How to Make a 3 Sided Beam

Cutting and Installation

• 1

  Measure any object you intend to hide with your beam using a tape measure. Measure the width and the distance from the ceiling to the bottom of the object.

• 2

  Make the pieces for your beam from 3/4-inch lumber. Make the bottom face at least 1 3/4 inches wider than any object you intend to hide, or as wide as you want your beam to be, using a table saw. Make the two side pieces at least 1 inch wider than the height from the ceiling of any object you intend to hide.

• 3

  Cut your pieces to length to fit your installation. Measure between the walls and cut your boards to fit snug, using a miter saw.

• 4

  Set the blade of your table saw to a 45-degree angle. Adjust the fence so that the blade will run just below the top corner of the bottom face piece, with the edge against the fence. Start the saw and run the piece through to bevel the edge. Flip the board around and bevel the opposite edge the same way.

• 5

  Reset the fence on the saw so that it cuts the edge of your side pieces in the same manner and bevel one edge of each side piece. Apply wood glue to the mitered edges of the center piece and nail the sides to it with a pin nail gun.

Installation

• 6

  Mount the beam to your ceiling in one of two ways. Cut a piece of 3/4-inch lumber as wide as the inside dimension of the open top of the beam and as long as the beam.

• 7

  Use a stud locator to find the joists in your ceiling and drive screws up through the piece, using a cordless drill, into the joists. Attach the beam by fitting it over this board and nailing through the beam into the edges.

• 8

  Attach the beam using the second method by fastening 3/4-by-3/4-inch strips as long as the beam to the ceiling along the outside edges of the beam placement, screwing them to the joists. Fit the beam in place and nail through the strips into the sides of the beam.