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Installing Beams Under 10 feet

General Tools and Materials

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  • Wood Beam(s) Wood Beam(s)
  • Wood Blocking 2”x4” or 2”x6” (for mounting) Wood Blocking 2”x4” or 2”x6” (for mounting)
  • Wood Cutting Saw with Finish Blade Wood Cutting Saw with Finish Blade
  • Color Complimenting Textured Caulk Color Complimenting Textured Caulk
  • 1 1/4” Deck Screws 1 1/4” Deck Screws
  • Utility Knife Utility Knife
  • Ladder Ladder
  • Loctite® PL® Premium® 3X Construction Adhesive Loctite® PL® Premium® 3X Construction Adhesive
  • Painters Tape Painters Tape
  • Caulk Gun Caulk Gun
  • Chalk Line / Laser Chalk Line / Laser
  • Screw Gun / Drill Driver & Bits Screw Gun / Drill Driver & Bits
  • Hand Saw with Finish Blade Hand Saw with Finish Blade
  • Toggle / Lag Bolts Toggle / Lag Bolts
  • Stud Finder Stud Finder
  • Safety Glasses Safety Glasses
  • Tape Measure Tape Measure
  • Clean Cloth Clean Cloth
  • Touchup Kit Touchup Kit
  • Small Paint Brush Small Paint Brush
  • Scissors Scissors
  • Pencil Pencil
  • Paper Paper
24 Hours Before Starting
  • Acclimate all beams by storing them flat in the installation location (but away from moisture and direct sunlight or other heat sources) for at least 24 hours.
directions beam placement
WARNINGS:
  • Be sure to obey all safety rules and recommendations set forth by tool manufacturers.
  • Always comply with clearances set forth by the manufacturer of stoves, fireplaces, furnaces, and any other heat source.
  • Wear safety glasses during the entire installation process.
  • Our products may have screws embedded below the surface. We recommend using a hand saw (not power tools) when cutting these products. You may choose to locate screws with a stud finder. Barron Designs is not responsible for any bodily harm or damage to your equipment if power tools are used.




Before You Start
  1. Ensure surface is structurally sound and in good condition. Surfaces such as drywall should be flat and smooth to minimize gaps.
  2. Gather all tools and materials.
step 3

Click Here for Care and Maintenance info.

Directions

Dry Fit Beam colorless

Step 1

Dry Fit Beam

Tools:

  1. Painters Tape
  2. Hand Saw with Finished Blade
  1. Check beam length by dry fitting in place at the point on the wall where it is being installed.
  2. Trim/miter beam, if needed. It is best to cut the beam slightly long (about ⅛”) to ensure a tight fit.
  3. Mark the bottom of the beam with painters tape.

WARNING: Our products may have screws embedded below the surface. We recommend using a hand saw (not power tools) when cutting these products. You may find these screws with a stud finder. Barron Designs is not responsible for any bodily harm or damage to your equipment.

paper under beam ends

Step 2

Template Beam Ends

Tools:

  1. Paper
  2. Pencil
  1. Set the end of the beam against the paper and trace the interior of the beam.
  2. Repeat this step for the other end of the beam.

saw over wood

Step 3

Cut Mounting Blocks

Tools:

  1. Pencil
  2. Lumber
  3. Wood Cutting Saw
  4. Screw Gun/Drill Driver & Bits
  1. Trace the templates on to the lumber. Cut mounting blocks, one for each end.
  2. After cutting the blocks make sure they fit inside the beam with about 1⁄8” clearance. The beam should not have to be forced onto the mounting blocks.
  3. Pre-drill at least (2) holes into each mounting block.

step 4 placement

Step 4

Locate Mounting Blocks

Tools:

  1. Pencil
  2. Tape Measure
  3. Screw Gun/Drill Driver & Bits
  1. Measure the thickness of the beam.
  2. Measure up from the painters tape placed in Step 2 to determine where to place the mounting block.
  3. Use a pencil to outline where the block will be mounted.
  4. Repeat for the other wall.

step 5 drill holes

Step 5

Mount Blocks

Tools:

  1. Caulk Gun
  2. Loctite® PL® Premium® 3X Construction Adhesive
  3. Toggle / Lag Bolts
  4. 1 1/4” Deck Screws
  5. Screw Gun/Drill Driver & Bits
  1. Adhere mounting blocks to the wall by applying Loctite PL 3X to the back of the block.
  2. Secure it by screwing the block to the wall using either deck screws or lag/toggle bolts.

step 6 adhesive demonstration

Step 6

Apply Adhesive

Tools:

  1. Adhesive
  2. Caulk Gun
  1. Apply adhesive to the edges of the mounting blocks that will contact the beam.

Step 7

Install Beam

Tools:

  1. Screw Gun / Drill Driver & Bits
  2. Screws
  1. Slide beam in place over the mounting blocks.
  2. Slightly countersink a minimum of (6) screws, ((2) per side and bottom) into the mounting blocks along the sides and bottom of the beam.

Step 8

Touch-Up

Tools:

  1. Caulk
  2. Caulk Gun
  3. Touch-Up Kit
  4. Small Paint Brush
  5. Painters Tape
  6. Clean Cloth
  1. Apply color complimenting textured caulk to fill screw holes. Blend caulk into adjacent surfaces while it is still wet.
  2. Where necessary, apply caulk to joints and gaps.
  3. Use paint from the touch-up kit to paint over the caulk.

Hint: Apply painters tape where the beam and wall meet to ensure a straight caulk line. Remove the tape once the caulk has dried completely.