Tag: ceiling beams

If you want to turn an ordinary room inside of your home into something exquisite, installing faux wood beams is a great way to do so. At Volterra Architectural Products, we are a leading manufacturer of faux wood beams and other high-quality polyurethane architectural details. Our faux wood beams are manufactured with a high-quality HDF material and molds created from real pieces of wood to replicate the natural appearance of wood right down to the texture.

There are many benefits offered by faux wood beams — they are easier to install, more durable, functional, and cost-effective. Simply put, Volterra faux wood beams are an easy, affordable, and fast way to enhance any room inside of your home. 

How to Install Faux Ceiling Beams

Whether you are installing faux wood beams in your kitchen or your family living area, our collection of faux ceiling beams comes in a variety of textures and finishes which makes it easy to find the right options for your style and space. What’s more, installation is an easy DIY project for a handy homeowner. 

In this blog, our experts share how to install faux wood beams from Volterra in a simple grid pattern. You can also check out our step-by-step video for these instructions. In the video, you can see a five-hour job accelerated in seven minutes.

Step #1: Measure Layout and Chalk Lines

First things first, you’ll need to measure your ceiling as well as the layout of the grid pattern for the faux wood beams. Start by measuring to determine where the two main beams and purlin beams will go. For a clean application, use a pencil to lightly mark the ceiling where the beams will be installed. 

Step #2: Install Cleating Material & Find the Proper Beam Cut Length

Next, it’s time to install the cleating or mounting material. Start with the two main beams. Using a drill, mount the material to the ceiling. You’ll also want to measure to ensure you cut your faux wood beams to the right length, and ensure that the angle between the wall and ceiling is square. 

Step #3: Pull in Wire for Recessed Lighting

If you want to install recessed lighting inside of your faux wood beams, it is important to pull the wiring through the ceiling before installing the beams. Start by finding the proper spots on the cleating material and then drill a hole through it and into the ceiling. Have someone help you feed the wiring through each hole before moving onto the next step. 

Step #4: Install the First Beam

We’re starting to make some progress! Next, you can dry-fit the beams. If you measured and cut properly, you should be able to dry-fit the first beam in its proper location. While the beam is dry-fitted in its proper position, you can use a urethane adhesive to bond the beam to the ceiling. The adhesive should be applied to the two edges that will be attached to the ceiling. 

Step #5: Secure the Beam With Screws

After the adhesive for the beams has been applied, secure each of the faux beams with galvanized or zinc screws. Keep in mind, the longer the beam is, the more screws you’ll need. Placing one screw every 2 to 3 feet should keep your faux wood ceiling beams more than secure. 

Step #6: Install the Second Beam

Following steps four and five, install the other main beam. Start by dry-fitting it into its proper position, applying construction adhesive, and using three to four screws on each side to secure it.

Step #7: Install Cleating Material for Purlin Beams

If you didn’t in step number one, make sure you measure and map out where the purlin beams will be going. Once you have the lines marked on your ceiling you can install the cleating material. You’ll need cleating between the two main beams as well as on the other sides of each one. 

Step #8: Install Purlin Beams

Again, if you measured properly, you should be able to dry-fit the purlin beams between the two main beams as well as between each beam and the nearest wall. Use adhesive and screws to secure the beams to the ceiling. 

Step #9: Apply Finishing Touches

It’s a good idea to touch up the areas where the main and purlin beams connect. This will ensure that your faux wood beams maintain the appearance of natural wood without anyone being able to tell the difference. 

Step #10: Admire the New Look

Once you have finished installing the main beams and purlins, you can now take a step back and appreciate the elegant, natural-looking architectural detail that you just added to your space.

Installing faux wood ceiling beams is not as tough as you may initially think and is definitely easier if you have a helping hand or two. The great thing about these faux wood beams is that they will last for decades while requiring no maintenance. Once installed, they’ll be an architectural detail that will be appreciated by all who come to visit. ‘

Buy Faux Wood Beams From Volterra Today

If you are interested in adding distinctive, austere elegance to your home interior, make sure you check out Volterra’s collection of faux wood beams. Our beams are manufactured to look like real wood and are available in Doug Fir, hand hewn, and other popular textures. If you have questions about installing faux wood beams in your home, feel free to contact us!

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Today, it is common to find architects designing more and more custom homes with multi-pitched roofs, resulting in beautiful vaulted ceilings on the inside. Vaulted ceilings can make a home’s interior feel brighter, airier, and bigger. Vaulted ceiling architectural features often are accompanied by interior ridge and rafter beams. Vaulted ceilings expose, enhance, and emphasize these beams, adding an ample amount of character and charm to the space.

While it may look appealing and aesthetically pleasing to the eye, installing real wood ridge and rafter beams can be expensive. Luckily, Volterra Architectural Products offers a cost-effective solution. As a leading manufacturer of faux wood beams and other architectural products, you can find a variety of faux ridge beams and rafter beams to complement the look of the vaulted or pitched ceilings in your home. 

 

Reasons to Use Volterra’s Faux Vaulted Ceiling Ridge Beams and Rafter Beams

Nothing can complete the look of an open vaulted ceiling quite like a ridge and rafter beam system. The look of exposed beams made from dark, rich, natural wood is certainly a way to add character through the ceiling. Volterra’s ridge and rafter beams are designed and manufactured to perfectly suit environments with vaulted ceilings. Rather than opting for real wood beams, consider the benefits that faux ridge beams and rafter beams from Volterra offer.

 

Seamless Ordering

One of the biggest challenges around ordering interior wood beams for your home is determining the size requirements of the space you are interested in installing them in. Volterra’s selection of ridge and rafter beam products online features a calculator that makes it easy to figure out the right beam size, length, and width based on the specifications and requirements of the room or space you are interested in installing them in. With this new-to-the-industry tool, you can ensure that you are ordering the right beams for your space without the need for exhaustive measuring and calculating. 

 

Replicate Real Wood Textures

As you probably already know, faux wood beams look identical to the dark and rich natural wood beams that have such an expensive price tag connected to them. Volterra’s faux wood ridge and rafter beams come in a variety of different textures and finishes, making it easy to find the perfect style for your space. Some of the different styles available to choose from include:

• Doug Fir – One of the world’s best-known and most widely used wood specified, especially in home architectural design. This wood has a distinct grain pattern and can enhance the appeal of any room.

• Sand Blast – The distinct texture of sandblasted wood adds a bold finishing touch to any space in a home. This style can bring a wonderful amount of eye-catching detail and charm to any home.

• Hand-Hewn – The ideal choice for a hand-cut, old-world look. Hand-hewn wood beams bring a beautiful, natural ambiance into a home and easily add rustic charm to the space they are installed.

• Rough Sawn – This style brings the appearance of freshly milled wood, imitating the coarse texture created by the large saw blade used. Great for complimenting rustic decor and creating an overall cozy atmosphere in your home.

• Tuscany – Tuscany style ridge beams evoke the rich detail of Old World style ceiling design for a fraction of the price. These beams have a hand-distressed, authentic rustic wood appearance. 

 

Different Systems Available

Depending on the length, width, and pitch of your vaulted ceiling, you may need different sized rafter beams. With traditionally vaulted ceilings, typically one ridge is installed with rafter beams on each side. However, some homes are designed where ceiling drywall lengths are not the same on each side of the pitch, therefore requiring two different ridge lengths. Fortunately, Volterra’s selection of rafter and ridge beam systems are available with either one or two rafter lengths. If your space would require two different rafter lengths, Volterra’s Ridge and Rafter Calculator will make it easy to quickly determine the length and size of faux wood rafter beams you need. 

 

Cost-Effective

Of course, it pretty much goes without saying that choosing faux wood ridge and rafter beams are going to be much easier on the wallet than real wood be. When you consider the cost of the product paired with the labor and installation costs, choosing faux wood beams is a no brainer, especially since you aren’t able to distinguish the difference between real and faux wood beams if you aren’t closely examining or touching them. Aside from the weight, cost, and structural support, faux wood beams are hard to distinguish from real ones. Lastly, when you consider the deterioration of natural wood, faux wood beams provide more bang for your buck as they are long-lasting and don’t require the maintenance that natural wood does.

 

For Interior or Exterior Use

Another reason why Volterra’s selection of ridge and rafter beams is superior is that hey can be made for both interior and exterior use. Whether you are planning on adding these faux wood beams to your kitchen or your outdoor living space, Volterra’s beams can be manufactured to meet your exact design needs and specifications.

 

Order Faux Wood Ridge and Rafter Beams Today!

If you have a multi-pitch roof and vaulted ceilings inside of your home, Volterra’s ridge and rafter beams are a great way to enhance any room or space. And with the Ridge and Rafter Calculator, finding and ordering the exact beams you need has never been easier! To shop Volterra’s collection of ridge and rafter beams, click here. For more information, contact Volterra Architectural Products today!

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Traditionally, manufacturers used to only sell their products to wholesale and retail businesses, which is how the general public was able to purchase them. However, thanks to the internet, product manufacturers are far more accessible than ever before. Gone are the days when manufacturers only dealt with contractors, wholesalers, and retailers — there are many strong reasons why individual consumers and businesses prefer to purchase products directly from the manufacturer rather than buying from other outlets. 

When it comes to faux wood beams, decorative trusses, and other polyurethane architectural products, searching for them online will likely present you with numerous results. Of course, you’ll find your local retail stores that sell them, but you will also find they are available online through different e-commerce sites that give you a wide selection of different products to choose from. Many websites selling faux beams are simply distributors who import their products from overseas, or who drop ship from a partner manufacturer.But, have you looked into buying directly from the manufacturer?

Reasons to Buy Faux Wood Beams Directly From the Manufacturer

Volterra Architectural Products is the leading manufacturer of faux wood beams in the United States. Unlike other sellers, the products you find on their website are manufactured by them — there are no distributors, wholesalers or retailers involved. Just like most products, purchasing factory-direct faux wood beams offers multiple benefits. Continue reading to learn more about the advantages of purchasing faux wood beams directly from the manufacturer.

Lower Cost 

Perhaps the most significant advantage of purchasing faux wood beams directly from the manufacturer is that, in most cases, you’ll get them at a better price than you when purchasing from a retailer. When more chains of distribution are involved with these products, the more costly their price will likely be.

Better Service

The team at Volterra are experts in manufacturing faux wood beams and other polyurethane architectural products. They truly know the products best because they see them through each stage of design and production, and are in a great position to provide the best advice to customers that are wanting to make a purchase. Their technical team has a combined 50+ years of experience with construction and manufacturing so they are able to assist with plans, specs and installation questions.

More Products

When you purchase through manufacturers, you will find a much larger stock of products, giving you access to more faux wood beams than the retailers and wholesalers typically have. Having a wider selection makes it easier to find the right beams for your specific projects, especially those specialty or custom wood beams that cannot be found at a retail business.

Custom Options

Another significant benefit of buying directly from a faux wood beam manufacturer like Volterra is that they are better able to serve custom requests and orders. You won’t be able to find custom faux wood beams like arched beams or grand trusses in any retail store. Purchasing directly from the manufacturer means that the products you buy can be customized according to the exact specifications of the space you plan on adding them to. Volterra’s custom faux wood beams are hand-fabricated so each one is unique. They also are available in five signature wood textures and seven stained finishes.

Quicker Delivery

In most cases, purchasing directly from the manufacturer means swift delivery of your order. There are no middle channels involved, which ensures faster delivery time and lower delivery costs, all of which reduces the final overall cost of the beams. 

The benefits of purchasing faux wood beams directly from the manufacturer are clear, profitable, and in your favor. With lower prices, better service, a wider product selection, custom options, and quick delivery, purchasing faux wood beams direct from the manufacturer makes more sense.

If you want to purchase high-quality faux wood beams for your home or business, start by shopping the selection of products from Volterra Architectural Products. Not only are they cost-effective and replicate the natural look of wood. If you need assistance their helpful staff can help you find the best faux wood beams for your space! 

 

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Are you looking for a quick and easy weekend project that you can complete without any special tools or skills? You’re in luck! With faux wood beams, you can make beautiful additions to your home in no time. That’s because faux wood beams are made from lightweight high density foam that can be cut, screwed, nailed, and more with everyday tools. The best part is that these beams also hold up well outdoors, so you can take on any project you’ve been itching to start. 

 

Build a Backyard Escape

 

Faux wood beams make an excellent option if you are wanting to build a covered patio area or a pergola. These beams are very durable and the professional coating on the outside helps them stand up to the weather without fading or chipping. They are light and easy to maneuver so you can use them overhead to block the sun as well. 

 

Add a Catio

 

Catios, or cat patios, are all the rage these days. That’s because more pet owners want to give their cats the enrichment of the great outdoors without the dangers of free roaming. Catios can be pretty big, depending on your outdoor space, so let your imagination run free. Faux wood beams are perfect for this type of enclosure, dressing it up so it looks like a professional space for your animals to relax. Again, the durable coating will protect the beams from your furry friends, while giving them the ability to enjoy the sunshine and the sound of birds. 

 

Change Up the Fireplace

 

If the weather is still chilly in your area, you may prefer an indoor project. For instance, updating your fireplace mantle with a sleek modern look, or adding decorative elements around the sides of your fireplace is a quick project that you can knock out in a weekend. You can find a wide range of trim options that can be layered or combined to create a custom look that suits your home. You may also choose to add decorative brackets or supports beneath your fireplace mantle to complete the look, and add a special touch of detail. 

 

To learn more about faux wood beams and trim, contact Volterra today. We have a wide selection of trim products from unfinished wood to coated HDF. We can even customize looks just for you. You can check out our whole catalog of beams and accessories online today and start planning your weekend project before the weather warms up.

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Vaulted ceilings are extremely popular among homeowners these days. They help your home feel open and airy, and they work well with today’s modern open floor plans. However, many people want to decorate that big open space instead of leaving it plain. That’s where ceiling beams come in handy. There are many ways to design a vaulted ceiling with beams to enhance the look of your room. 

 

Ridge and Rafter Ceiling Beams

  

Perhaps the most common way to finish a vaulted ceiling with beams is simply to create a ridge and rafter system.  This design features a ridge beam that runs the full length of the vault’s peak.  Rafter beams are installed on the angled ceiling and run from the base of the ceiling, to the peak where they meet the ridge beam.

  

Parallel Beams

 

If you’re looking for something a little less common, you could try parallel beams on your vaulted ceiling. In this design, the beams actually run horizontally across the full length of the room, creating a tiered look on either side. This design style is good for rooms that have a shallow vault or rooms that are not very long, because the horizontal orientation will make the room feel larger.

  

Painting vs Staining

 

Another important question you need to ask yourself is whether you want your ceiling beams to be painted or stained. Many industrial and modern style homes use plain white beams that fit into the sleek monochromatic theme of the home. However, using a bit of dark coloring can actually enhance your vaulted ceilings a great deal. For this classic style, choose a wood beam in a medium to dark toned stain that matches well with the other colors in your room. If you have other wood trim or wood floors, choose a color to match that. This will tie the whole room together well. With faux wood beams, you can find a wide range of color options that closely match the grain pattern and coloration of your existing wood trim. 

 

Vaulted ceilings with beams are all the rage. If your vaulted ceilings are feeling bare, it may be time to consider adding your own faux wood beam design. Visit Volterra online today to see our full gallery of ceiling beams and how we have used them to create some stunning results.

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Ready to add texture, warmth, and dimension to your home? Do you have a room where you want to draw the eye upward and define the living space? Sounds like you’re looking for faux wood beams and trusses.

 

Perhaps you’re someone who doesn’t love the term “faux”. That’s okay. Some people feel that way at first. However, once they start researching the real costs and benefits, they start to appreciate the concept more. Here at Volterra, we offer both HDF faux wood beams, and natural wood box beams. This guide is meant to help you compare your options and find the right one for you.

 

First off, let’s be clear about terminology. Many people get confused about the different terms used to describe decorative beams. “Faux beams” refers to any beams or trusses that aren’t integral to a room’s stability and functionality. So, if the beams aren’t a part of your original architectural plan, then they’re faux beams. That’s right, if you don’t already have some beautiful old-world beams hidden underneath layers of plaster ceiling then it doesn’t matter if the material you’re using is reclaimed wood pried off of an old barn in Provence, France. They’re still called faux beams, because they’re not needed to keep the roof up; they’re simply decorative.

 

What Kinds of Decorative Beams Are Available?

 

The thing is, there are a lot of different ways to go faux. Here’s a summary of your options:

 

 

What Are HDF Beams?

 

Here at Volterra, we’re big fans of #4 (as you might have guessed). We’ll tell you why in a bit, but first, let us SHOW you why…

 

 

That’s right, those are faux wood beams used in the images above. They’re hollow, constructed from high density polyurethane foam, and fashioned to look exactly like solid wood beams.

 

Now, when we say foam, you’re probably picturing something soft, spongey, and great for sleeping on, right?

 

HDF is foam of a different sort. It’s strong, solid, extremely dense, and able to capture specific textures at a near-microscopic level. If you ran a hand over it, you would feel the distinct ridges and planes of a rich, weathered wood grain. And if you picked it up, it would be surprisingly light.

 

HDF faux wood beams are made by pouring the foam in liquid form into a mold, which was constructed using the exact cast of a real piece of wood. This allows us to duplicate the original external appearance of wood, right down to the graining, knotting, and even the worm holes.

 

How Do HDF Faux Wood Beams Compare to Real Wood?

 

Alright, so HDF beams look convincing. But how do they really perform in action? How do they wear over time, and how do they stack up against real wood for your house, your maintenance plan, and your remodeling budget?

 

Here’s a comparison chart that will let you understand your options better:

 

 

How Does Installation Work?

 

Although it has the most impact on your time and sanity, few people fully consider the process of installation when they choose which kinds of faux wood beams to use in a room. A major installation process will monopolize your space for months, putting every other project on hold. Shoddy installation jobs will ruin your aesthetic and cause major challenges down the road. Individuals who think ahead about installation enjoy the benefits of manageable timelines, not to mention the peace and quiet that comes with having your home to yourself again. So let’s talk a little bit about the installation process for different kinds of beam & truss installations.

 

We’ll start with this picture…

 

 

That’s a massive faux HDF beam of 14”x22”x20’, which only weighs 113 lbs.

 

A real wood beam of the same size weighs nearly one ton. This is precisely why you’ll never use solid wooden beams merely for decorative purposes on the ceiling–they’ll have to be structural. But what about hollow box beams made of real wood? This is a compromise between the solid wood and faux wood option. However, it will still be more than twice the weight of an HDF beam.

 

Because they’re so lightweight, they’re easy to install. Often, two people can complete the project in just one day. For some projects, it’s only a matter of a few hours. See for yourself in the video below.

 

 

Ready to Go Faux?

 

Volterra was founded in 2002, and has since become a leading provider of specialty architectural design materials. We’re most well-known for our huge range of beautiful faux wood beams and trusses, which have transformed award-winning restaurants, featured homes, and four star hotels. We also offer natural wood beams as part of our woodworking line. Shop our product selection online and browse our galleries for more ideas.

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The exposed ceiling beam is in these days, lending an industrial look to otherwise modern rooms. In fact, the fad has grown so popular that many people are looking for ways to add exposed beams to their homes as well. Some people want to know if they have to buy beams to achieve this look, or if they can simply remove their existing ceiling to expose the beams that are already there. Here’s what you need to know before you take on this project.

 

Joists vs Beams

 

The first thing you need to know is that the joists used in the construction of your house are not the same as the exposed beams you see in popular restaurants and home renovation magazines. First of all, those joists were never meant to be exposed, so they are often unfinished and unsightly. Instead of giving you a clean industrial look, they will probably just look ragged and in need of finishing. Secondly, it would take forever to clean up your wiring and plumbing to make it look good in your newly exposed space because these things were probably routed in the quickest fashion during the building of your house, not the most aesthetic. By contrast, the exposed beams you see in pictures are likely finished and installed over hidden joists and supports. This allows you to enjoy the look of a finished beam that has been painted and coated for longevity without having to look at the real guts of the building. Even those open ceilings that do have plumbing and wiring visible often use painted pipes and conduit to conceal much of the mess. These beams are made to be artfully added to any space and they are lightweight so they can be easily installed and removed if necessary. They also tend to be larger and made with a variety of wood grain looks to give you an authentic look and texture so you won’t be stuck with the dull, unfinished look of your interior joists.

 

Spacing

 

Another problem with exposing your existing joists is that they are spaced very close together and they only go in one direction. If you want to create a decorative look to your ceiling, you need to use ceiling beams sparingly and decide which direction you want your beams to run so that they can add to the look of the room, rather than making it look cluttered. Even large rooms typically only have a handful of beams spread across the span of the ceiling.

 

 

If you’re interested in creating an exposed beam look in your home, visit Volterra online today. We sell finished faux wood beams in a range of colors and sizes to fit any installation. These products are made to be a decorative enhancement to your home that easily fits onto your existing ceiling without a hassle.

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