Frequently Asked Questions About Faux Steel I Beams

Frequently Asked Questions About Faux Steel I Beams

Many interior design trends come and go, but some show no signs of ending anytime soon. Of the trends that are here to stay, it seems that homeowners are continuing to gravitate towards minimalist, industrial, or modular design. We’re seeing more steel and metals being incorporated into interior design to make a statement in both form and function. 

 

Steel ceiling beams are a staple in modern industrial design, but not every home requires this type of structural support. That’s where Faux Steel I Beams from Volterra Architectural Products come in. With 

these decorative ceiling beams, homeowners can incorporate industrial appeal to their space. To learn more about Volterra’s faux steel ceiling beams, continue reading as we answer some frequently asked questions.

What Are Faux Steel Beams Made Of?

Each decorative steel beam is constructed of real Poplar hardwood. The planks are painted to replicate the appearance of real steel. This wood is not only light and long-lasting, but it’s also rust-free and susceptible to corrosion like real steel beams. Once they are installed, it will be very difficult to tell that they are wood and not steel!

I beam images in an industrial beach house

How Much Do Steel Beams Cost?

The most popular sizes of Volterra decorative steel beams are 6×6 and 8×8, with the starting cost for 48” beams ranging from $225 to $290 per beam. The cost of each beam is decided by the measurements and extras chosen, as well as delivery. Choosing these easy-to-install faux steel beams can help you save a lot of money, considering what it would cost to install real steel ceiling beams with a lot of the expense coming from labor.

What Sizes Can Faux Steel Beams Be Ordered In?

Volterra manufactures faux steel beams in nine different sizes and 20 different lengths ranging from 48” to 288”. This makes ordering faux steel beams for the space you want to install them in very easy. Simple measure the space beforehand and you should have a good idea of which sizes you’ll need. If you want assistance choosing the right beam dimensions for your project, contact a Volterra customer care representative.

faux steel i beam

Can These Be Used In Place of Structural Steel Beams?

Volterra’s faux steel beams, and other architectural details, are not designed to be used for structural purposes. These decorative steel beams are perfect for individuals who want to replicate the look of real steel ceiling beams without having to deal with the expense or difficulty of installation.

Faux Steel I Beams from Volterra are a great way to add new life and modern, minimalistic, and industrial style to any home or building without spending thousands on renovations. To learn more about these faux steel beams and other products manufactured by Volterra Architectural Products, check out our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Frequently Asked Questions About Faux Wood Vigas

Frequently Asked Questions About Faux Wood Vigas

Vigas have become a popular exterior architectural detail, especially in adobe and Southwestern-style buildings. While vigas intended for structural support are constructed from real wood, homeowners can create the illusion of real wood vigas with unique products that are purely decorative — faux wood vigas from Volterra Architectural Products. 

 

Volterra’s selection of decorative vigas are manufactured to replicate the beautiful characteristics of real wood logs, but do not require maintenance and don’t decay, split, rot, or deteriorate. If you’d like to learn more about our faux wood vigas, continue reading as we answer some frequently asked questions.

What Are Faux Vigas Made Of?

The faux vigas we provide at Volterra Architectural Products are manufactured with high-quality urethane foam. Each decorative viga is created from a mold of a real wood viga to ensure the wood texture and grain are reproduced accurately. You’ll be forgiven if you can’t tell them apart from genuine wood, as they appear to be the real thing!

doug fir ridge and rafter faux beams in dining room

Can Faux Vigas Be Used Outside?

Although Volterra faux wood vigas are manufactured with urethane foam and are lightweight, they are incredibly durable and are designed for exterior use. They can withstand the elements and aren’t susceptible to splitting, rotting, or deterioration after a few years like real wood. What’s more, faux wood vigas are also resistant to termites and other insects, moisture, and ultraviolet rays.

How Much Do Vigas Cost?

The cost of Volterra vigas is determined by a variety of factors, including the type, size, finish, and whether they are solid or hollow. The cost of each viga is determined by your specific demands and installation criteria. An 8″ x 12″ hollow Flat End Viga without a flange and unpainted finish costs around $40 per viga. A 12” x 24” solid Tapered End Viga with a back plate and a dark walnut finish will cost just under $140.

How Do You Install Faux Vigas?

Volterra faux wood vigas are lightweight and easy to install for DIY homeowners who want to add the appearance of wood vigas without all the hassle. Our decorative vigas can fit onto existing rods or be installed with Volterra’s Viga Mounting Plate. Whichever option you choose, you’ll need to drill a hole in the center of each viga so that it will fit on the rod properly. It is recommended that adhesive is used to ensure a secure fit.

Volterra wood vigas are a great way to add new life and Southwestern-style to any home or building without spending thousands on expensive renovations. To learn more about faux wood vigas and other polyurethane architectural details manufactured by Volterra Architectural Products, check out our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Faux Wood Beams For Popular Rooms

Faux Wood Beams For Popular Rooms

Enhance Home Interior Design With Decorative Ceiling Beams

Installing wood ceiling beams is a great way to add interest and detail to the rooms in your home. Incorporating solid, natural wood ceiling beams into your interior design is not a cheap project, however. Fortunately, Volterra Architectural Products manufactures faux wood beams that offer the same look and interior enhancement of solid natural wood beams, but at a more affordable cost and without the installation and maintenance hassles. 

Volterra’s decorative ceiling beams are available in a wide selection of different styles, types, and finishes. This makes it easy to find faux wood beams for virtually any room interior. Below, we share some great options for the most popular rooms to install faux wood ceiling beams.

Master Bedroom

The look of exposed beams can bring a warming and comfort-boosting effect to a master bedroom.  The best faux wood beams for a master bedroom will be dependent on the interior design style and color scheme. For modern bedrooms, you can’t go wrong with Volterra’s Doug Fir or Majestic faux wood beams in a light or dark finish. Certain collections, including Rustic, Rough Sawn, and Hand Hewn faux wood beams look great in traditional or rustic spaces.

An image of Volterra’s faux wood beams installed in a bedroom.
An image of Volterra’s faux wood beams installed in a kitchen.

Kitchen 

The kitchen is often the most valued space in a home. Many people dream of having an elegant, open kitchen and faux wood beams can help you head in the right direction. Installing faux wood beams in the kitchen adds visual appeal to the space, creates balance, and helps improve functionality. Depending on the interior design goals of your kitchen, Rustic, Doug Fir, or any of the faux wood beam collections offered by Volterra should fit nicely.

Living Room

Living or family rooms are perfect for faux wood beams, especially those that have high cathedral ceilings. Installing them will add a sense of comfort and help contribute toward creating a space that is perfect for any occasion, from hosting guests to having a family movie night. When trying to determine which faux wood beams are best for your living area, consider the surrounding decor, the lighting the space receives, and your style preference. Volterra will have the perfect option.

An image of Volterra’s faux wood beams installed in a family room.
An image of Volterra’s faux wood beams installed in a hallway.

Hallway

Hallways aren’t really thought of when it comes to the interior design of a home. Sure, you can hang some photos or art on the wall and incorporate unique accent lighting, but other than that, there isn’t too much going on. However, installing faux wood beams is a great way to bring some depth to these long and narrow spaces. If you have a main hallway that has a lighter color scheme, any of Volterra’s faux wood beams in a darker finish will look great.

No matter what room you are wanting to enhance, faux wood beams from Volterra Architectural Products are a great way to transform the interior design of any space. Shop our collection of faux wood beams today or check out our faux steel beams or natural wood box beams. 

Faux Ceiling Beam Ideas for Any Interior Design Styles

Faux Ceiling Beam Ideas for Any Interior Design Styles

Enhance Your Interior Spaces With Decorative Ceiling Beams

Let’s face it, some things won’t ever budge from your dream home wish list, and ceiling beams are one of them. Exposed ceiling beams add textural detail and visual appeal in addition to a framing quality that makes other interior elements pop. If you have always wanted to incorporate ceiling beams in your home, decorative ceiling beams from Volterra Architectural Products are just what you need.


Volterra’s non-structural ceiling beams are available in a selection of different types and styles. Choose between faux steel ceiling beams, faux wood ceiling beams, and natural wood ceiling beams, each of which is available in different textures and finishes. With all the different options available, Volterra makes it easy to find faux ceiling beams for virtually any interior space! Here are some ideas to help you find interior-enhancing decorative beams no matter what the style is.

An image of dark Volterra faux wood beams in a modern farmhouse kitchen.

MODERN FARMHOUSE

If you think back to a few years ago, farmhouse-style interior design was all the rage. That style, however, has evolved into something that is a bit more modern. Modern farmhouse interior design is all about incorporating rustic elements in a fresh and airy way—think Joanna Gains! Both faux wood beams and natural wood box beams can help bring out the best elements in modern farmhouse design.

INDUSTRIAL

An urban look with an edge, industrial interior design is characterized by raw textures, exposed elements, and metal fixtures and finishes. It is a look that is popular in lofts and warehouses. The style emphasizes ample use of exposed steel with distressed wooden elements, frequently complemented by exposed brick walls. Volterra’s faux steel I beams can help you achieve an authentic industrial look. If steel isn’t the vibe you’re going for, decorative wood beams will look great too.

An image of Volterra’s faux steel I beams.
An image of Volterra’s rough sawn faux wood beams in an espresso finish.

TRADITIONAL

Traditional interior design is one of the industry’s most well-known styles. Traditional interiors use ornately detailed tables and chairs made from dark wood, drawing inspiration from 18th & 19th Century England and France. Decorative wood ceiling beams are a perfect addition to these spaces. They help bring out the underpinning elements and important pieces that are incorporated into the overall design of a space.

SOUTHWESTERN

Southwestern interior design encompasses the look of the “Wild West”. While the style melds together elements from multiple cultures and periods of history, it’s translatable to modern homes today. Southwestern interiors gather their inspiration from the soft lines of adobe houses, Spanish textiles, ironwork, and nature. It features various textures and warm color palettes as well. Any of Volterra’s decorative ceiling beams — faux steel, faux wood, or real wood — can be easily incorporated into Southwestern interiors.

An image of Volterra’s faux wood beams in Southwestern style interior design.

No matter what type of interior style you’re looking to enhance, Volterra’s collection of decorative ceiling beams are sure to bring depth and appeal to the space. Shop our selection today to find beams that will compliment your interior design and contact Volterra’s customer support team if you need assistance.

How To Design An Industrial Living Space That You’ll Love Spending Time In

I beam images in an industrial beach houseCreating a stylish living room that is suitable for lounging around and entertaining guests is a fantastic way to make your house feel like a home. While there are many different living room designs that you can incorporate into your space, industrial style living rooms have increased in popularity and have taken the interior design world by storm.

You may think that you need an open-concept loft space or warehouse to achieve the industrial look in your living room, but the truth is that industrial living room design is more than just exposed ductwork and floor-to-ceiling windows. With a few accents, additions, and touches, you can have an industrial vibe to even the most traditional living room. In this blog, our design experts shed some light on industrial interior design and share some simple ways that you can achieve the industrial look in your space.

Elements of Industrial Interior Design

The industrial interior design style came into existence nearly five decades ago, as property developers and architects started to convert warehouses, factories, and other industrial buildings into modern homes. The popularity of the look has increased tenfold in recent years, and shows no signs of slowing down — it’s safe to assume that the industrial interior design style is here to stay. Industrial style interior design typically consists of stripped back architectural details including the use of brick, metal, and wood, as well as salvaged and recycled materials.

How to Create Achieve Your Own Industrial Living Space

The industrial look remains one of the most timeless styles you can achieve for your living room and throughout the rest of your home. The best benefit in creating industrial style spaces is that you’ll have the opportunity to customize the look using furniture and decor that are entirely unique to your home. When planning an industrial style living room for your abode, keep these tips in mind.

1. Utilize Neutral Colors

One of the most notable things about industrial style interior design is the rich color palette it incorporates into your space. Brown, white, black, and other neutral tones create a clean, minimalist, and harmonious look. Consider pairing different shades of brown and tan to get a more relaxing space, adding white elements and black accents to both create clean contrast and character.

2. Open Up Your Space

Warehouses, factories, and other industrial buildings were typically large, open spaces. Industrial living room interior design is often incorporated into spaces with an open concept layout for that reason. However, you can recreate that same feeling in your living room regardless of your surroundings. Make function the focus of the space. Eliminate any clutter and keep pathways clear. Make sure that your living room furniture is arranged in groups to create areas for conversation and relaxation without disrupting the openness of the space. 

3. Incorporate Industrial Style Lighting

Lighting plays a huge role in interior design, especially when it comes to a space like your living room. While every interior style has its own preferred lighting choices, industrial lighting choices are unique in a way that they have the ability to create a statement in your space. The most popular industrial style lighting is made of metal and often consists of a combination of pendants and lamps — the light bulbs often vary in both size and shape and it’s common to find fixtures being hung straight down from the ceiling. Other popular features for industrial style lighting are wood or metal details and unconventional objects, such as repurposed pipes and chains, as parts of the lamps or fixtures.

4. Highlight Exposed Structural Elements

If your space already has exposed structural elements and finishes, you’re already a step ahead of most homeowners that want to achieve the industrial style in their living space. Brick walls, concrete floors, ductwork, and pipes are elements that, besides being typical features of industrial style, are unique to your space and will certainly add character. If you have these elements in your space already, draw attention to them by painting them a contrasting color.

5. Add Metal Accents

Metal accents are another staple of industrial style interior design. In modern living rooms with industrial style, it is common to see metal pieces used to introduce black accents to the space. When thinking about which metal accents to incorporate into your space it is important to remember that, in an industrial interior setting, metal accents can go further than just you may think. Look to add a touch of metal wherever you can to add to the industrial style of the space. Shelving units with a metal structure, tables and chairs with metal legs, and other metal decor and accessories will bring glamour and cohesiveness to your space.

6. Consider Faux Steel Beams

What is the best and easiest way to achieve the industrial look in your living room? Installing faux steel beams is a great start! Faux steel beams manufactured by Volterra Architectural Products are the perfect solution to transforming both the look and feel of your living space. They are manufactured using lightweight hardwood material, making them incredibly easy to install compared to real metal ceiling beams. If your space doesn’t naturally have the exposed structural elements of an industrial building, decorative steel beams are an easy solution. Not only that, but their realistic appearance and black color add appeal, contrast, and depth, to any space in which they are installed. To learn more about faux metal beams, click here.

Industrial interior living room design allows you to achieve a space that embraces antique beauty while still enjoying modern conveniences. Remember, you don’t have to live in an open loft or renovated warehouse to achieve the industrial look you desire. Use the tips above to transform your living room into an industrial setting.

If you are interested in enhancing your space with faux steel beams, Volterra Architectural Products has what you need. If you’re looking for a more rustic design for your space, we also manufacture quality faux wood beams. Shop our selection of decorative ceiling beams today.