Faux wood beams go up in an afternoon with two people and basic tools. You fasten two thin wood rails to the ceiling, slide the hollow beam over them, and nail it off. No framing, no lifting gear, and no need to line up with the joists.
Our beams are high-density polyurethane resin, made in our Niagara Falls shop. They're hollow and light, with deep embossed grain and variegated colour, so they cut and fasten like wood without the weight.
Watch it first
Here's the whole install in under 2 minutes, from our shop. The written steps below go into more detail.
Tools and materials
Tools
- Stud finder
- Tape measure, pencil and speed square
- Chalk line
- Drill/driver with a 1/4" bit, plus a larger bit to suit your toggle bolts
- Power mitre saw (fastest), or a fine-tooth hand saw. A Japanese pull saw gives the cleanest hand cut
- Scoring tool or utility knife
- Orbital sander or sanding block
- Finish nailer, or a hammer and nail set
- Caulking gun
- Ladders, and a second person
Materials
- Faux wood beams (shop beams)
- 2x2 lumber for the mounting rails, 2 rails per beam
- Toggle bolts or strap toggle anchors. Use screws instead where a rail crosses a joist
- Polyurethane construction adhesive. We recommend PL Premium
- Finish nails or finish-head screws
- Wood putty in a colour that matches the beam finish
How the system works
Each beam hangs on a pair of 2x2 rails fastened to the ceiling. The rails sit inside the hollow beam, spaced so the beam slides over them snugly. Then the beam is nailed through its sides into the rails.
This means your beams can run in any direction. If they run across the joists, screw the rails straight into the joists. If they run parallel to the joists and never cross one, use toggle bolts through the drywall. Both work.
Step 1: Find the joists
Use a stud finder to locate the ceiling joists and mark them with painter's tape. This tells you which fastening method you'll need. Once the rail lines are drawn, the tape can come down.
Step 2: Lay out the beams
- Decide how far apart the beams will be and mark the centre line of each one.
- Measure the inside width of a beam. That number is the distance between the outside edges of its two rails.
- From each centre mark, measure half that distance to each side and mark it. Do this at both ends of the room.
Shortcut: cut a scrap of wood to the beam's inside width and use it as a gauge to mark both rail lines at once.
Step 3: Snap the rail lines
Tap a small nail into the mark at one wall. Hook the chalk line over it, walk it to the matching mark on the opposite wall, pull it tight and snap. Repeat for the second rail line. You now have two parallel lines for each beam.
Step 4: Put up the rails
- Mark each 2x2 rail every 36" and drill a 1/4" hole at each mark.
- With a helper, hold the rail against the ceiling with its outside edge right on the chalk line.
- Drill through the rail holes into the ceiling to mark the fastener spots.
- Crossing a joist: screw the rail into the joist. Drywall only: enlarge the ceiling hole to fit your toggle bolt.
- Toggle bolt: push the bolt through the rail, thread on the toggle, fold the wings back, push it up through the ceiling hole and tighten until the rail pulls tight to the ceiling. Strap toggle anchor: insert the anchor, slide the cap up to the ceiling, snap off the straps, then bolt the rail to it.
- Put up the second rail the same way, edge on its line.
- Check the fit: slide a short scrap of beam over the pair of rails before moving on. It should slide on snug, not tight.
Repeat for every beam.
Step 5: Measure and cut the beams
- Measure the run from wall to wall along the rails, and transfer it to the beam.
- Score the cut line on all three sides with a speed square and a scoring tool. A scored line is easier to see than pencil on dark finishes.
- Mitre saw (fastest): cut one face, rotate the beam and cut the next. Most blades can't get through a beam in one pass.
- Hand saw: cut one side at a time, turning the beam as you go. A fine-tooth pull saw gives a smooth, controlled cut.
- Cut a hair long and sand to the line. Walls are rarely square, so sanding to fit gives you a tight joint at both ends.
Need a run longer than 12'? Ask us before you order. We'll work out the best way to join lengths, or build a custom length with the Beam Builder.
Step 6: Hang the beams
- For large beams, 12" and up, run a bead of PL Premium along the outside edges of both rails first.
- Slide the beam up over the rails, tight to the ceiling.
- Fasten through the sides of the beam into the rails with finish nails or finish-head screws every 12" to 14".
- Set the heads just below the surface and fill them with colour-matched wood putty.
Repeat until every beam is up.
Tips from the shop
- Two people for the rails. One holds, one drives. It's faster and the lines stay straight.
- Test fit before every beam. A scrap of beam on the rails catches spacing mistakes before they cost you a full-length cut.
- Order all your beams at once. One shipment is cheaper per beam, and the colour stays consistent.
- Need a custom size or length? Use the Beam Builder.
FAQ
Do faux beams have to attach to the joists?
No. Screw into the joists where the rails cross them. Otherwise, toggle bolts through the drywall hold the rails. The beams are light.
Can I cut faux wood beams with a regular saw?
Yes. A mitre saw is fastest, and a fine-tooth hand saw works too. Cut one face at a time and rotate the beam.
How far apart should the rails be?
The outside edges of the two rails should equal the inside width of the beam, so the beam slides over snug.
Do I need adhesive?
We recommend PL Premium on large beams, 12" and up. On smaller beams, finish nails every 12" to 14" into the rails do the job.
Can I install faux beams outside?
Yes. They're polyurethane resin, so they hold up outside. Use exterior-grade screws and fasteners for the rails.
Can I hide wiring in the beams?
Yes. The beams are hollow, so you can run wiring for pot lights or pendants between the rails before the beam goes up.
Planning a ceiling? Shop faux wood beams, or send your room size and ceiling height to customercare@foamcore.ca for a quote within 24 hours.
