Exposed beam ceilings conjure up images of past ages.
Farmhouse, country, and rustic-styled kitchens tend to have open ceilings.
Exposed joists are very similar.
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Ceilings in conventional homes have similar structural members: joists.
Span lengths could always be increased by increasing the width and height of the beam.
At a time when old-growth forests were prevalent, supplying massive beams for construction was not a problem.
Kendra Wilkinson Design
Exposed Beams
Julian Porcino
Exposed beams in residential buildings were not standard.
Ceilings allowed owners to heat homes far more efficiently by shrinking the volume of the home.
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Exposed beams have experienced trends over the years.
Julian Porcino
In the1960s, cheap electric heatingmade it possible to heat tall, arching ceilings without breaking the bank.
Joists
Like beams, joists are structural members that hold up floors and roofs.
Unlike beams, joists rely on multiplicity, height, and improved wood quality for their strength.
The Spruce / Alyssa Vela
Joists are spaced every 16 inches, far closer to each other than beams.
Joists can be tall, too: up to 12 inches and sometimes more.
More importantly, improved manufacturing techniques allow joists to be lean and compact while safely carrying weight.
Exposed joists are different: the joists stay in place to duplicate the look of beams.
After removing the ceiling drywall, the exposed joists will not look the same as the beams.
Joists and Beams Have Different Dimensions
A joist is sized differently from a beam.
These types of joists are not meant to be exposed.
Joists may be spaced up to 16 inches apart from each other.
The first project is to remove the drywall.
The second project is to clear out and clean up the attic.
Several alternatives give you a similar look for substantially less effort: DIY faux beams or polyurethane faux beams.
Faux beams are essentially three-sided boxes attached to cleats attached to the ceiling.
Screws driven in from the side attach the faux beams to the cleats.
Polyurethane Faux Beams
For a pricier but easier-to-install alternative, purchase faux beams made of high-density polyurethane.
The beams look remarkably like the real thing.
Polyurethane faux beams are lightweight and easy to install.
The downside is that they tend to be extremely expensive.
Joist and beam are terms for weight-bearing structural elements holding up ceilings, roofs, and floors.
A ceiling with exposed beams is called a beamed or exposed ceiling.
These ceilings are often taller than standard heights, usually inrooms with vaulted or cathedral ceilings.
An exposed beam ceiling costs more than a standard frame structure when making a new construction.
