Frequently Asked Questions About Faux Wood Beams

Frequently Asked Questions About Faux Wood Beams

Faux wood beams are a great way of adding interest and architectural details to just about any space in your home. Not only can faux wood beams be more affordable than those manufactured with real wood, but they are also lighter, easier to install, more versatile, and more environmentally friendly, among other benefits.
rustic faux wood beam with dark walnut finish

At Volterra Architectural Products, we specialize in manufacturing the best faux wood beams and other polyurethane architectural details.

Utilizing molds from real pieces of wood and quality high-density foam material, we’re able to manufacture a wide selection of faux wood beams that replicate the appearance of natural wood — right down to the graining, knotting, and other fine details. Installation of these faux ceiling beams is a breeze and instantly adds dimension to your space.

Frequently Asked Questions About Our Faux Wood Beams

Faux ceiling and architectural beams are becoming more and more popular. People are adding them to their kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms, outdoor living spaces, and even businesses. If you’re interested in browsing our selection of faux wood ceiling beams, click here. To learn more about our faux wood beams, continue reading as we answer the most frequently asked questions about our faux decorative beams.

At Volterra Architectural Products, we manufacture our faux wood beams using a high-density polyurethane foam (HDF) material. This material is lightweight, which makes them easy to install, yet they are still dense and durable.

Absolutely. Our faux wood beams are handcrafted using molds made from real wood beams. This allows our decorative beams to replicate the appearance of natural wood, right down to the grain. Our QuickShip faux wood beams are identical as they are poured monolithically as one piece — installers typically flip flop these beams so the texture pattern is alternated. We also offer custom beams that are truly unique, as each one may be slightly different from the other.

The most popular sizes of Volterra faux wood beams range from $200 to $750 per beam. The cost of our faux wood beams is determined by the type of beam ordered, plus freight. Compared to the cost of real wood ceiling beams and the installation required, you can keep more money in your wallet by choosing faux wood beams.

Yes! Volterra’s faux wood beams are surprisingly dense and durable compared to natural wood when installed in areas such as the ceiling where they are not subjected to abuse. Unlike natural wood beams, faux wood beams will not warp, crack, fade, or rot. Artificial wood beams are virtually maintenance-free!

Installing faux beams is easy. Because our decorative beams are manufactured from a durable yet lightweight polyurethane material, the beams are extremely easy to handle and can be up on a ceiling in just a matter of hours. If you are handy and familiar with carpentry, you likely can install these beams without any issues. However, for the best results, we recommend working with a licensed contractor.

You can install faux wood ceiling beams using a hand saw, drill, tape measure, and a pencil or marker. To learn more about the necessary tools and how to install faux wood beams, check out this video.

Yes, faux wood beams can be used both indoors and outdoors. Homeowners can add to the overall look and feel of their outdoor living spaces and covered patio by installing outdoor faux wood beams.

Along with decorative beams, Volterra’s faux wood trusses are a great way to enhance high ceilings. We offer decorative trusses for both flat and pitched ceilings.

Yes. In addition to our standard faux beams and decorative trusses, Volterra accepts custom orders. We have the capability to produce custom beams and trusses for projects of any size and specification.

Popular or standard sizes of our faux wood beams weigh 1–2 pounds per linear foot, which translates to about 10–40 pounds per beam. This is a considerable difference compared to real wood beams, which would likely weigh 600 pounds and take heavy equipment to install or even box beams which weigh significantly more than polyurethane foam beams.

Yes, of course. Faux wood beams are a great way to cover structural glulam or drywall beams, unattractive wood beams, pipes, cords, or fixtures.

As much as we are committed to providing our customers with the best service, Volterra Architectural Products is a manufacturer, and therefore, we are not involved in any way with installation. We recommended working with a licensed contractor for the best results.

Our website (www.volterraproducts.com) offers installation videos, documents, resources, and other technical data for each of our products. If you are working with a professional installer they will be able to provide you with design advice and installation recommendations. If you are unable to find the information you are looking for, our beam specialists will be happy to assist — just give our team a call.

Yes! In addition to our wide selection of faux wood beams, Volterra manufactures natural hardwood and softwood box beams in almost any species desired. Click here to learn more.

Shop Our Faux Wood Beams Today!

Have Further Questions About Our Faux Wood Beams?

If you were unable to find answers to your questions about our faux wood beams, contact Volterra Architectural Products at (602) 258-7373. Our beam specialists will be happy to assist you.

Adding Faux Wood Beams To Your Kitchen

The kitchen is the heart of a home. With the amount of time you spend in the kitchen preparing and cooking meals, enjoying morning cups of coffee, and hosting friends and family, you have every reason to want it to be one of the most aesthetically-pleasing rooms in your home. From new countertops and cabinets to creating an open kitchen layout, there are many renovation projects that can be done to make your kitchen look and feel even more comfortable and homey than it already is.

However, there are also some simple things that can be done that can drastically enhance your kitchen space and don’t require any remodeling and renovation, like faux wood beams. Adding faux wooden beams to any space in your home is a creative way to give it a unique and rustic — yet modern — look. Having a bland white ceiling can detract from an otherwise attractive aesthetic. Implementing kitchen ceiling beams can do wonders for your space, all without the costs of actual wood.

Reasons To Choose Faux Wood Beams for Kitchen

Adding real wood beams to your kitchen, while they would be a beautiful addition to the space, is a costly and laborious process. Faux wood beams offer numerous benefits, but perhaps the biggest benefit is that they are shaped and stained to replicate the appearance of natural wood. These beams are also not as heavy as real wood ceiling beams, making them an easy-to-install decorative element for your kitchen.

Volterra Architectural Products manufactures high-quality faux wood beams that enhance the look and feel of any interior or exterior space, especially the kitchen! Available in different styles, Volterra’s faux wood beams can transform a bland kitchen ceiling into a detailed work of art, lending a warm and welcoming feel to your heart of the home.

Design Ideas for Using Faux Wood Beams

While living areas are typically the most popular room to add faux wooden beams to, both small and large kitchens can benefit from the timeless, open-beam style that they bring to the space. Below, our design experts share some design ideas for using faux wooden beams in your kitchen.

Create Visual Contrast

Many of the contemporary-modern kitchens in today’s homes put focus on sleek surfaces. Stone countertops, stainless steel appliances, and simple cabinets are becoming more popular than the richly-stained finishes that were trending in previous years. Adding faux wood ceiling beams can add visual contrast to your kitchen. In kitchens with white or light-colored ceilings and color schemes especially, the warmth and texture faux wood beams bring a beautifully-balanced focal point to the space.

Add to the Entrance

As mentioned, kitchens are the hub of all activities — and all delicious food, of course. While the attention is often directed to what’s inside the space, the entrance of the kitchen is something that should not be overlooked. Faux wood beams provide an old-world feel to a modern kitchen, framing the entrance beautifully. Large beams with faux wood trusses in the corners will add appealing architectural detail to the entrance.

Get Creative

Adding faux wood beams to your kitchen will certainly bring more attention to the space. Depending on your kitchen and your personal style and preferences, faux wooden beams can be used in multiple ways. For example, adding a faux wood ceiling running in the same direction as a kitchen island or bar is a great way to highlight that unique feature. If your kitchen has a high ceiling, faux wood beams can be mounted a few feet below ceiling height to add a cozier feel to the space without having to sacrifice architectural interest or natural light. Lastly, any unusual curves, angles, or other lines in your kitchen space can be highlighted with strategically-placed beams, turning an awkward space into an unexpectedly beautiful one.

 

Of course, you are the one who will be using your kitchen the most, so it’s important to think about the different ways adding faux wood beams can enhance its look and feel.

Find Faux Wood Beams For Your Kitchen

You cannot go wrong with adding wooden beams to your kitchen. Doing so will add an old-world, yet modern touch to the space, making the time you spend there more enjoyable. If you are interested in adding wood beams to your kitchen, be sure to check out Volterra’s selection of faux wood beams. Because beams are lightweight so they can be easily installed on your own. For more information, visit Volterra Architectural Products website today.

 

Benefits of Faux Wood Beams

Adding wooden beams to the interior of your home is a great way to give any room a distinctive, austere elegance. While real wooden beams are gorgeous and true natural beauty, the price point to purchase and install them is enough to turn people away. However, your dreams don’t have to be crushed — faux wood beams look just like real wood ceiling beams. Unless close enough to touch them, there is really no way to tell the difference between real and faux wood ceiling beams.

Volterra Architectural Products is America’s largest manufacturer of faux wood beams, custom faux wood beams, and other polyurethane architectural details. Using high-quality HDF material, Volterra utilizes molds from real pieces of wood to manufacture their faux wooden beams. This detailed process enables duplication of the original external appearance of wood, right down to the graining, knotting, and even the worm holes. Let’s take a look at some of the other benefits faux wood beams offer.

Easy Installation

While real wood beams may be beautiful, they are extremely heavy, especially when considering a beam that will stretch across your living area or kitchen. As you can imagine, the installation would not be a walk in the park and will likely require a team of people to properly install the. With faux wood beams, on the other hand, the lightweight construction makes installation a breeze, oftentimes a one or two-man job.

Versatility

Wood ceiling beams are pretty much limited to just that ceiling. Even then, the weight of real wood limits the number of beams that can be used while still retaining structural integrity. Because faux wooden beams are lightweight, the possibilities for implementing them into your interior or exterior decor is only limited by your imagination. No matter where you plan to install faux wood beams, there are countless ways to experiment with patterns — consider traditional horizontal placement or create a more intricate look by criss crossing beams.

Durability

Volterra’s faux wooden beams can withstand the test of time because of the properties they possess. Unlike authentic wood beams, faux wooden beams will not rot, chip or split. These beams are designed to maintain their appearance for years and eyes. Maintenance-free and resistant to many of the elements that can compromise the structural integrity of real wood, faux wood beams are incredibly durable, whether used indoors or outdoors.

Functional

In addition to having great appeal and charm, faux wood beams are very functional. With a hollow inside, making them perfect for hiding electrical wiring, installing recessed lighting, and structural flaws in the ceiling — the perfect solution for covering cracks, uneven ceilings or outdated popcorn style ceilings.

Eco-Conscious

Of course, in today’s world being environmentally conscious is more important than ever before. While the appearance of natural wood beams is tough to beat, purchasing them, unfortunately, contributes to deforestation. Eco-conscious-minded people won’t have to think twice about their environmental impact with faux wood beams — you can get the authentic look you desire without having to use trees.

Cost-Effective

Believe it or not, real wooden beams typically cost fi\ve times as much as faux wood beams do — that’s not including the cost of installation and maintenance, both of which can add up quickly. Because fake wood beams are easy to install and don’t require any maintenance, they can save you tons of money overtime. If you have always dreamt of having wooden ceiling beams in your home but never had the budget for it, the cost-effectiveness of faux wooden beams helps you get the look you want while minimizing the impact on your finances.

Experience The Benefits of Faux Wood Beams

If you are looking for ways to improve your home improvement plan, faux wood beams are the perfect accompaniment to any space. Incredibly popular, durable, and affordable — you simply can’t go wrong choosing faux wood beams. Adding faux wood beams to your ceiling can have a lot of positive benefits on the looks and function of your space.

Unlike other companies that sell faux wood beams online, Volterra manufactures its own high-quality HDF beams. If you are interested in learning more, check out our selection of faux wooden beams today!

Use Faux Wood Beams for an Easier Makeover Project

Beams are essential to the construction of any house. A ceiling and a roof are not simply suspended by walls that reach their edges and corners—serious additions need to be implemented to withstand the pressure and weight that ceilings carry. Beams transfer this weight from the roof and ceiling to stronger parts of a house, such as the walls, pillars, and columns. Not all beams, however, can provide an appealing aesthetic, so people turn to faux wood beams in this instance. Faux wood beams are so sought after because their exteriors mimic the exact appearances, grains, and textures of real wood beams. It has to be seen to be believed, but distinguishing between real beams and faux beams with the naked eye is virtually impossible. Faux wood comes with a host of many other benefits that keeps it in high demand as a housing material. If you have decorated your living room, bedroom, kitchen, and other rooms with the best decorations you can find, it makes sense to extend that beauty to above. Faux beams conjure a warm, comforting feeling to any space in which they are added, which is the exact same effect that real wood has. But there is so much more to them. It is easy to see why real wood beams have been in such high demand. Their strength, sturdiness, and natural beauty make them a no-brainer for builders and installers. Unfortunately, these beams can be difficult and expensive to install, given their density and weight. And just like wood in nature, these beams are susceptible to warping and rotting, as well as the effects of moisture and excessively high or low temperatures. Faux beams are immune to these drawbacks, made out of a high-density polyurethane foam that lasts through ages without any maintenance or care. Best of all, these beams can be installed with ease, thanks to their lightweight nature. Faux beams are such practical and useful structures that there is no reason to hold off any longer on using them in your next project or home makeover. To learn more about faux wood beams, call Volterra Architectural Products at 602.258.7373 today.

A Faux Wood Beam Goes a Long Way

The ceiling of a generic building does not do much in the way of creating an appealing design or aesthetic. Whether it is a house or an office building, there are guaranteed to be many pipes, beams, and wires running all along each other near the ceiling, creating an unsightly and dull appearance. The faux wood beam can be incorporated to breathe some serious life into this layout. Faux materials might not sound much more exciting than generic materials, but the truth is that faux wood is a high-demand product that has become a staple for many builders and designers. Faux wood beams are created with the intention of copying every aspect of authentic wood beams, mirroring their natural beauty. Wood beams are used for holding a roof up, contributing not only durability, but also warm, enchanting ambiance. Faux beams evoke that same exact feeling, all while transforming the ceiling from a lackluster mess to an arrangement of breathtaking display. Another advantage of the faux beam is its hollow interior. This emptiness permits the strategic camouflage of any suspended fixtures that you don’t want visible. In fact, this benefit allows even greater freedom with installation. Speakers, lights, sprinklers, and more can fit into the easy-to-alter surface of faux beams, their wires and cables safely tucked inside. These beams will not create a mess or require intensive planning to be properly cut into for the sake of any additions. Volterra Architectural Products is an expert manufacturing company that understands the necessity of clean, beautiful building layouts. These master producers create faux beams out of a high-density polyurethane foam that never needs any special attention or care after being installed. The beams are also available in striking colors, such as the dark chocolate brown color of the Espresso, and real-wood textures such as the Doug Fir. For more information and details on faux wood beams, call Volterra Architectural Products at 602.258.7373 today.

Faux Ceiling Beams: Simple Solutions for the Best Results

Builders and installers, whether they are professionals or amateurs, find it hard to resist the allure of wood beams. It is easy to see why, given their durability and natural beauty. How many materials can mimic the sort of elegance that is captured by a structure that is carved, cut, and sawed entirely from natural wood? While there are not many that can create this same effect, there are some that can not only mirror that beauty, but also improve upon it: faux ceiling beams. Dense beams built to withstand the weight of ceilings and roofs are sometimes maligned by dull or unsightly features. Metal and steal beams do not do much to excite the imagination, especially if the wires of televisions and speakers mingle with them, resulting in a particularly messy look. Faux ceiling beams are the perfect disguises for these blemishes. As structures that are hollow inside, faux beams can strategically mask anything that needs to be covered up, and it does so in style. Faux beams are created as synthetic cousins to natural wood beams, all the way down to the last grain. Friends, guests, and family members will never be able to tell that they are marveling at pieces that were created from high-density polyurethane foam. Volterra Architectural Products creates faux beams for these needs and more. Adorning a ceiling with ceiling beams from this leading manufacturer of faux wood products means that you are guaranteed beams that will withstand extreme elemental factors, age, cracking, rotting, and more. The polyurethane foam negates the necessity of any maintenance, something that cannot be said for authentic wood. After completing the layout of a home, with all of its fixtures properly placed on the walls and floors, the lingering knowledge that the ceiling needs care can be a frustrating feeling. Faux beams alleviate this frustration with simple application and unmatched beauty. To learn more about the faux ceiling beams available from Volterra Architectural Products, call 602.258.7373 today.

Non-Functional Architectural Beams Provide a Beautiful Aesthetic

Every facet of a building needs to work together to keep it standing strong and tall. An enormous feature like the ceiling doesn’t just stay suspended on its own, supported by just a few walls. It takes carefully placed structures that will absorb the pressure and disperse it to stronger areas. Beams achieve this feat, sitting high above in a building and transferring all of the weight to walls and columns. Sometimes, however, these beams are for function only and do not meet the design and aesthetic standards of builders, designers, and homeowners. Non-functional architectural beams are equally valuable additions. Standard beams do all of the hard work of bearing the weight. It is the job of the decorative beam to make a space shine as brightly as it can with its beautiful exterior. Faux beams that garner the most attention are typically those that duplicate the appearance of natural wood. Natural wood is a desired material because it has an elegant appearance that evokes a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Unfortunately, the cons of natural wood makes it a less enticing prospect when a builder is looking for purely aesthetic use. Its tendencies to wear, rot, and warp become problems down the line that require regular care. Faux beams, fortunately, avoid these problems, given their entirely synthetic makeup. The quality of beams will inevitably vary while looking for the ideal producer, but Volterra Architectural Products is the best bet for people who want consistently excellent products. Volterra has been in the business of manufacturing faux wood products for years. Volterra’s beams are created from high-density polyurethane foam for the sake of easy installation and round-the-clock immunity against the elements. With hollow interiors, these beams can fit around functional beams to adorn them with the breathtaking colors and textures of natural wood. Volterra has also garnered a reputation as a leading manufacturer of hardwood moulding and millwork products in Arizona. For more information about the unique products from Volterra Architectural Products, call 602.258.7373 today.

Manufactured Beams Replicate the Look of Natural Wood

Installing wood beams in your home is a beautiful way to add architectural detail to any room. While real wood beams can be expensive and easily damaged over time, installing manufactured beams can be a beautiful and cost-effective solution. Not only are faux beams lightweight, easy to install, and cost efficient, but with modern finishes they can also effectively mimic the rustic beauty of solid wood beams. Starting With the Mold In order to properly emulate the surface texture and detail of fine wood grain, the molds for high-density polyurethane foam (HDF) beams are taken directly from actual wood. These molds are able to accurately capture the unique grain structure found in many different species of wood. There are several grain patterns to choose from, including Doug Fir, Tuscany, Sand Blasted, Hand Hewn or Rough Sawn, allowing for many aesthetic choices. Whether the style of your home is rustic, Spanish, or modern, between the various types of faux wood graining available it is easy to select the style that is right for your home. All About the Finish Not only are many texture and wood grain options available, but there are also a lot of choices when selecting your faux wood finishes. Whether you prefer a lighter oak stain, a rich walnut or dark espresso, your faux beam can be custom ordered in many colors to coordinate with your home’s décor. If you prefer a painted look, these custom HDF beams can also be ordered pre-primed and ready for any color you choose. Unlimited Applications Available Not only are these high tech faux beams easy to cut to size for any application, they also come in a wide variety of shapes and styles. These elegant beams excellent for straight installations, but they can also be custom manufactured with corbel-cut ends or in an arched form. While these beams are excellent for ceiling and outdoor applications, a faux wood planks and fireplace mantels are also available. Manufactured beams are a wonderful way to add the look of natural wood to your home without the price or maintenance of the real thing. To learn more about the wide variety of manufactured beams available at Volterra, call 602.258.7373 today.

How Fake Ceiling Beams Are Made

With the many benefits of installing fake ceiling beams rather than solid wood, it is no wonder that so many homeowners are taking advantage of this beautiful product. Not only are they lightweight, cost effective, and able to properly emulate the look and texture of real wood, but they also have a very unique manufacturing process that makes them virtually maintenance free. High Quality HDF HDF is another name for the high density polyurethane foam used to create gorgeous and practical ceiling beams. This two-element mixture between a closed cell structure and a urethane resin generates a lightweight product that requires very little upkeep and is resistant to both water and pests. This unique product also will not warp, crack, or expand with weather conditions as natural wood does. Molds Created From Actual Wood In order to create the unique molds used to form faux wood beams, an imprint is taken directly from fresh lumber in order to properly emulate the fine detail of the grain, knots, and other imperfections that are typically littered throughout solid wood beams. Depending on the style of your home, there are many unique wood textures to choose from, including Doug Fir, Rough Sawn, Sand Blast, Hand Hewn and Tuscany. Manufactured ceiling beams that have been generated using these molds maintain a great deal of character and the beautifully imperfect qualities that realistically emulate the look of solid wood. Creating the Perfect Finish Once your beam has been molded and set, there are many distinctive finishes that can be used to coincide with any style of home. For a more traditional look, a deep mahogany stain can be applied to any HDF beam to allow the striking reddish hues to shine through the faux wood grain. If you are after a more transitional or classic style, a deep espresso or walnut hue can add the perfect architectural element to a newly renovated room. Using versatile and practical HDF foam to create fake ceiling beams is an excellent way to maintain all of the textured detail of real wood molds. Once your beam is finished with a stunning stain or coat of paint, it can be nearly impossible to tell whether your beams are real or faux. To learn more about how fake ceiling beams are made, or for information on the HDF beams available at Volterra, call 602.258.7373 today.

Engineered Beams From Volterra Cost Much Less Than Real Wood

When deciding whether to purchase manufactured or solid wood beams for your home, your budget can be a huge factor when weighing your options. Engineered beams can be cheaper to purchase, but the big cost savings are because they are less expensive to install and they offer a lifetime of savings when it comes to long-term maintenance expenses. Initial Cost Beams from a Douglas Fir tree tend to be the most common and cost effective when searching for a solid wood beam. Although these are the least expensive, one 25-foot pine beam can cost over $1000, not including installation. When you select faux beams for your architectural details, not only do they accurately mimic the rustic appearance of real wood, but they also cost less. Installation Cost When installing a solid hardwood beam, it requires an entire team of professional contractors to lift and secure it into place. Since engineered beams are made of architectural foam, they are incredibly lightweight. With only a few common tools and some high-grade adhesive, many handy homeowners and contractors can complete the installation of these beautiful beams in no time. Faux ceiling beams can also be manufactured as per your exact measurements, saving you even more time and money on your installation. Maintenance Cost While solid wood is a durable material, it can require quite a bit of upkeep in order to ensure that it will maintain its strength and beauty over many years. Since wood is a porous substance, it requires an initial sealing prior to installation, and it will need regular maintenance in order to make sure it does not retain moisture. Wood is also prone to termite infestations, which can destroy the integrity of your beam if not properly managed. Not only do faux beams offer an identically aesthetic product when compared to solid wood, but they also do not require any additional upkeep in order to prevent water or termite damage. Not only are faux wood beams a beautiful solution to mimic the rustic integrity of solid wood, but they also offer a cost effective solution to any budget friendly homeowner. To learn more about the engineered beams available at Volterra, call 602.258.7373 today.