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Installing Faux Wooden Beams - First Part





















Last time I showed you the ceiling in my bedroom it looked very nice after fixing some nasty little problems (nails popping out and water stains).  A good coat of paint, well kind of two coats of paint and it looked as good as new, right?! 


I liked having a nice clean ceiling, but it was boring. 

A high, slanted, "gi-nourmous" space up there that was screaming for something. 
That something was BEAMS.

My plan, install  5, five, cinco beams.  A big, chunky one at the very top and four more, perpendicular to that big one.  Just like this:


Putting together pieces of wood like this:



That would look something like this, on the ceiling:



The first step was to draw some lines to help me picture how they were going to be installed.  That big beam had to be 18" wide, since I wanted that beam to continue the same line as in that wall (left picture below).



Then,chalk lines determined the beams placement.



I began marking the spots where the ceiling joists were located, that's were the 2x4s cleats were going to be screwed to.   A stud finder is the tool that is usually recommended for this, but I simply don't like them, perhaps the one I have is a cheap one that doesn't work how it is supposed.  So, the best way for me to find the joists and be sure of their location is by punching little holes, as you can see in the low right picture, in between those two red lines is where the joist is located, so I marked the center of it.



The top beam was going to be held by two 2x4s.  I had no trouble there, there was plenty of places to drive screws to hold it.

I wanted the other four beams to be spaced symmetrically on the ceiling, two at the ends, along the walls, and two more in the middle but proportionately centered. I was not lucky, there were no joists above them to support their weight.  The solution, go up there to the attic and install supports (red lines in pic), between the joists.



I brought all the tools needed for this project to the room, at times it got very messy, but it was better than going up and down the steps to the coooold garage!

Here cutting the supports, before heading one more time to the attic.



That's what I was doing when I got stuck, remember?   I talked about that HERE.



Well, with the supports in place, I could go ahead and begin installing the 2x4 cleats underneath.  Like this:



While working in the attic I marked (again by punching holes), where the supports had being placed, so the 2x4s were pre-drilled right in those places for an easier install.   (I need to get a new drill - driver  BIG TIME!)



The first one went up.



Then the second.  By the way, I couldn't have done this without the help of my husband, really, holding a 12' 2x4 up there is not that easy, especially with my weak arms. I kept on measuring, cutting, holding and he was holding and driving screws.




Just to make sure those beams stay in place we drove two screws in each marked spot.



We left the space needed, plus 1/4" more, for the beams to fit along both walls.



After two days of work this is how it looked.



Ready to be pretty up a bit more.



Next time, the pretty beams that cover those not so pretty 2x4s.


For the Second Part, Click HERE.
For the third and final part, Click HERE.





60 comments :

  1. I have plans for beams in at least two areas of my house. Question is will I ever get to them! thanks for sharing how you are going about it.

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  2. Ohhhh, I can't wait to see the rest! hurry it along lol:)

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  3. omg! that looks beautiful! but i cannot even imagine how much work you & your husband put into this project Cristina!

    huggies♥
    rea

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  4. I just love and admire your chutzpah! I don't think there is anything you can't do, you are such an inspiration.

    This is going to be amazing!

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  5. Wow, I am impressed so far! We really want to do something similar to this to our living room/kitchen ceiling this summer, so thank you for sharing! It will help us when we are planning out our faux beams. Can't wait to see the final product; I know it will be a stunner!

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  6. I can't believe you did all that!! Well, I can, what I am saying is: that's a lot of work! Well done so far!

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  7. You are so BRAVE my dear Cristina, so brave and daring and I love it! Can't wait!!!!

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  8. Lookin' good. Can't wait to see the finished product!

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  9. Hi, Cristina

    How awesome! I can't wait to see the finished ceiling. You are one handy lady. Have a great weekend.
    Thank you also for stopping by my blog. I always appreciate it.

    Hugs,
    Vanessa

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  10. I can't wait to see how it looks, you are totally my hero for tackling this project! I want to do this in our family room and the hubs is not buying that this could be a DIY :)

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  11. Tu eres una verdadera maestra ufff que gran trabajo estas haciendo . Quiero ver eso terminado
    Muchos cariños

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  12. So far, so good! It is looking great, Cristina. I can't wait to see the finished job- xo Diana

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  13. Can't wait to see it finished. I'd like to do something like this, with beadboard in between in my kitchen and living room (one long ceiling). Thanks for explaining how you are doing it!

    I would love it if you would link this to my new linky party, "What I Accomplished Wednesdays."
    http://www.greenwillowpond.com/2013/01/what-ive-accomplished-wednesday-cha-cha.html

    Have a great weekend!
    Deborah

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  14. That is so awesome! I can't wait to see what it looks like when they're up!

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  15. Cristina, you are amazing!!! You should get the "DIY Woman of the year Award"!!! :) It looks fantastic!!! I have been wanting beams in an area of my home also. I think they give so much character to the room. I can NOT wait to see your project finished!

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  16. How lucky you are to have such high ceilings! It will be amazing. It always seems like the most work put into a project is stuff that is never seen! You are in the homestretch now! Good job.

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  17. P.S. I am going to subscribe by email now. I don't want to miss another post from you! Cheers.

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  18. Cristina, que gran trabajo estás haciendo! y que importante todo lo que mostrás acerca de tomar las medidas, marcar, cuidar todos esos detalles importantísimos, realmente muy Profesional el trabajo que estás realizando! Cariños,
    Victoria

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  19. You go, girl! This looks great and what a big difference it's going to make to your room! Blessings, Tammy

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  20. Wow! This is so impressive, I can't wait to see the end results.

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  21. Realmente Increible, eres genial, no me imagino ni de lejos haciendo algo parecido, puedes estar orgullosa.

    Marina

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  22. Wow! you're a really handy woman, indeed. You're ceiling is stunning!

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  23. This is the Best.Project.Ever! I wish I had some nice high ceilings because I totally would steal this idea. I can't wait to see how it comes out!

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  24. How exciting! Can't wait to see how it comes out!!! I am now following you via facebook, twitter and pinterest.

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  25. LOVE! I plan on doing something like this in the master bathroom. Thank you so much for your detailed tutorial. I very much respect all the hard work your are doing and crawling in the attic. Very much looking forward to the finished product!

    Julie

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  26. WOW! Super Woman does exist! These are going to look incredibly, absolutely awesome! Way to go, Cristina (and hubs)!

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  27. SO gorgeous! I am totally pinning this because I want to do something like it in my daughter's room. Great work!

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  28. I am sooo impressed! I seriously love what you are doing! Truly you inspire me! I can't wait to see the finished product!

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  29. Thank you for sharing so much detail about supporting the beams! I've been thinking about beams for bigger rooms. Big blank ceilings are so boring. This will look fantastic in your room!

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  30. Cristina, you are amazing and your project is fabulous. Architectural elements like this make all the difference in the feel of a place. I can't wait to see how it turns out. Bravo on tackling this project!
    Liz

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  31. WOW...you are something! Can't wait to see this finished!
    Visiting from Met Monday...following too.
    Blessings,
    Cindy

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  32. You are seriously a rock star, Cristina! :) I love how much you shared here so others could try this out. I can't wait to see it finished. :) Megan

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  33. Christina! You are SOOOO good at getting things done. What a go getter you are! I'm so impressed. I know it's going to look simply awesome when you're all done. So exciting! Can't wait! You go girl!

    Debbie

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  34. Oh wow! You are amazing - that is going to look SOOOO good! Can't wait!

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  35. WOW! I love how crisp and fresh this room looks and feels! Thanks for sharing!

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  36. really impressive! You go girl, don't think , well i know i couldn't do it. measuring and i really don;t jive.

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  37. WOW - I thought I was the only one that got stuck in my attic. You are such an inspiration - so glad your husband was there to help you!!!!

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  38. What a fantastic job! The room looks beautiful... You go girl!

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  39. Amazing!!! I love the pics of you! You are a rockstar with the tools!

    Thanks for sharing!
    --Katie

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  40. Wow, you are rockin' those tools! Woohooo, Girl Power! :-) Love your inspiration picture - your ceiling is going to look great when it's all done :-)

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  41. I would love to have beams added. You are so good. I need you to come to my house.

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  42. Wow, this is amazing! I am visiting you via Wow Us Wednesday and I would love for you to stop by :)

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  43. Wow! Good work!! Can't wait to see the finished results ;)

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  44. What a lot of work you have done! Thank you so much for this tutorial, this will be helpful to many. I look forward to the seeing the finished product!

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  45. Your bedroom is going to be amazing! I have a great respect for a girl that can rock the power tools!

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  46. Wow, the transformation is absolutely amazing. Gorgeous. Hugs, Marty

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  47. wow.
    You have drive! You have inspiration and design. You are amazing. You and your husband are creative and inspiring....I can only dream of such endeavors. Great job and I can't wait for the rest!
    Nancy
    http://wildoakdesigns.blogspot.com

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  48. Cristina! Your are amazing! I love beams and this is fabulous! You go girl! Thank you for joining Home Sweet home and showing us how to do all this fabulous stuff!
    Sherry

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  49. Thank you soooo much for the detailed how to! Can't wait for the rest! I have the exact same ceiling in my living room and have hated it forever! I've wanted beams but just didn't know how I wanted it done. What about lighting?? Are you going to do that? I was thinking about doing the holes in the beams for the lights. Any ideas??
    Thanks so much.

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  50. You've got way to much energy for me... we built on a second floor to a home about 20 years ago, all by ourselves! I think I used up all my BIG energy projects like this then, but I can't wait to see how it looks done... I bet GORGEOUS!!! Way to go!
    ~Pendra

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  51. whoa...you're Wonder Woman, this will be so amazing!!

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  52. your so ambitious!! I am actually purchasing some faux wood like beams for our ceiling. I dont know how you did it but it is going to look fabulous!

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  53. What a great idea to add the beams to your ceiling, Cristina! I'm looking forward to seeing the finished pictures. I am amazed that you took a job like this on yourself. I'm impressed! : )

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  54. Amazing job! We did a very similar treatment to our vaulted ceiling in our living room, but I gotta hand it to you, there was no way I was going to get up there and do it, I had help and lots of it. (but by the looks of your picture, I am more than double your age ;)) You go girl!! Little Bit from www.DecorateWithaLittleBit.com

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  55. awesome project, cristina!

    popping over via frenchcountrycottage and hope you'll stop by when you have a moment.

    smiles to you and happy weekend.

    michele

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  56. Great wooden work done here.Thanks to post this informative blog.I like your blog.

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  57. And I thought I was pretty awesome for standing on a ladder with a nail gun. The pic of you in the attic just made me feel like a major lightweight, lol.

    It looks great!

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