Beams installed on the face of vaulted ceilings demand attention.
Exposed wood beams are a popular architectural element, especially in Spanish and Mediterranean designs. Modern wood beams are designed to look heavy and solid, though they are often hollow boxes connected to more solid elements underneath. Since the placement of the wooden beam on your vaulted ceiling is often placed in the peak, it can't always be adjusted to line up with a joist above a ceiling. The use of hollow boxes is preferable in this situation to reduce the weight of the beam and ensure the anchors are strong enough to support this architectural element.
Instructions
Create the Beam and Supporting Blocks
1. Earmark a place to hang the beam on the vaulted ceiling. Make sure the preferred beam placement won't interfere with other installed items such as lights and ceiling fans.
2. Measure the length of the space where the wood beam will be installed with a tape measure. Use a stepladder to reach the ceiling.
3. Extend a chalk line across the ceiling to represent the center of the beam; ask two people to hold each end of the line or secure it in place at one end with a pushpin. Place a level against different portions of the line to make sure it is even. Then snap the chalk line and use it as a visual marker for installing the beam.
4. Cut two pieces of wood the exact length of the measured space, using a circular saw. The height of each piece should be between 7 inches and make the width of each piece 1/2 inch.
5. Cut a third piece of wood the exact same length and width as the previous two pieces of wood but make its height 5 inches.
6. Cut several solid blocks out of the wood. Cut the blocks 4 inches long, 4 1/2 inches wide and 6 1/2 inches tall. Cut enough blocks to place one every 4 feet of the beam length. For example, if the space is 24 inches long, cut six blocks.
7. Place two 5 13/16-inch flat brackets on top of each wood block. Position one bracket 1/2 inch from the left edge and the other 1/2 inch from the right edge of the block. Make sure the two center screw holes in the bracket are centered on the top of the block, while the two additional screw holes extend past the block.
8. Mark the screw holes with a pencil. Remove the bracket and drill pilot holes into the mark with an electric drill. Replace the bracket and screw it into place with 2-inch deck screws. Repeat the process to secure two flat brackets to each of the cut blocks.
9. Place the third piece of cut wood that is 5 inches high flat on a work surface. Stand two identical pieces cut beforehand on each side of the third piece. Hammer nails through the side pieces into the third piece. You have the bottom and sides of a hollow beam structure connected by nails. This beam structure will fit over the wood blocks cut in Step 6.
Install the Beam On the Vaulted Ceiling
10. Position the 4-inch by 4 1/2-inch by 6 1/2-inch cut blocks every 4 feet on the center of the ceiling beam line. Mark the screw holes extending on each side of the block's flat brackets with a pen.
11. Predrill the marked screw holes with a Phillips screwdriver or electric drill. Twist toggle bolts into each screw hole.
12. Align the bevel-cut block screw holes with each predrilled hole. Secure the blocks in place, driving a screw through the block into the preset toggle bolts with a Phillips screwdriver or an electric drill.
13. Place the wood beam over each bevel-cut block. Secure the beam to the blocks with deck screws that are 2 inches long or longer.
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