Hey everyone! We recently got a structural beam installed on our first floor, and my wife wants it to have that natural wood look. However, I'm running into some challenges figuring out how to make it happen within our constraints. The beam is 9' long, 3.5" wide, and <11.75" from the lowest point to the ceiling. We need it to be flush with the drywall on the left side, so whatever we choose needs to be 1/2" thick or less. Here are the specific requirements:
- Must be flat, not rough-sawn wood
- Needs to be real wood so we can re-stain it later if her color preferences change
- No visible seams allowed, but corner seams are okay
- Should show a natural wood grain
- Our budget is around $300 max
- We're hoping to complete this project in 4 weeks or less
I've looked into several options but I'm still stumped:
1. Faux beams are too thick and costly.
2. Hard to find solid wood in the right dimensions.
3. Vinyl wraps may not look realistic enough for her taste.
4. Rough sawn wood isn't preferred.
5. Wood veneer has a minimum order that's too high.
6. I found grained plywood but it's hard to source a 10' piece now.
Any suggestions would be super helpful! Thanks!
1 Answer
You might want to try using clear, straight-grained pine if you have the tools for it. Miter the edges of three pieces and glue them together around the beam. The grain can match up quite well if you choose the boards carefully. Plus, using a sanding sealer before staining will help it look polished!
Thanks for the tip! I can use my step-dad’s table saw to make those 45 degree cuts. I just need to find pine that’s 1/2" thick and 9' long. Should I keep calling lumber yards or try to cut down thicker boards?