To this day, wood remains one of the most popular building materials. It is used for interior decoration in different styles - from classic to modern. With the help of wood, you can bring cosiness to the room and add color to it. Wooden decorative elements do not lose relevance, among them should be highlighted:
- frame constructions;
- lining surfaces;
- imitation of beams on the walls and ceiling.
However, it is not always permissible to use a real beam, in this case, a full replacement can come to the rescue, which are false beams.
Material for false beams
A false beam can be made of natural wood, but the products in this case will turn out to be quite expensive and will require the need for care during operation. This requirement will be relevant even if the material is well processed, because natural processes and constantly changing environmental conditions, such as temperature drops, high humidity and poor ventilation, can cause drying out and putrefactive formations. The design subsequently may simply collapse.
Artificial counterpart
Not all rooms have load-bearing walls, and the ceiling is highly durable to use full-fledged wooden beams. In this case, a false beam is used, which is an analog. This element can also be made of polyurethane, which guarantees durability, lightness and ease of installation.
Plastic does not decay, does not require special care and does not burn. Modern technology allows you to get textures that are almost no different from real wood. Such products most often have a hollow space inside, which makes them a decorative element and an excellent masking tool for ceiling communications. In addition, a false beam by you can very well be made independently of foam or drywall, the surface of these materials is glued with a special film in imitation of wood.
DIY fake beams
If you decide to create a structure of beams, you can use edged boards during the work . In this case, the work will require the preparation of special tools. You will need carpentry, which every home master can find in his arsenal. In addition to them, you should prepare:
- edged boards;
- grinding machine;
- screwdriver;
- set of sandpaper;
- carpentry ax;
- drill.
When you are preparing edged boards, it is best to prefer the old ones, but those that are reliable and high density. The grinding machine should have wire brushes of different stiffness, this will allow to process the material qualitatively.
Methodology
When a false beam is made, it should be borne in mind that it will form the basis of the box. Boards must be selected in such a way that the direction of the texture and the pattern coincide. To get an inconspicuous joint, you need to assemble the structure in the shape of the letter P, using special bars to connect. The block on the self-tapping screws is fixed to the side boards, at the next stage the joint should be smeared with glue and the crossbar is fixed. On this we can assume that the design is completed.
To decorate the joint of the beam should be puttied and painted. False ceiling beams are often made in imitation of aged wood. To do this, use special techniques. With an ax on the surface of the product, you need to create chips and notches, without disregarding the angle. The depth of such notches should be insignificant, only this way you will not violate the strength of the beam.
The next step is to use a stiff wire brush that is pre-fixed on the grinder. With its help, you should process the array so that fresh notches can be smoothed out and give them an aged look. The surface is processed by a grinding wheel. When a false beam is made of wood, it is necessary to clean cuts and dents from dust.
Material Finish
It will be possible to carry out these works using a soft wire brush. At this stage, we can assume that all wood defects are smoothed and prepared for treatment with stain and antiseptics.
Wood processing from the inside is also necessary, this will protect the material from exposure to insects and putrefactive formations. It is important to choose the right stain solution to bring the shade to the desired intensity. Only in this way will the beam look harmonious. The dried surface will become rough. If you process it with a fine-grained sandpaper by hand, the base will be ready for applying varnish or another coating in the form of a patina.
Production of polyurethane beams
False ceiling polyurethane beams also found their wide distribution today. They are characterized by low cost, lightness, ease of manufacture and attractive appearance. An additional advantage is that you can do such products with your own hands. You can use the foam that remained after the repair, if you have in the recent past carried out insulation of walls or other surfaces.
An alternative solution is to purchase this material in a hardware store. Perfectly fit 5-cm sheets, which must first be cut into separate strips. If there are separate fragments of blanks, then you can glue them together using PVA glue. The next step is to take a self-adhesive film, which is made in imitation of wood.
You can buy it in the departments of wallpaper. When a false beam is made of polyurethane with its own hands, the next step is to glue the film on all sides with a film. You should not try to stick it on the entire beam at once, first you need to cut it into separate fragments. In the end, such a combination will be invisible, but the work will be much easier.
If you want to achieve the perfect result, then it is better to perform gluing, with the help of a second person. At the installation stage, the beam must be fixed to one of the walls at the desired height. Next, you need to make markings, focusing on the horizontal level. You can glue such beams on PVA glue. It is more convenient to use compared to liquid nails. However, the glue does not set immediately, it requires the support of products under pressure for some time. However, if the amount of glue applied is calculated correctly, then you can wait for the glue to set in 3 minutes.
Beam Installation Recommendations
False beams, the ceiling with which you will decorate, must be installed using dowels, nails or self-tapping screws. To mask the joints, pads will be needed, and corner mounts will allow you to decorate the corresponding nodes. For polyurethane products, profile elements should be prepared. The adhesive composition for this material usually contains toxins, so it is undesirable to be indoors during the drying of the mixture.
Drywall beams
As a material for the manufacture of false beams, gypsum board is excellent, in addition to it, you will need the following tools:
- screwdriver or drill;
- pencil;
- sharp knife;
- metallic profile;
- drywall;
- hammer drill;
- hacksaw;
- self-tapping screws;
- dowels.
On the ceiling surface, at the first stage, marking should be done for the installation of such products. Along the applied line to the ceiling, the suspensions are strengthened with dowels, and the design of the decorative product must be assembled from the metal profile. For sheathing the beams with a sharp knife, the sidewalls and the lower surface of the desired size are cut out of the GCR. Drywall sheets should be screwed to the profile with screws. At the final stage, it is necessary to process the beams with a primer and putty.
Conclusion
False wooden ceiling beams can be quite expensive. Alternative solutions are beams made of other materials, for example, drywall, polyurethane or old boards. This type of decor is usually used when decorating a room in a country style. It is very popular with owners of suburban real estate and private houses in the city. Sometimes such elements fulfill not only the role of decorating the interior, but also have a functional purpose.