Fabrication 02: False Beam Joinery.

My father came up with this idea to cover a continuous breach in plasterboard wall and ceiling, at a friend's property. We decided that the beams should have 45 degree joinery fabrication, so I constructed a jig for the table saw.

This jig allows for edge cutting the 45 degree joins with ease. After running down each timber in the machine, I joined them with glue and brad nails to form three box sections, open at one side.

We then transported the box sections to site and installed them. To facilitate the install we planted batten up the wall and across the ceiling. We then slid the hollow side of each beam over the batten, fixing in place using screws. After filling, prepping, and staining the beams we moved on to decorate the rest of the room.

These false beams effectively covered a breach in the walls and ceiling. They created a distinctive feature increasing the character of the property.

Frontal view showing wallpaper sample and unvarnished false beams.

Here we see the beams to the left, and the ceiling of the room being prepped for plastering. Much to our chagrin, shortly after fitting the beams, we discovered that the coating of the ceiling was compromised by condensation ingress.

The wallpaper and the skirting make the beams look elegant. This scene awaits the carpet to cover the foot-print formerly occupied by built in furniture. This furniture previously covered the breach now sealed by the false beams.

This was a unique project for E.H.S carpentry service, I have never been asked to do anything like this before, or since. Patching up the breach would have been potentially quite an ugly job, because there was a difference in the depth either side of the void. This would have required a re-skim of the two sides and ceiling after patching up, with a lot of feathering work for the plasterer. The owner of the property was inspired by my father's the idea to create these beams, which have proven both practical and aesthetically pleasing.

Thank you for your engagement with this post, if you enjoyed it, found it interesting, or even learned something, please leave a like.

Yours,

Tom Rutland

Elephant Handyman Service.