeous look of wood grain are sure to create a warm and welcoming feel to your home.

The faux wood trusses from Volterra are manufactured with a lightweight urethane material using molds from natural timber beams. Our decorative trusses give you the aesthetic benefits of natural wood trusses without the immense labor and material costs of installation.

Why are Faux Wood Trusses a Good Choice?

In addition to costing a lot and being incredibly heavy, there are other drawbacks of natural wood that faux wood trusses are not susceptible to. Faux wood trusses will not crack, split, rot, mold, or degrade with the proper care — and believe us, very minimal care is required. Because these are long-lasting, they are well worth the investment.

There are also a wide variety of styles, textures, and stains to choose from, making it easy to find the perfect option to match your taste as well as your home’s architectural style. Compared to truss systems manufactured from natural timber, which is costly no matter the size or type, faux wood makes it easy to get the ideal exposed trusses that your interior space requires.

What Decorative Truss Design Options Does Volterra Offer?

As mentioned, Volterra’s faux wood trusses come in different options that replicate the color and grain of natural timber. Whether you prefer a smooth or rough-cut look, there are plenty of texture types to choose from — the choice is yours! Our truss kits are available in Doug Fir, Hand-Hewn, Rough-Sawn, Tuscany, and Sand Blast textures. You can also select a stain to fit the style of your space.

When it comes to decorative truss designs, Volterra has a lot to choose from. Both the King Truss Kit and the Huntsman Truss Kit are popular among homeowners looking for something simple that adds the look of exposed beams to your open ceiling. Those who are looking for something a little more complex should check out the Aspen Truss Kit, the Oxford Truss Kit, or the Hawkeye Truss Kit. In total, we offer 12 decorative truss designs, each with the ability to be personalized with the above-mentioned texture and stain options.

How Do You Know What Size Truss Kit to Get?

When you find a decorative wood truss design that you like, you’ll be able to choose the beam size, pitch, and room width so that you can ensure you order the right faux wood truss system for your space. If you aren’t sure of the exact specifications that you need, our team is happy to help! Contact us today and an experienced member of our team can walk you through the process.

Faux wood trusses are a cost-effective and easy way to add depth, character, and charm to rooms with vaulted or cathedral ceilings. If you’re interested in shopping Volterra’s selection of decorative truss designs, shop our online store!

Shop Faux Trusses Online!

Use Decorative Wood Corbels For Your Next Remodel

Posted on by Paul Birkhead

A corbel is a wall beam used in construction to support a shelf, mantel or small projecting wall. Decorative wood corbels can add a touch of style to any home – both indoors and out. Fake wood corbels come in many different styles ranging from very simple to extremely ornate. They have the appearance of elaborately carved wood, but cost much less than the real thing. Aside from their affordability, there are many other benefits to using fake wood corbels, including their durability, versatility and ease of installation. The wood corbels available at Volterra Architectural Products are made of high-density polyurethane foam which is cast from real-wood molds. The result is a durable and elegant finished product that looks just like real wood. We also offer four different textures of fake wood corbels: mill cut, Doug Fir, saw cut, and smooth. Which texture you choose will depend on the architectural style of your home and your personal preferences. These corbels can then be painted or stained to match the décor of your home. Decorative wood corbels are not load-bearing structures, so they can be easily installed using a power drill and a couple of wood screws or nails. Simply drill holes in the back of the corbel, and hang on screws or nails affixed to a wood stud in the wall. It’s that easy. Fake wood corbels can also be easily uninstalled, moved and reinstalled if you ever choose to redecorate your home. Installing wood corbels beneath fireplace mantels, shelves and other projections in your home can add architectural interest that can serve as a focal point in a room. If you’re considering fake corbels for your upcoming home remodel, call 602.258.7373 today. Volterra offers a wide selection of faux wood corbels at very affordable prices in Phoenix and throughout the Southwest.

Replacing Old Wood Vigas With Volterra’s Faux Wood Vigas

Posted on by Volterra

Vigas are a classic design element most commonly seen on the exterior of Adobe or Pueblo-style homes in the Southwest. The appearance of real wood logs poking through near the flat roofline of a home is something that is immediately recognizable with these style homes. However, when using real wood vigas or viga tails, it doesn’t take long for them to experience wear and tear and have an appearance that is less than ideal. 

Especially when exposed to the Southwest climate, real wood vigas can split, rot, lose their color, and even start to fall away from your home. If your home has viga tails that have seen better days, it may be time to replace them. But rather than using real wood logs again, consider using faux vigas from Volterra Architectural Products!

Why Choose Volterra Vigas?

At Volterra, we manufacture a wide range of high-quality polyurethane architectural details, including decorative vigas. Our faux wood vigas are manufactured using a high-density foam material, yet they have the appearance of real wood. These are not only a more affordable option, but they also will last much longer than real wood vigas without requiring any maintenance.

Replacing real wood vigas with faux, decorative vigas is a no-brainer. Watch our experts demonstrate how to properly replace old and worn vigas with our high-quality faux vigas!

Step #1: Find the Middle and Drill a Hole

Faux wood vigas are installed very similarly to real wood vigas — you use a bolt or rod, drill a hole in the center of the viga, and then slide the viga onto the rod. Therefore, you first need to start the installation process by drilling a hole in the middle of your faux wood viga from Volterra. Use a ruler to find the middle of your viga and drill a pilot hole using a ½-inch drill bit. Next, you’ll want to use a ¾-inch bit to finish drilling the hole. 

Volterra Tip: Be mindful of the size of the faux wood viga you are drilling to ensure that you don’t drill through the face. In our video tutorial, we’re working with a 15-inch viga. Therefore, we drill a 12-inch hole.

Step #2: Apply Construction Adhesive

Before you place the faux wood viga on the rod, apply construction adhesive to the back of the viga. After applying the adhesive, use a putty knife to spread it evenly. Be sure to stay away from the outer edges of the viga to prevent getting any of the adhesives on the exposed stucco surrounding where it will be installed. 

Step #3: Install Faux Viga on Existing Rod for Dry Fit

Now it’s time to place the viga onto the existing rod that your old viga was on. Using a ladder to access the site, carefully slide the viga onto the rod using the hole that you drilled. Slide it all the way back until it touches the stucco surface of your home exterior. Twist it around a little to ensure a strong adhesive bond. 

Next, use a 2½- to 3½-inch galvanized or zinc screw to anchor the faux wood viga to your home exterior. We recommend drilling through the top of the viga at a diagonal angle so that the screw goes through both the viga and the stucco. Adding a screw is just an extra layer of security that will ensure your faux wood vigas will stay put for years to come. 

There you have it! In just three simple steps you can easily replace your old wood vigas. When you replace them with the faux wood vigas from Volterra Architectural Products, you’re providing your home with incredible-looking exterior architectural details that will enhance your curb appeal and require virtually no maintenance — they won’t decay, split, rot, or deteriorate.

Shop Our Faux Wood Vigas Today!

How to Apply Volterra Beam Straps and Other Faux Beam Accessories

Posted on by Volterra

Adding faux wood beams to the interior of your home is a great way to bring elegance to any room or space. These beams replicate the look of real wood beams, but are lighter, more durable, and cost-effective. Your faux wood beams can look even more authentic when complemented with faux ceiling beam accessories, such as beam straps, plates, and hinges.

At Volterra Architectural Products, we are proud to manufacture the largest and most distinctive line of flexible beam accessories that replicate forged iron. These non-functional beam straps, hangers, and plates add depth and detail to beams and trusses and are an excellent way to hide seams and gaps — flaws that are somewhat difficult to fill-in, yet these ceiling beam accessories offer a quick, easy, and attractive solution to that problem. 

How to Install Beam Straps & Other Faux Beam Accessories

While they look like authentic forged iron, our collection of VolterraFlex®️ beam accessories are manufactured with a rubber-like material. The good news is that this makes installation pretty simple, as long as you do it properly. In this blog, our experts share how to properly apply VolterraFlex beam straps, plates, and other beam accessories to our faux wood beams and trusses. Check out our step-by-step video for these instructions!

Step #1: Determine Where The Accessories Will Be Placed

A good place to start is by first determining where these faux beam accessories will be placed. Most people use them to wrap around beams for the purpose of covering gaps or for accentuating the beams. Once you find where these accessories are going to be placed, it’s a good idea to outline the placement with a light pencil marking to ensure accuracy.  Plates may be applied in a flat manner to the surface of the beam, but straps should be scored where they meet the corners as specified in techncal data / application instructions shown on the Volterra Products website.

Step #2: Apply Construction Adhesive

Once you have determined where the strap, plate, or hanger will be placed, you are ready to prepare it for placement. Start by applying a polyurethane construction adhesive to the back of the rubber-like surface. For plates and straps, about four to five beads of the adhesive are recommended. Then, using a putty knife, gently spread the adhesive. This may take some time as the material is slick and does not have a lot of absorption. 

Volterra Tip: Avoid spreading the adhesive to the edge of the accessories to prevent any mess when you apply it to your decorative beam or truss. 

Step #3: Apply More Construction Adhesive

To ensure a tight bond, apply a few more beads of construction adhesive on top of which you have already spread out. This time around, spreading the adhesive is not required, but make sure you are not going too close to the edge.

Step #4: Place the Beam Accessory on the Faux Wood Beam

Now that your beam strap, plate, or hanger is properly prepared, you can place it on the beam or truss. First, find your pencil marking and then gently place it on the surface of the beam or truss. Put some pressure on all areas of the beam accessory — you can also slowly slide it back and forth to spread the adhesive properly. Once you have it in the right place, take a pin nailer or a brad nailer to secure the strap to the beam or truss. It’s a good idea to nail close to the bolts so that the nail cannot be noticed. 

Step #5: Let the Adhesive Dry

Now it is time to let the adhesive work it’s magic. Make sure you give it enough time to dry. Before letting it sit, it’s a good idea to see if any glue has seeped out underneath the product where it has been applied. If so, simply wipe it away with a damp cloth. If you can see where the nails went into the strap, use a black magic marker to color in the nail head so it is not noticeable. 

Once everything has dried, you’re ready to hang your faux wood beam! For tips on how to install faux ceiling beams, watch this video. Once they are installed, you’ll love the look and feel they bring to your space.
If you are interested in purchasing faux wood beams plus the faux iron straps and other beam accessories that compliment them so well, visit Volterra Architectural Products today.

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The Advantages of Installing Faux Wood Shutters

Posted on by Volterra


Our last couple of blogs have been all about faux wood shutters, and for good reason. Faux wood shutters are becoming increasingly popular with homeowners. Why? Because they offer incredible benefits and are a great way to boost the appearance of your home’s exterior and it’s overall curb appeal. 

At Volterra Architectural Products, we have a wide selection of faux wood beams that can be painted or stained to match the architecture and style of your home. Rather than paying an arm and a leg to outfit your home exterior with real wood shutters, consider the benefits of installing faux wood shutters.

They are easy to install 

While real wood shutters look great, they can be extremely heavy, which makes them challenging to install. Because faux wood shutters are made with a high-density, lightweight polyurethane foam material, you can lift and mount them with ease. This means that almost any homeowner or do-it-yourselfer can easily install faux wood shutters, regardless of their size or the height at which they need to be mounted.

They look like real wood

If you’re set on the look of natural wood shutters, but not set on the cost and hassle of installation and maintenance, faux wood shutters are the perfect solution for your wants and needs. The best faux wood shutters are manufactured to replicate the original external appearance of wood, right down to the graining, knotting, and even the wormholes. Unless up close or touch these shutters, it’s challenging for anyone to realize they are not real wood.

They are available in a variety of styles

One of the many great things about faux wood shutters is that they can be manufactured in many of the popular styles discussed above. If your heart is set on a specific shutter style, chances are you can find that same style with faux wood shutters.

They are incredibly durable 

Real wood shutters typically receive treatment to protect them from the elements they’ll be exposed to during a typical lifetime of use, but that doesn’t mean that they will hold up over time. Faux wood shutters aren’t just stronger than real wood shutters — they’re also more durable due to their composite materials.

They are resistant to warping, fading and cracking

Real wood is vulnerable to cracking, fading and warping— thanks to the elements they are exposed to, they typically will show signs of wear and tear after just a few years post-installation. Faux wood shutters, on the other hand, are naturally more resistant to fading due to the material they are manufactured with. You can expect both the beauty and lifespan of faux wood shutters to be prolonged.

They are cost-effective 

Installing real wood shutters to the exterior home will not come cheap. The cost of natural wood products seems to get higher and higher. When compared to their authentic counterpart, faux wood shutters are significantly more cost-effective. And, because they are easy to install and require little maintenance, you can save tons of money over time.

 

With these benefits, it’s clear that faux wood shutters are one of the best options for the exterior of your home. If you are interested in getting faux wood shutters for your home, get started by checking out our collection of faux wood shutters.

 

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The Different Styles of Faux Wood Shutters

Posted on by Volterra

Adding exterior shutters to your home is an easy way to add both architectural interest and dimension to your home. In our last blog post, we shared some helpful tips for choosing exterior shutters for your home. If you are considering getting shutters for your home, we encourage you to check it out. But as a quick review, determining the proper size, considering the appearance of your home, and choosing the right style and material are essential to finding the best exterior shutters.  

Personally, when it comes to material, we think faux wood shutters are the way to go. Not only do they replicate the appearance of real wood, but they are also incredibly durable, easy to install, and are much more affordable than real wood shutters. The different stains and textures of these faux shutters fit with just about any architectural style and color scheme, but it’s choosing the right style that is the icing on the cake when it comes to shutter installation and enhancing your home’s appearance and curb appeal 

What Exterior Shutter Style is Right for You?

In our recent post, we briefly touched on the common shutter styles available: raised panel, louvered, groove plank, and gap plank. If you’re struggling with deciding which option is best for you, we’re here to help! Below, we’ll dive into these different shutter styles and how they can boost your home’s exterior appearance.

Raised Panel Shutters

A beloved design that adds traditional charm, paneled shutters are found on homes nationwide. Because they have a low profile, raised panel shutters well with almost any style home, from suburban single-family ranch to country-cottage style homes.

Louvered Shutters

Louvered shutters have angled, overlapping slats set into the frame to create a well-known and defined look that suits any exterior. However, this shutter style is especially popular among homeowners that have colonial, Victorian, and other traditional-style homes. 

Groove Plank Shutters

Grove plank shutters offer a more unique look compared to raised panel and louvered shutters. These shutters are an easy way to add an Old World or rustic charm to your home’s exterior, thanks to their simple construction. They are two-to-four boards that are typically held together with two cross panels that go horizontally across the shutter.

Gap Plank Shutters

Gap plank shutters are very similar to groove plank shutters — their simplicity makes them a great option for farmhouse style homes or homes with brick or stone siding. The biggest difference between the two is that gap plank shutters have a slight gap in between the boards, which can help with adding dimension to your interior. These too come in two-to-four board options and still have two horizontal cross panels.

While it may not seem like it, shopping for exterior window shutters can be a tedious and time-consuming task. At Volterra Architectural Products, our selection of faux wood shutters makes the shutter buying process easy, painless, and as quick as possible. Not only are these a more durable, cost-effective alternative to real wood shutters, but the different available styles also make it easy to find the perfect option for your home. To shop our collection of faux wood shutters, click here.

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Tips for Choosing Exterior Home Shutters

Posted on by Volterra

 

As a homeowner, you’re always looking for new ways to spice up the curb appeal of your home. From brushing on a fresh coat of paint on its exterior or adding new planting beds along the driveway or in front of the house, there are plenty of different ways to make a great impression when people pass by. One simple and often overlooked way, though, is adding shutters. Putting up some shutters can give the front of your home some dimension and significantly contribute to its curb appeal. 

However, finding the right shutters for your home is easier said than done — especially when you consider both the vast range of shutter styles, materials, and colors as well as the different sizes and styles of windows in your home. Add the right shutters and you can easily make the front of your home look more welcoming. To help you find the best shutters for your home, we put together a few helpful tips.

Tip #1: Determine Proper Size

The shutters you choose need to be a good fit for the space you’re trying to add them too. To determine the proper size, first measure the respective window that you want to add shutters too. Ideally, the shutters you purchase should cover the entire space. If they are too large, they may stick out past the edge and look awkward. Oppositely, they won’t look right if they are too small, so make sure you measure before purchasing.

Tip #2: Consider Your Home’s Color Scheme 

Color is definitely something that you’ll want to consider. The right color will complement and enhance the design of your home. Typically, homeowners choose shutters that have a similar color and shade as the siding of their home. Some people prefer to mix and match colors to suit their style and personality.

Tip #3: Choose the Right Style

Can you name some of the different styles of shutters? Don’t worry, most people aren’t really aware of the different shutter types and styles until they really start shopping for them. When determining which style is best, it is important to consider which style best suits the appearance of your home. Common shutter styles include raised panel, louvered, groove plank, and gap plank.

Tip #4: Choose the Right Material

Shutters come in a variety of materials. Many homeowners choose vinyl shutters because of its durability and versatility. However, many homeowners love the look that authentic wood shutters offer. Wood shutters are a great addition to your home’s exterior, providing a timeless and natural appearance. Unfortunately, similar to natural wood floors and wood ceiling beams, wood shutters require a fine level of care and maintenance. That is where faux wood shutters come into play. Faux wood shutters are more durable, more affordable, and are manufactured to look just like natural wood. To learn more benefits offered by faux wood shutters, click here.

Faux wood shutters offer countless benefits over traditional wood shutters, many of which can help you save time and money at the end of the day. Installing shutters to the exterior of your home is an easy and cost-effective way to boost the appearance and curb appeal of your home, especially when you opt for faux wood shutters. With the benefits they offer, you simply can’t go wrong installing faux wood shutters next to the windows on your home’s exterior. 

Purchase Quality Faux Wood Shutters From Volterra Architectural Products

If we’ve sparked your interest in faux wood shutters, we encourage you to check out our high-quality, USA-made selection here at Volterra Architectural Products. Our faux wood shutters are manufactured using HDF material and undergo a unique process so that they look exactly like real wood shutters. To browse the different styles and types of faux wood shutters we offer, check out our collection today.

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