Installing Faux Wooden Beams - the Reveal

Installing Faux Wooden Beams: The Grand Reveal

Welcome to the final installment of our ceiling transformation! If you've been following along, you know this project has been a labor of love (and a bit of math-induced anxiety). This is the third and final post in the series. 

If you're just joining us, you'll definitely want to catch up on the journey:

• Part 1: How to Install the 2x4 Beam Supports

• Part 2: Installing the Massive Ridge Beam

Today, we are tackling the remaining beams and finally showing off the big reveal. Grab your mallet and let's get to work!

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Starting with the "Hidden" Beam

We kicked things off with the beam closest to the room's entrance (the one on the far right in the photo below). This was the perfect "guinea pig" because, being tucked away, it was the best candidate for those first experimental cuts.

I measured everything twice, but then I hit a mental roadblock: the slanted ceiling!

Transferring angles onto wood has never been my forte, and I'm definitely no mathematician. However, I found a foolproof workaround! 

Instead of stressing over numbers, I used a sliding bevel to capture the ceiling's angle, and then transferred that directly to my miter saw. 

No complex math, just a simple visual guide.

Learning the Hard Way: Assembly Tips

For that first beam, I cut the sides and the bottom piece separately before assembling them. I laid the bottom piece on 1/4" spacers to create the "reveal" lip and clamped the sides while driving in the nails.

The Lesson: Nailing into the side was surprisingly tricky. In fact, one nail went rogue, popping out through the bottom of the beam. Even though I was careful, the ends didn't match up perfectly. It was a small gap, but it bothered me!

Overcoming "Wonky" Walls

Installing beams against a wall is its own brand of tricky. Neither walls nor 2x4s are ever perfectly straight. Since I couldn't nail one side of the beam into the support, I used Liquid Nails on that edge for a permanent bond.

The fit was so tight we had to use a mallet to bang it into place—pro tip: always use a scrap piece of wood to protect your beam from the mallet strikes! 

To finish, I nailed it into the 2x4 support on the open side and drove a few extra nails through the "reveal" lip into the wall studs for peace of mind.

Refining the Process

By the second beam, I had a better plan: Assemble first, trim later.

Instead of nailing from the side, I drove nails from the top. I placed a temporary support block inside the beam to keep everything steady, which was a much more straightforward setup.

I was initially worried my budget-friendly miter saw wouldn't cut through a fully assembled beam. 

As it turns out, it almost made it! 

I finished the tiny remaining bit with a hand saw. Just remember: pay close attention to the angle direction. I had to flip the beam to make the second cut because my saw only tilts in one direction.

The Home Stretch: Center Beams and Finishing

The center beams were a breeze! They aren't heavy at all. We just slid them over the supports and nailed them to each side with 1-1/4 brad nails.

Then the third, followed by the final wall-beam, until they were all done.

Well, almost. Every DIYer knows the real magic happens in the finishing stages:

• Caulking: I call this "DIY Magic." It conceals every imperfect joint and makes the wood look as if it were built into the house.

• Patching & Sanding: Remember that rogue nail? I filled the hole, let it dry, and sanded everything smooth.

• Paint: After donning my "painting uniform," I applied a fresh coat of stain-blocking paint to the ceiling. 

To paint the beams, I used painter's tape to get those crisp edges since my hand isn't the steadiest, and applied Behr White semi-gloss finish.

The Reveal: Before and After

Are you ready? Let's look at where we started versus where we are now.

Here you can see them from different angles.

I am absolutely giddy every time I walk up the stairs and see these beams. 

They add so much architectural interest and warmth to the room. Even with the ongoing renovation mess, this change makes a massive difference!

It looks even better now that the newly built bookcases are in and the chandelier is hanging. It finally feels like a home.

What do you think? 

Would you tackle faux beams in your own home? If you have questions about the process or the tools I used, drop a comment below!



Click HERE to go back to part one.

Click HERE to go back to part two.