How To Install Clad Ceiling Beams
Last updated August 21, 2024
Donnie Galli of Designs by Donnie is a husband and father driven by his love for his family and his passion for refurbishing furniture and creating unique artistic furniture. Donnie was born in a garage, during what he had thought to be his lowest point in life. He is a true testament of a man finding himself through tough times. You are never too old to chase a dream!
If you can find purpose, happiness follows.
A Note From The Home Depot
Have you ever heard of cladding? Donnie Galli from Designs by Donnie teaches you this technique by showing you how to give your ceiling beams a fresh look!
Stop by your local Home Depot store and keep reading to see how he did it!
Table of Contents
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Step 6
Step 1
Choose the grade of lumber that you would like to install.
I was going for a rustic brown look so I chose pine boards.
After careful consideration of the finished look that I was wanting to achieve, I went with 1”x8”x8’ pine lumber .
Step 2
Let's go over what cladding in carpentry means.
Basically, it's covering a product with another material.
This type of carpentry is used frequently on porch beams and ceiling beams.
In most cases, one will have pine porch columns and a finisher carpenter will clad (wrap) the columns in poplar or cedar for a more completed look.
My patio had existing white beams, so I cladded them with stained brown pine boards to offer contrast and dimensional pop.
The first step is to determine the angle of your ceiling or existing beams using an angle finder .
Step 3
Once the angle has been found, you will need to make a template board.
Simply trace the angle onto a small piece of material, cut it out and do a dry-fit test.
Take the template with your angles and place it on the ceiling to make sure the angle is correct.
You may need to make small adjustments.
I had a couple of extra notches to scribe and cut but this is not common.
Step 4
Measure the distance of each beam you’re going to clad.
In my case, each beam was 77” long.
Cut your boards to desired length and trace the template that you made with the correct angles.
Next, cut all the boards needed on a miter saw to the correct angle.
These boards will serve the sides of the beams.
The face boards will be last.
Step 5
Pre-stain and seal these boards using deck stain and waterproof sealer .
It's best to not skip this step as it’s much easier than staining and sealing from ladder to the ceiling.
Allow for proper drying time (1 hour)
Step 6
Install each board on both sides (left & right) of each beam.
If you don’t have existing beams, then nail a 2x4 pine board to the ceiling and then clad it with your new wood that you just stained.
For dimensional pine boards, all you need is to use a brad nailer or finish nailer .
If you made tight cuts, then you may need to use a rubber mallet to hammer into place.
Glue is optional but not needed.
Step 7
The last step in this process is to nail the face board.
Measure the width from left to right of the beam using a measuring tape .
Simply cut the board to desired length with no mitered angles, pre-stain and seal and nail into place.
Step 8
Congratulations, you just finished installing beautiful ceiling beams which will complete any space.
This post was created in partnership with The Home Depot. The author may have received compensation for this article and associated images or video, potentially in the form of products and/or services. All expressed opinions and experiences are the author’s own words.
