Hardwood flooring
Wood Beams and Ceiling Details
Wood ceiling beams set in place and finished to match the rest of the room.
Wood beams bring the warmth of the floor up to the ceiling. In many of our jobs the same crew builds the floors, the beams, the mouldings, the doors and the cabinetry, so the wood tones are planned together rather than matched afterwards.
Most of the beams we install are decorative box beams or solid timbers fixed to the ceiling structure; the photos on this page show one installation from first beam to last.
How beams are installed
We start by finding the ceiling framing and marking the beam layout on the ceiling, so the spacing is even and lines up with walls, windows and light fixtures.
Each beam is lifted, levelled and fastened into the framing. Hollow box beams are built around a mounting block so they sit tight to the ceiling; solid timbers are fixed with hidden fasteners where the structure allows.
Matching beams to floors and trim
Beams usually look right when they relate to something else in the room — the floor, the doors, the window frames or a mantel. We sample stains on the beam material next to the floor or trim it should match, the same way we do for floors.
Ceiling details can also include wood plank ceilings, coffered layouts and trim where the ceiling meets the wall.
Planning beams with the rest of the room
Beam layout is easiest to get right before the ceiling is finished: lighting, speakers and sprinkler heads can then be placed between the beams instead of being cut around them. On a remodel we mark the beam lines early and coordinate with the electrician.
Beams can also be added to an existing finished ceiling; in that case we find the framing first and plan the fixings around what is already there.
Licensed and bonded — CSLB #625535
How we run the job
- 01Find the ceiling framing and mark the layout.
- 02Build or prepare each beam.
- 03Lift, level and fasten the beams.
- 04Fill, sand and stain to the approved sample.
- 05Walk the room with you before handover.
Our work
Wood Beams & Ceilings: job photos
Questions
Frequently asked questions
- Are the beams structural?
- The beams on this page are decorative. Structural beams are part of a framing or remodeling project and are built to the engineer's drawings under a permit.
- Can beams match my floors and doors?
- Yes. We sample stains on the beam material against the floor or trim so the tones work together.
- How is beam and ceiling work priced?
- Describe the job with "Get your estimate". You get a ballpark from our own price list before the site visit, then a written estimate once we have measured and seen the floor.