A beam ceiling is a ceiling with uncovered structural beams. The beams had been initially squared off timber–and even the timber themselves–with branches and bark eliminated. Structural beams maintain up roofs, second flooring, mezzanines, and galleries.
Wooden ceiling beams are sometimes seen in vaulted ceilings. They’re a staple of log house constructing. Many flat-roofed buildings use beams to help the roof. This design look has led to the incorporation of fake beams being added to traditional ceilings. Fake ceiling beams are ornamental and add to the load of a ceiling as an alternative of supporting the load.
Uncovered ceilings are a preferred design idea. Leaving ground or ceiling joists uncovered is a method of getting an uncovered beam ceiling with out the heavy beams.
Beam Ceiling Historical past
Very early beam ceilings had been fabricated from timber, saplings, and branches used to help roofs. They spanned the open space between partitions–permitting varied supplies to be added. As instruments and design information improved, so did beams. Timber had been manufactured into longer, stronger beams able to supporting bigger, heavier roofs.
Uncovered beams turned a traditional development approach for many buildings–from cottages to castles. Examples might be discovered all through Europe and many of the northern hemisphere. Uncovered wooden ceiling beams have been utilized in all international locations the place wooden is out there.
The usage of massive beams was steadily changed by milled dimensional lumber within the 1800s. Publish-WW II transforming initiatives hid beams by reducing ceilings to scale back heating and cooling prices or so as to add a second ground. Decrease ceilings additionally make cleansing simpler.
Structural or Ornamental Ceiling Beams?
Structural and ornamental ceiling beams can be found in a number of designs. Folks just like the pure comfortable aged wooden feel and look of unique beams or reclaimed wooden field beams. Many have the unique axe or noticed marks making for a one-of-a-kind look. These beams may also be painted, stained, or oiled. Cleansing could be a problem.
Ornamental fake beams fabricated from extruded polystyrene or fiberglass are simple to put in. They are often painted or stained to match the home design.
Structural Ceiling Beams
Structural uncovered beams are a part of the constructing envelope development. They help roofs, and second flooring, and might be a part of the system that retains partitions plumb. Manufactured of stable hardwood or metal, they weigh a whole lot of kilos and require heavy gear to put in. To not point out that engineering and design approval is required in most jurisdictions.
Ornamental Ceiling Beams
Ornamental ceiling beams–additionally referred to as fake ceiling beams–are put in to imitate uncovered beam ceilings. They supply the look with out the load. DIY fake wooden ceiling beams usually are not troublesome to make and set up. Assemble U-shaped packing containers. Set up cleats to the ceiling connected to the framing. Set up the packing containers over the cleats and screw them from the edges. Paint or stain them earlier than placing them up.
Prepared-made fake ceiling beams are additionally out there. Fabricated from polystyrene or molded fiberglass, they’re gentle and straightforward to put in. They’re out there in varied sizes and styles that appear to be actual wooden or metal beams. They are often stained or painted earlier than set up.
Forms of Beamed Ceilings
Listed below are a number of of the extra attention-grabbing and/or acquainted forms of uncovered beam ceilings.
Historic Structural Ceiling Beams
Previous to 1920, most homes used heavy structural beams for roof development. Many had typical plaster or wooden flat ceilings added later. Eradicating the traditional ceiling from an older home might open up a world of vaulted ceiling beams that may be became a real uncovered beam ceiling.
Hammerbeam Roof System
Hammerbeam roof help programs are typical of English Gothic Structure. It retains the vast majority of help near the partitions and roof deck. Leaving the middle of the vault unobstructed.
Hammerbeams are roof trusses with out the engineered central webbing utilized by trendy trusses. Constructed of heavy timber, they not solely help the roof however open up vaulted ceilings to supply massive and ethereal rooms.
The design could be very distinctive with heavy curved beams supplying help for heavy roof beams. Hammerbeam trusses might be added to current sloped ceiling or vaulted ceiling designs utilizing non-structural field beams.
Field Beams
Field beams are three-sided fake ceiling beams put in on varied ceiling finishes to mimic stable wooden. They’re out there in lots of manufactured textures and colours–together with hand-hewn, band noticed, and clean–amongst others. Some corporations make them with reclaimed wooden.
Field beams are sometimes used to create coffered ceilings. They’re additionally used to mimic uncovered beam ceilings–each typical flat ceilings and vaulted ceilings. Any room with beams–stable or fake–wants greater than common peak to showcase the complete impact of beam ceilings. Heavy-looking wooden beams in rooms with nine-foot-high or decrease ceilings might be overpowering.
Fashionable vaulted ceilings are constructed utilizing scissor trusses. Then they’re drywalled. Fake vaulted ceiling beams are added to supply rustic seems and design selection. Most uncovered beams used on flat typical ceilings are additionally fake beams connected to the trusses.
Metal Beams
Metal I-beams may also be utilized in uncovered beam ceilings. Metal beams–structural or fake–present a industrial or industrial look made common in transformed warehouses. Both kind of beam might be painted to match the room’s decor. Extruded polystyrene or fiberglass fake metal beams may also be stained.
Structural metal beams ought to solely be put in with an engineer’s certification. Metal beams–particularly any fabricated from softer metal–can have extra deflection distance than is secure or fascinating.
Uncovered Joist Beams
Uncovered joists are technically uncovered beam ceilings. Wooden joists don’t appear to be wooden beams. They’re narrower and taller–1 ½ “ extensive and as much as 12” excessive. Some are engineered Truss Joist I-Joist (TJI) fabricated from stable wooden tops and bottoms and chipboard in between within the type of an I.
Many uncovered joist beams are a part of an uncovered ceiling. Very often ducts, wires, pipes, and bracing are seen. Many uncovered ceilings are painted all one colour. Black or darkish grey are common choices. A cleaner much less cluttered look might be had by rerouting as a lot of the wiring, ducts, and pipes as doable. Be cautious eradicating braces. It might compromise the structural integrity.
