Installing Faux Wooden Beams - the Reveal

This is the last one of three posts. If you are new here, go HERE to see the first part on installing the supports.

The second part HERE was all about installing that big beam at the top of the ceiling.

Today is all about the remaining beams and the reveal.  

We began working on the first beam near the entrance of the room, in this next picture, the one at the far right. The best candidate to do those first cuts, since it's the "hidden" beam. ;)

It got measured, and with the numbers at hand, it was ready to be cut. 

But wait a minute, this is a slanted ceiling! That was one of the things I was most afraid of when I began thinking of doing this project. I'm not that great a mathematician; transferring angles onto the wood isn't my thing.

Not this time! I used a sliding bevel to measure the angles, and then I set the miter saw to that angle.  

As simple as that, just by looking. No numbers involved. ;)

For that first beam, I cut each piece separately, at the same length and at the corresponding angles.

When it was time to assemble it, the bottom piece was laid on top of the ¼" samples (for the reveal). The sides were clamped one at a time at its sides, while the nails were driven. 

BUT it was hard to drive the nails like that, on the side.   Right there in that picture below, one of the nails went the wrong way, popping out on the bottom of the beam. :(   I got it out and continued assembling. 

To my surprise, the ends on that beam didn't match perfectly, even though I had been careful to cut everything to the same length! It wasn't that big of a difference, but it did bother me. 

Installing the beams alongside the walls was tricky. Walls are not perfectly straight, nor are the 2x4s.  

Since one side cannot be nailed to the support, we applied liquid nails to that edge and then installed the beam. It was such a super tight fit that we had to bang it in place with a mallet, protecting the beam with an extra piece of wood. 

Then it was nailed to the 2x4 support on the open side. Just like that, it stayed in place, but to be extra secure, some nails were driven from the bottom of the beam, the reveal lip, onto the studs on the wall.

For the remaining beams, I changed how things were done.  

The beams were first assembled and then trimmed to the final size. 

The nails were driven from the top, placing a temporary piece of wood inside the beam as support, as shown in the picture below. A more straightforward setup for me.

Trimming the entire wooden beam presented a challenge for my precarious tool supply.

That first beam was cut piece by piece because I thought my cheap saw wasn't big enough to cut all the way through if the beam was assembled, but after the bad experience I had, it was time to try something different.

I put together some spare pieces of wood and cut them. It didn't go all the way through, but it wasn't that bad either. There was a tiny bit left uncut, so I finished the cut with a hand saw. That's how I proceeded with all the remaining beams.

 
It is essential to pay close attention to the angle direction. I had to flip the beam to make the second cut because my saw can only cut those angles in one direction.

Installing the beams in the center of the room was the easiest! 

They are not heavy, you drive the nails on each side and LISTO! No problem.

We continued with the third and then the final beam until it was all done.

Really? Well, no, not completely done.   

It was time for caulking, the magic of caulking. I love how good wood projects look after you caulk them.  

Look at the difference!

Huh, remember that nail that went wrong?  

That's the hole it created while pulling it out. 

After covering all those nail holes, a good sanding is a must.

Once again, I'm wearing my painting uniform to cover all those marks.

The entire ceiling got a new coat.  

The same stain-blocking paint was applied.

Now it was time to paint the beams.  

Since I don't have a steady hand, it was easier for me to tape them all around.

And F I N A L L Y,  here they are, all finished! :)

One before pic to see the difference.

Oh my, I'm loving them!

Even though the room is still a mess, I feel so giddy every time I get this picture of the beams at the top of the steps.

They sure make a big difference!



Here again, after building the bookcases and installing a chandelier.

Wood Beams First Part
Wood Beams Second Part