Natural wood is one of the most effective methods to add warmth to a space. Luckily, there are different ways to add that natural wood look, and when it comes to ceilings, faux wood beams is one approach to give that instant wood character to a room. They look like real wood beams with the unique interior design aesthetic that material brings. They can make any space feel more interesting, regardless of whether it’s traditional and rustic or fashionable and modern.
They’re also a wonderful method to create more commercial locations, like restaurants, offices, and showrooms, which appear more inviting for customers and visitors.
Faux wood beams look like real rustic timber beams but at a fraction of the cost and are extremely light, making them simple to fit by any DIYer with a few tools.
What are Rustic Faux Wood Beams?
Faux (pronounced ‘fow’) wood beams are lightweight realistic-looking imitation wood beams with a time aged and worn appearance that is constructed of Polyurethane, a polymer that resembles high-density foam and is strong, durable, light, waterproof, erosion-resistant, infestation-resistant, cost-effective, and easily formed. It is hard to believe that foam products can have such a realistic decor style about them.
They won’t rot or crack and are maintenance-free. As an alternative to lumber, they are a great affordable solution.
The faux wood beam is a realistic-looking imitation of wood made from high-density polyurethane. It is attractive, strong, lightweight, waterproof, resistant to erosion, and infestation, as well as cost-efficient and easy to shape. They have a higher density, somewhat like a light-density wood, and are not as soft and brittle as Styrofoam.
With exposed wooden beams, any room will be enhanced with a sense of rustic charm and warmth. Faux wood beams can be made to look aged and are very lightweight, easy to handle, and cost less than old, salvaged-wood beams that can be heavy, costly, require special installation, and are often damaged by insects such as termites.
These high-quality beams are available in various lengths and can be easily cut to fit.
How to Fit Faux Wood Beams
The basic principle behind installing beams is simple.
1. Measure the width of the Beam & cut blocks to size
Numerous blocks of wood (not included) are cut to fit within the inside of the U shaped Faux Wood Beam.
2. Screw the blocks into place in the ceiling.
Blocks of wood are placed at a distance of about 1 meter on the ceiling and secured with screws.
3. Attach the beam to the blocks
The beams are positioned over the wooden blocks and joined with construction glue and nails.
When you buy faux wood beams, they generally come with a complete graphical installation guide that details how to fit and finish them; from where to place beams to how to cut them, as well as how to fit beams and make seamless connections, caulk gaps, and more.
What About The Cons Of Faux Wood Beams?
Faux wooden beams can cause problems if they are not installed correctly.
The biggest issue with faux wood beams is that they are often installed too tightly against other structures, which causes stresses and warping of the individual board segments.
They need to be installed correctly and have them properly supported, otherwise they can sag under their own weight or even fall down entirely!
Options For Buying Faux Wood Beams In Australia
Here is a brief summary of where you *may* be able to buy faux wood beams in Australia based on search results:
- Faux Wood Beams Australia *was* an Australian company that shipped faux wood beams nationwide. They still have an Instagram page showcasing their great looking products, but it appears that ‘no one is home’. [1][5]
- Supawood is an Australian supplier of lightweight timber beams called Maxi Beams that can be shaped and customized. They have a honeycomb core to keep the weight down. From looking at their website, the beams look a lot more modern and finished when compared to the rustic nature of what Faux Wood Beams Australia used to offer. But they may be worth a look if you want that more finished look. So these could potentially be an alternative to faux beams. [2]
- There are sellers on Etsy Australia that offer faux wood beams made of polystyrene or other materials that can be shipped domestically. These come in standard sizes or can be customized. [3][4][9]. One of these in an Italian company called Polyman Design. They create handmade artisan products in polystyrene including faux wood beams to decorate false ceilings etc.
- Decorative Ceiling Tiles is a Florida-based online retailer that ships various styles of faux wood beams to Australia. They have monolithic beams available in quick-ship options. [6][7]
- Barron Designs is an online store that ships both real and faux wood beams to Australia. Their faux beams come in modern and classic looks. [10]
- NextStone makes polyurethane faux wood beams available via the U-Buy website for delivery in Australia. [11]
So in summary, faux wood beams made of materials like polystyrene or polyurethane don’t seem to be directly available in Australia anymore since Faux Wood Beams Australia closed its doors. But the good news may be (based on web based research, not actual experience from us here at Orlandi) that they can be purchased online from sellers that ship to Australia. The only genuine Australian option we found was Supawood, but as mentioned above, they have a more finished and less rustic appearance. This state of affairs is unfortunate as we here at Orlandi get emails weekly, asking where the classic faux rustic wood beams are available in Australia. Please drop us a line if you know of any updates we can share to help us Aussies have more local options in this space.
Citations:
[1] https://www.instagram.com/faux_wood_beams/?hl=en
[2] https://www.supawood.com.au/products/maxi-beam/
[3] https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/1387335371/faux-wood-beams-in-polystyrene-l-150-cm
[4] https://www.etsy.com/market/faux_beams
[5] https://au.linkedin.com/company/faux-wood-beams-australia
[6] https://www.decorativeceilingtiles.net/faux-wood-beams/
[7] https://www.decorativeceilingtiles.net/quick-Ship-faux-wood-beams-monolithic/
[8] https://www.signalhire.com/companies/faux-wood-beams-australia
[9] https://www.etsy.com/au/market/faux_beams
[10] https://www.barrondesigns.com/wood-faux-wood-beams/
[11] https://www.u-buy.com.au/product/2MTN66DQ-nextstone-polyurethane-faux-wood-beam-6-quot-x-6-quot-x-96-quot-pecky-cypress-peruvian-walnut
[13] https://www.aahardwoods.com.au/products/fabricated-products/column-and-beam-boxes
[14] https://www.alibaba.com/showroom/faux-beams.html
[15] https://www.azfauxbeams.com/beams/faux-wood-beams/
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