Ceiling beams provide an aura of rural charm and stability to a house. Many people who renovate older homes leave exposed ceiling beams that had been hidden for decades. If you have no beams in your house, you can make your own out of pine boards for both structural and decorative purposes. Decorative beams can be lightweight and hollow, but any beam intended for structural use needs to be solid.
Instructions
1. Cut the pine boards to a length several inches longer than the planned final length of your beam. If you have a choice, select the straightest and flattest boards that you have available.
2. Lay the first board on a flat surface, and cover its upper face with a zig-zag line of construction adhesive. Lay the second board on top of it so that their edges are even. Drive several 2-inch-long screws through the two boards to hold them together.
3. Spread construction adhesive on top of the second board, and lay a third board on top of it. Tack this third board onto the other two with several 2-inch-long screws.
4. Spread construction adhesive on top of the third board, and lay a fourth board on top of it. Drive 4-inch-long screws through all four boards to secure them permanently together.
5. Cut the assembly to the desired length with a circular saw.
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