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FAQ's - Faux Wood Ceiling Beams

Coffered Ceiling FAQs

YOU'VE GOT FAUX WOOD CEILING BEAM QUESTIONS...
WE'VE GOT ANSWERS

ARE FAUX WOOD BEAMS EASY TO INSTALL?

Yes. Due to the lightweight nature of the HDU material they are made of, faux wood beams are very easy to handle and install. See our Installation Video or our written Installation Manual for the recommended best practices and materials.

ARE FAUX WOOD BEAMS DURABLE?

Yes. Faux wood beams are surprisingly dense and durable compared to real wood when installed in areas such as the ceiling where they are not subjected to abuse. Unlike real wood beams, faux wood beams will not warp, crack, split or rot. Faux wood beams are maintenance-free!

ARE INSTALLATION MATERIALS & HARDWARE INCLUDED WITH FAUX WOOD BEAMS

As an added value, all Molded Series Faux Wood Beam orders include a FREE Installation Kit that contains everything you will need to secure the beams to your ceiling following our recommended installation method found HERE. The Installation Kit will be automatically added to the cart whenever any Molded Series Beam is added. 

Artisan Series Faux Wood Beam orders do not include a Free Installation Kit, however all of the Installation Materials may be purchased individually or as a kit HERE

CAN FAUX WOOD BEAMS BE CUT?

Yes. Faux wood beams can be cut very easily with standard woodworking tools (i.e. hand saw, circular saw, miter saw etc.) and should always be ordered at least 1 foot longer than needed and be cut to the precise length by the installer.

CAN FAUX WOOD BEAMS BE MADE FIRE-RATED?

Yes. All of our Artisan Series faux wood beams are available with a Class-A fire-rated option to meet your projects fire code requirements.  

CAN FAUX WOOD BEAMS BE PAINTED OR STAINED?

Yes. Faux wood beams are available with a paint/stain ready primer that can be painted with any latex paint in your choice of color and sheen. The primer can also be finished with a waterborne semi-transparent stain such as this one from Sherwin Williams. However, we offer six (6) factory pre-finished stain colors that will save you the headache, hassle and expense of doing it yourself at a level of quality that just can’t be matched on site.

View our entire texture and color chart HERE

CAN FAUX WOOD BEAMS BE USED TO COVER EXISTING STRUCTURAL BEAMS OR MECHANICAL ITEMS?

Yes. Faux wood beams are a great way to cover and enhance the appearance of both structural and non-structural steel or wood beams, as well as plumbing pipes, electrical wiring, HVAC ducts etc.

CAN FAUX WOOD BEAMS BE USED/INSTALLED OUTSIDE?

Yes, faux wood beams can be installed and used for both interior and exterior applications in any climate and under any weather conditions without the worry of them being compromised by insects, rot or mold. If the beams will be exposed to direct sunlight we recommend a UV protective clear coat which can be factory applied for an additional fee or applied on-site by others.

CAN I GET A FAUX WOOD BEAM SAMPLE BEFORE ORDERING?

Yes. We offer a variety of faux wood beam Sample Kit options HERE
*The cost of the Sample Kit you purchase will be credited towards your faux wood beam order.

CAN LIGHT FIXTURES BE INSTALLED IN OR HUNG FROM FAUX WOOD BEAMS?

Yes. Recessed and puck style light fixtures can be installed in the faux wood beams. However, hanging fixtures must be supported by structural framing or blocking behind or inside the beams. 

CAN TILTON INSTALL THE FAUX WOOD BEAMS I PURCHASE FROM THEM?

Due to our commitment to manufacturing and providing our customers with the best products possible, Tilton Coffered Ceilings, Inc. does not provide any installation services. However, all of our products have been designed with the ease of installation in mind and so they may be installed by both DIYers and professionals alike.

CAN TILTON PROVIDE TECHNICAL HELP FOR THE FAUX WOOD BEAMS I PURCHASE FROM THEM?

Our website has an installation video, written installation manual, and other technical resources for all of our faux wood beam products. If you’re unable to find the information you’re looking for, we would be happy to assist you. Just give us a call at (800) 396-6410 or shoot us an email at [email protected]

DO FAUX WOOD BEAMS EXPAND AND CONTRACT LIKE REAL WOOD?

Faux wood beams are twice as stable as real wood and so they will only expand and contract about half as much.

DO FAUX WOOD BEAMS LOOK REALISTIC?

Yes. And that’s because faux wood beams are cast from natural wood forms to precisely replicate surface textures and grain detail for the most realistic appearance.

DO YOU OFFER 2-SIDED, 3-SIDED AND 4-SIDED FAUX WOOD BEAMS?

Yes. 2, 3 and 4-Sided configurations are available in our Artisan Series Beams. You may also easily cut one side off of our 3-Sided Molded Series Beams to make it into a 2-Sided Beam. 4-Sided Beams are made with 3 sides fully assembled and the 4th side pre-mitered and fitted, but left loose so that it can be easily attached on site.

HOW FAR CAN A FAUX WOOD BEAM SPAN WITHOUT NEEDING SUPPORT?

As a general rule of thumb, faux wood beams can span 1 ft in length for every 1 inch they are in height without needing to either be secured to the ceiling or to have an internal structural member for support. So, for example, a 6 inch high beam can span 6 feet while only being secured at its two ends. 

HOW IS THE WORD "FAUX" PRONOUNCED AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Faux is pronounced the same as the name "Joe" if it were spelled with an F instead of a J or "Foe".     

"Faux" is the French word for fake, but a very chic fake. The dictionary definition of the word Faux is: Not real or genuine. As it relates to Faux Wood Ceiling Beams it specifically means that they look like solid wood beams, but are in fact made from a synthetic material and are much lighter, easier to install and more cost effective than the real thing.

 

HOW MUCH DO FAUX WOOD BEAMS COST?

The 3-Sided Molded Series Beams range from $130 (6”W x 4”H x 8ft) to $680 (10”W x 10”H x 20ft) each. While the 3-Sided Artisan Series Beams range from $70 (4”W x 4”H x 4ft) to $6890 (30”W x 30”H x 30ft) each. Compared to the cost of real wood beams and the additional installation effort they require, faux wood beams are a far more economical solution that provide additional benefits beyond just the cost savings.  

Get exact pricing for your new faux wood beams right HERE

HOW MUCH DO FAUX WOOD BEAMS WEIGH?

The most popular size faux wood beams weigh in at just 1–2 pounds per linear foot, which translates to about 10–40 pounds per beam for most standard sizes. This is a considerable difference compared to solid wood beams of the same size which can weigh 100’s of pounds and often require heavy equipment to lift and install. Even when compared to real wood hollow box beams, faux wood beams weigh significantly less.

WHAT ARE FAUX WOOD BEAMS MADE OF?

Faux wood beams are manufactured from a High Density Urethane (HDU) foam polymer that is similar in density to White Pine. HDU can be cut, sawed, shaped, routed, nailed, glued and screwed just like wood, but unlike wood it’s much lighter and it won’t crack, flake, blister or warp while also being impervious to moisture. Faux wood beams made of HDU provide a maintenance free experience that’s suitable for both interior and exterior applications. 

HDU products are also environmentally friendly. For every piece of HDU millwork purchased there is one less strain put on the world’s natural forest resources.

 

WHAT ARE THE AVAILABLE FAUX WOOD BEAM FINISHES AND COLORS?

Faux wood beams are available with either a paint/stain ready primer, or in one of the following pre-finished stain colors:

DARK WALNUT
ESPRESSO
GRAY
LIGHT WALNUT
MAHOGANY
OAK

View our entire texture and color chart HERE

WHAT ARE THE AVAILABLE FAUX WOOD BEAM SIZES & LENGTHS?

Faux Wood Beams are available in a variety of sizes depending on the Series (Molded or Artisan) as follows: 

MOLDED SERIES BEAMS

AVAILABLE SIZES*:
6″W x 4″H | 6″W x 6″H | 8″W x 6″H | 8″W x 8″H | 10″W x 8″H | 10″W x 10″H

*All Sizes Listed Represent the Visible Exterior of the Beam

For Interior Dimensions Contact Us for Guidance

AVAILABLE LENGTHS*:
96"L (8ft) | 120"L (10ft) | 192"L (16ft) | 240"L (20ft)

*Beams Can and Should be Cut Down to Exact Length by the Installer

ARTISAN SERIES BEAMS

AVAILABLE SIZES*:
(4"W - 30"W) x (4"H - 30"H)

*All Sizes Listed Represent the Visible Exterior of the Beam.

For Interior Dimensions Subtract One (1) Inch for Each Side of the Beam

AVAILABLE LENGTHS*:
48"L (4ft) to 360"L (30ft)

*Beams Can and Should be Cut Down to Exact Length by the Installer

WHAT ARE THE AVAILABLE FAUX WOOD BEAM TEXTURES?

Faux wood beams are available in the following wood textures:

DOUGLAS FIR (Molded & Artisan Series)
HAND HEWN (Molded & Artisan Series)
ROUGH SAWN (Artisan Series Only)
SANDBLASTED (Artisan Series Only)
TUSCANY (Artisan Series Only)
SMOOTH (Artisan Series Only)

View our entire texture and color chart HERE

WHAT ARE THE INTERIOR DIMENSIONS OF THE FAUX WOOD BEAMS?

MOLDED SERIES BEAMS:
Interior dimensions are irregular, but should be irrelevant unless being used to cover existing items (i.e. structural beams, ducts, pipes, wiring etc.). If using to cover existing items contact us for guidance on whether or not any of the Molded Series Beam sizes will work.

ARTISAN SERIES BEAMS:
Interior dimensions are calculated by subtracting 1 inch for each side of the beam. For example; a 3-sided 8”W x 8"H beam would have interior dimensions of 6"W x 7"H (8"W minus 1" x 2 Sides = 6"W and 8"H minus 1" for 1 bottom = 7")

WHAT IS THE AVAILABILITY / LEAD TIME FOR FAUX WOOD BEAMS?

All faux wood beams are made-to-order. Molded Series Beams have a 2 week manufacturing lead time while Artisan Series Beams have a 4 week manufacturing lead time from the date of order.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE MOLDED AND ARTISAN SERIES FAUX WOOD BEAMS?

Molded Series Beams are cast in 1-piece from a mold and are only available in a 3-sided configuration and either our DOUGLAS FIR or HAND HEWN textures in a select range of our most popular Sizes and Lengths.

Artisan Series Beams are hand crafted with mitered corners by our seasoned beam fabricators and are available in 2-Sided3-Sided & 4-Sided configurations in all 5 of our TEXTURES in an extensive range of Sizes and Lengths.  

Both the Molded and Artisan Series Beams are available paint/stain ready primer or in any of our 6 pre-finished STAIN COLORS.

You can view a detailed comparison chart HERE

WHAT IS THE MATERIAL THICKNESS OF THE FAUX WOOD BEAMS?

The thickness of the material depends on the type of faux wood beam as follows:

Molded Series Beams
Thickness can vary from 3/4" to 1-1/2" depending on the portion of the beam with the vertical side walls being thinner at the top and getting thicker towards the bottom.

Artisan Series Beams
Have a constant 1" thickness on all sides.   

WHAT IS THE WARRANTY ON FAUX WOOD BEAMS?

Tilton Coffered Ceilings, Inc. (TCC) provides a Limited Five (5) Year Warranty to the original purchaser of its materials and/or any products it has fabricated from those materials at any of its manufacturing facilities.

WHAT SIZES ARE FAUX WOOD BEAMS AVAILABLE IN?

Faux wood beams are available in a wide range of sizes (width x height) and lengths.

Find complete information on sizes HERE

WHAT TOOLS & MATERIALS ARE NEEDED TO INSTALL FAUX WOOD BEAMS?

To learn more about the recommended process and necessary tools for installing faux wood beams check out our Installation Video or our written Installation Manual

       
 If you can't find the answer to your Faux Wood Ceiling Beams questions in this section just give us a call at (800) 396-6410 or use our Contact Form or send us an Email and we will be happy to provide you with the information you need.    
   

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