Faux wood beams give you the look of heavy timber on a ceiling for a fraction of the weight, cost and install time. Ours are high-density polyurethane resin, made in our Niagara Falls shop. Here's what sizes there are, what they actually cost, and what it takes to put them up.
Why people skip real timber
Real wood beams look great until you price them out. A solid 8"x8" beam is heavy, needs structural support, can check and twist as it dries, and usually needs a crew to lift it.
A faux beam is a hollow, three-sided polyurethane shell with deeply embossed grain and variegated colour. It slides over two wood rails fastened to the ceiling. You get the same look from the floor, and two people can put up a room of beams in an afternoon.
| Real timber | Faux wood beam | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | Heavy, often needs structural support | Light and hollow, hangs on rails fastened to the ceiling |
| Movement | Can crack, check and twist | Won't check, split or twist like solid wood |
| Install | Crew, lifting gear, framing | 2 people, basic tools, no need to hit a joist |
| Hides things | No | Yes, the hollow core can hide wiring, pot light runs or small ducts |
| Finish | Stain and seal on site | Factory finish, or unfinished to paint or stain on site |
Sizes: what fits your room
Our standard 12' beams come in 2"x4", 4"x4", 6"x6" and 8"x8". A rough rule of thumb:
- 2"x4": accents, shallow ceilings, grid and coffered patterns, and trim work like mantels and headers.
- 4"x4" and 6"x6": the everyday choice for living rooms, kitchens and bedrooms with 8' to 10' ceilings.
- 8"x8": high and vaulted ceilings, great rooms and commercial spaces where a small beam gets lost.
Scale is the biggest mistake people make. A beam that looks right in a photo can look skinny on a 16' vaulted ceiling. If you're between two sizes on a tall ceiling, go bigger.
Need a length or size that isn't standard? Use the Beam Builder to design a made-to-order beam. It's built from 0.75" boards to your size, usually in 1 to 4 weeks.
What faux wood beams cost
Prices for our 12' faux woodgrain beams at the time of writing (CAD, per beam):
| Size | Price per 12' beam |
|---|---|
| 2"x4" | $143.59 |
| 4"x4" (BM41212) | $275.92 |
| 6"x6" | $375.02 |
| 8"x8" | $646.15 |
The finish doesn't change the price. Every size comes unfinished or in Rustic Cedar, Spanish Oak, Goose, 609 Cafe or Weathered Wood.
For a typical 12' x 14' living room with three 6"x6" beams across the ceiling, you're looking at about $1,125 in beams before shipping and install. Compare that with solid timber plus the framing to carry it.
Finishes
Every beam comes unfinished or in one of five factory finishes:
- Rustic Cedar
- Spanish Oak
- Goose
- 609 Cafe
- Weathered Wood
Want to match an existing floor or cabinet? Order it unfinished and paint or stain it on site.
How faux beams install
No framing and no need to line up with the joists. The short version:
- Snap two chalk lines per beam. The outside edges of the two rails equal the inside width of the beam.
- Fasten two 2x2 rails to the ceiling on those lines. Screw them into the joists where they cross, or use toggle bolts through the drywall where they don't.
- Cut the beam to length with a mitre saw, one face at a time. Cut a hair long and sand it to fit.
- Slide the beam over the rails. On large beams (12" and up), add a bead of PL Premium adhesive to the rails first.
- Nail through the sides into the rails every 12" to 14", then fill the heads with colour-matched wood putty.
Running wiring for lights? Do it between the rails before the beam goes up.
Watch the 2-minute install video, or read the full step-by-step with a tools list: How to Install Faux Wood Beams.
Shipping in Canada: the honest part
Twelve-foot beams are long, so they usually ship oversize or by freight, not as a normal parcel. That shows at checkout. Two ways to keep it sensible:
- Order all your beams in one shipment. The cost per beam drops a lot compared with ordering one at a time.
- Pick up in Niagara Falls if you're close by. It skips the freight bill completely.
If you're doing a big job, send us the room size and ceiling height. We'll quote beams and shipping together, usually within 24 hours.
Where faux beams work
- Living rooms and great rooms with flat or vaulted ceilings
- Kitchens, over an island or in a grid
- Bedrooms, for a cottage or farmhouse look
- Mantels: see the floating faux wood mantel
- Restaurants, hotels and retail spaces where real timber is too heavy or too costly
- Outdoors: porches, pergolas and exterior soffits. They won't rot or split the way wood does
FAQ
Are faux wood beams cheaper than real wood?
Almost always, once you count the framing, lifting and labour that solid timber needs. The beam itself is often cheaper too.
Can you tell they're fake?
From the floor, no. The grain is deeply embossed and the colour is variegated, the way real wood is. Up close on a low ceiling, go with a heavier-grain finish like Weathered Wood or Rustic Cedar.
How do I install them?
On two wood rails fastened to the ceiling. Full steps in our install guide.
Can faux beams hide wiring?
Yes. The hollow core fits wiring for pot lights or pendants, which is one of the main reasons people choose them.
Where can I buy faux wood beams in Canada?
Right here. We make them in Niagara Falls, Ontario, and ship across Canada. Shop boards and beams or the full faux wood collection.
Can faux beams go outside?
Yes. They're polyurethane resin, so they won't rot, check or split in the weather.
Can I get a custom size?
Yes. Use the Beam Builder, or send us your drawings for a quote.
Ready to spec your ceiling? Shop faux wood beams, or email your room size and ceiling height to customercare@foamcore.ca for a quote within 24 hours.
