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What Are Architectural Beams?

Posted By Volterra Sep 21, 2015

architectural beams was to uphold the structural integrity of buildings. Architectural beams, in building construction engineering, historically were a single solid piece of timber, installed horizontally, across a large opening, and carrying a large load above the opening, such as a floor or a roof. The architectural beams in these instances, would be called either the floor joist or roof joist, respectively. Various materials have been used as beams like, iron, wood, and steel. Over time, architects and designers began to see beams as a way of adding visual interest to high ceilings and began to integrate the aesthetic details of the exposed architectural beams into interior designs. While beams still function as a form of essential support in building construction and the structural design, today they are very often incorporated as a purely decorative feature. Cast from natural wood beams with the surface textures and wood-grain detail of real wood, Volterra’s faux wood ceiling beams perfectly duplicate natural wood. They provide the same visual appeal as solid wood beams without the expense and complex installation. Lifting a natural wood beam requires the work of at least two or three strong people, but Volterra’s architectural beams are made from high-density polyurethane foam (HDF), a fraction of the weight of authentic wood. These fabricated beams offer not only a lighter weight but, resistance to warping, rotting and chipping, and are more affordable than traditional timber architectural beams.