Exposed wood beam ceilings lend a rustic look to a room.
If you want to add a rustic look to a room, and your ceilings are over 8 feet tall, you can make a beam ceiling. Typically, exposed beam ceilings are done when a house is built, but you can still get this look long after your house is finished. This project is best used on ceilings that are either flat or vaulted.
Instructions
1. Use a stud finder to locate the ceiling joists. Mark each spot with a pencil. You will need to run the beams horizontally across these joists.
2. Measure the width of the ceiling with measuring tape. This will be the length that you will need to cut each beam to. Write down your measurements.
3. Trim the 2-by-4s to fit with a circular saw. For example, if the beams need to be 14 feet to cross the ceiling, trim the 2-by-4s to 14 feet in length.
4. Sand the wood beams with a fine-grit sanding block. This is necessary for the stain to soak in properly.
5. Stain the wood with the desired color of wood stain. Brush on at least one coat with a paintbrush. Go with the grain of the wood. Let the first coat dry for four hours. Sand lightly before applying a second coat and before moving to the next step.
6. Apply one coat of polyurethane to the beams. Use a paintbrush and go with the grain of the wood. Let this coat dry for eight hours before hanging the beams.
7. Install the beams with a nail gun. Angle the gun up from the side edge of the beam into the ceiling joist. Drive one nail into the beam for each joist. Repeat until all of the beams have been installed.
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