Cupcake Momma

Wooden beams in a building have a certain magnetic quality. Search an old barn, a converted warehouse, or a modern house with a rustic touch; occasionally those beams seem to smile at you, suggesting many silent decades of service. Wooden beams are not only for display. They serve two purposes: they support and channel individuality directly into the bones of the construction. Click this link for more information!

Every ray is unique just as a fingerprint. Wander through a salvaged timber yard and you will see beams marred by wormholes, dotted with knots, some even bent just enough to appear intriguing but not enough to cause an Engineer to raise an eyebrow. “Your character,” a carpenter once said, banging his knuckles on an oak timber so hard the dust jumped. From defects, these anomalies become the calling cards of the beams.

Think about the work involved in organizing these behemoths. Moving a big timber calls grit, some complaining, and most likely second person. There is no shame here. One person trying to muscle a beam into position is like trying to win a wrestling bout with an obstinate mule—you might walk away triumphant, but you will most surely be limping. Once established, nevertheless, it brings great gratification to know that beam will carry its weight for next generations.

You cannot overlook your need to take care of them either. Wood beams are not particularly fond of damp or hungry creatures, hence some upkeep helps to prevent problems. A application of oil or a short polish will guard your beam against moisture that transforms otherwise useful wood into a termite chew toy. Imagine one ounce of preventive as worth one pound of replacement lumber.

All of this also has a visual aspect. Slick and glossy new lumber displays its youth on its sleeve. Reclaiming beams, however, have lines that seem like lifelines. Perfect for a bench out in the garden, a mantle, or a ceiling centerpiece, their scarred look offers a richer story. Nothing provides a living area with the unique, one-of- a-kind feel of a timber with a past.

Shapes and proportions dance all over the range. Some timbers scream with massive, squared edges—true workhorses taken out of former farmhouses. Others, assembled from layers for strength and style in open-plan areas, are slender and engineered. Choosing a beam is a little workout in personal taste: do you like cool, clean lines or swagger and scars?

Reusing beams is rightfully becoming more and more common. Cutting a centuries-old support into a contemporary table or bookcase is a discussion between the past and the present, not only recycling. It also avoids the necessity to cut down more trees, thereby providing still another incentive for you to feel good about your decision.

Durability does not have to be wrapped in sterile concrete or chilly steel. Without compromising dependability, wood offers warmth, texture, and a link to days long past. Any well-kept beam will probably outlast you, groaning now and then as it adapts to new life and new laughter below.

With wooden beams, that is their characteristic. In the life of a building, they are companions, absorbing the knocks and adding a sense of stability spun through with time. When you see one overhead the next time, nod; you may just hear it squeak back in appreciation.