Home remodel Question.........
 

I have a large iron beam as a structural support that goes across my ceiling in my garage and then it has drywall around it. Length is about 25 ft X 15" thickness X 1 ft wide. I'd like to install or apply something that would make this look like a wooden beam or stacked wood plankm beam

Does anyone make / manufacture something like fake/faux wood for this ?

Thanks !!

Does woodgrain contact paper come in 25 ft. rolls? :D

Seriously, I don't know... whatever you put on there you're gonna have to butt edges together to get the length.

Are there any wood mills locally where you can take a strip of old moulding and for a price, they'll make you a certain number of feet of new moulding to match it?

If so, they could probably make something 1/4" thick you could glue up there and stain.

Why not just box it in with real wood?

Box over the drywall, the drywall is there for fire protection for the beam. Don't remove it

You won't find wood that long, but maybe put, say a vertical trim every 4-8 feet or so, maybe every other one covering the butt joints, it could look cool.

Is there a post in the middle somewhere?

Well what you are looking for is a wood veneer. There all sorts. We were recently looking at some bamboo veneers for part of our on going (read: never &@#@%#$ ending) remodel.

Plywood

We use these in the movie biz. Lots of architectural stuff at this site.

Outwater Plastics - 2009 Master Catalog - page 771

Go to Lowes or Home Depot and look at wood flooring. It comes in long strips and could be glued on. As tcar said, leave the drywall on, it's probably fireboard.

Actually it was here that they have the beams with the faux straps..

Outwater Plastics - 2009 Master Catalog - page 772

How much do you want to spend? If you want to do it yourself, you might try to get a veneer at your local plywood house or veneer special store to see if they even have a piece at 25'. That's what I would do if I can find one that long. Attach plywood or MDF over the drywall then the veneer. I like the light weight MDF. Lumber yards will not have it or know what you are talking about. I don't like to see so many seams to tell you the truth. your other option is to have a faux finisher paint wood grain over plywood, MDF or just over the drywall to make it look like a giant wood beam. I would go that route because I don't think you will fine veneer that length. I love my faux finisher. a real life safer. He can make your beam look like a real big fat beam with checks and knots.

If you want to do it on the cheap, then purchase 10' length plywood and miter the edges and install it over the beam. 10"= less seams.

You can buy 25' lumber, if you go to a real lumber yard. They sell it for use as joists, among other things. You can probably get it up to 2x12 sizes easily. For larger sizes, just edge glue/spline a couple pieces together. Cherry pick the pieces yourself, to get straight ones and to match the grain, so that the joint is disguised. If you want to use thinner material, you can plane these down to whatever thickness you want. Miter the corners and when you glue it in place and sand it, it will look pretty convincing.

No big deal. If you lack any of the tools needed (the planer, for instance) just pay a cabinet shop to make the pieces, for you to hang.

JR

Thanks guys ! Some very good suggestions, It does not have a support pole in the middle