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Edz
Senior Member
Joined: 10 Oct 2006
Posts: 163
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 Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 11:29 am Post subject: Installing a Feature Oak Beam |
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Hi. I want to install an oak beam in my ceiling for decorative effect.
I don't want it to take any load and the extension shell is already built. I thought that I would fix a couple of bearers, say 8 x 2's to each wall running from floor to ceiling and sit my beam on that. For a bit of added support I thought I'd screw 2 or 3 lengths of wall plate strap into the top of the beam and then screw these to the joists prior to plastering, just for good measure.
Does this sound like a sensible approach? |
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big-all
Pro Carpenter
Joined: 16 Dec 2006
Posts: 2775
Location: redhill surrey an auld reekie laddie
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| Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 1:44 pm Post subject: |
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don't know if it will look right with supports either end as they would normaly be tied into framework that forms the walls
unless its a big room of say 18ft i think verticle lines will make it look small
whatever you do make shure it looks like any joints are held together by oak dowels 
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Edz
Senior Member
Joined: 10 Oct 2006
Posts: 163
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| Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 1:56 pm Post subject: |
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That's a good point. I think it should look OK as the room is 11ft wide and 17ft long. It's a kitchen and I'm spanning the 11ft but one upstand will be hidden by kitchen units and the other will be next to an inglenook thingy that I will build for my Rayburn.
My biggest concern is the concept and as to whether floor, breeze block walls, and straps to the joists can share the weight of the load OK.
I didn't realise how b****y heavy the beam was till I carried out of the garage with the Mrs at the weekend! It's 7 x 7 in section but oak is pretty dense stuff - as I found out! |
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marksson
Senior Member
Joined: 12 Feb 2007
Posts: 436
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| Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 11:22 pm Post subject: |
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Inclined to agree with big-all, it might look a little strange with timber supports either end.
I would have thought that it would look better if you made it look like a knock through, i.e. vertical supports boarded and skimmed with beam left exposed.
Floor & walls will support no problem, as long as joists are not overspanned they would support your beam even without verticals (worst case they will sag a little over a long time). |
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Edz
Senior Member
Joined: 10 Oct 2006
Posts: 163
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| Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 9:26 am Post subject: |
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Terrific! Thanks for the info Marksson. That is what I had in mind, I probably didn't make myself that clear.
As it happens, when I came to measure up for where my inglenook is going to go for my Rayburn, it turns out that the beam is in the exact same place as one of the walls! So, I thought I'd get my two support posts in, lift in the beam (with a few mates as I have discovered that oak is very heavy), then screw some firm fix to the support and build my wall up to it thereby giving it extra support and also tying it in.
Cheers |
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