designing your ceiling

Imitation beams can look as realistic as originals. To achieve this realism your ceiling will be made up from 1, 2 or 3 sizes of beam:

1. Main beams.
2. Intermediate beams.
3. Joists.

Start with the larger size and work down.

The simplest design is to use a main beam only. This is realistic as sometimes smaller beams and joists were covered by plasterwork. This is also more desirable than running a scheme with too few additional beams and joists which will look unrealistic. Most people, however, build a network of intermediate beams and/or joists running from their main beam by following a few simple rules.

MAIN BEAMS

- Should cross the room at its narrower dimension.
- Can be centrally positioned, or be offset.
- Smaller intermediate beams and/or joists are built up from the main beam.
- Rooms up to 16ft (4.87m) long require only 1 main beam. If your room measures much over 16ft (4.87m) you will need to incorporate either intermediate beam(s) or more main beam(s). This is because traditionally joists were between 5ft (1.52m) and 6ft (1.98m) long. They were never longer than 8ft (2.44m) as over this length they would be too small to carry the weight of the floor running over it.

INTERMEDIATE BEAM(S)

- Are used when the area between your main beam or beams and wall is greater than 8ft (2.44m) i.e. too long to use a joist and look realistic.
- Run off your main beam at a 90 degree angle.
- Can run from one or both sides of the main beam.
- If running from both sides they can run from the same point, or be offset from each other.
Can also be used as the principal beam in a small or low room.

JOISTS

- Run off your man and/or intermediate beam(s) at 90 degree angles.
- Should be generally between 5ft (1.52m) and 6ft 6' (1.98m) long and not be longer than 8ft (2.44m).

- Would traditionally be fitted around 16' (40cm) apart (centre to centre), although up to 24' (61cm) looks realistic. (If you wish to place joists further apart we recommend that you use one of the half depth intermediate beams spaced at 39' (1m) to 47' (1.2m) centres.)

LOW CEILINGS

If your ceilings are low you can reduce the impact of your beams by using the half depth intermediate beams as your main beam, and running planks of it, rather than joists, following the same guidelines as indicated above. This will give the impression of the beams and joists being part buried in the ceiling plasterwork. See our wall planks section for details on planks.