Faux Wood Workshop

Our artificial wooden beams are an environmentally-responsible alternative to real wood

There are many practical reasons why you’d want to choose artificial wooden beams over the real thing. They’re more practical, affordable and look as good than the real thing.

But you might be unaware that artificial wood beams are also better for the planet. Here’s why:

• They Save Trees

The most obvious benefit to the environment is that our artificial wooden beams don’t require a tree to be cut down to make them. Although molded from real wood timbers, our beams are actually made from tough, durable polyurethane.

• They’re Clean

Our state-of-the-art manufacturing process doesn’t use any chlorofluorocarbons – the compounds that deplete the ozone layer. We also use sophisticated machines that cut down waste to a bare minimum, which is better for the environment (and makes our artificial wood beams more affordable.)

• They’re Healthy

Our polyurethane wood beams are chemically inert, making them totally safe for installation inside the home. This is an improvement over composite beams, which can contain chemicals like formaldehyde, or artificial beams made out of Styrofoam – a possible human carcinogen.

Faux wood beams are also finished with water-based stains rather than solvent based ones, and weigh a fraction of what solid timber beams do – saving gas and reducing emissions delivering and transporting them.

But perhaps the most important benefit is that artificial wood beams offer a faux alternative to rare and endangered species of wood, like our pecky cypress beam.

Pecky cypress is a type of lumber riddled with holes caused by rare type of fungus – one only present in the oldest of cypress trees. These irreplaceable trees are currently being over-harvested to the point of extinction because of their beautiful holey appearance.

Our artificial alternative allows you to enjoy the rustic beauty of pecky cypress in your home, without contributing to the demand for this endangered wood or driving it closer to extinction.

So whether you’re adding faux wood beams, a simulated wooden mantle or wooden corbels, you don’t just have the satisfaction of knowing you got the best looking product for your money – you also know you got the product that’s best for the environment as well.

Yes, we love the “faux-ness” of it all. But we also love to build re-using timbers saved from old barns and buildings. Nothing beats the patina look that comes from wood that is actually 100 years old.

Reclaimed Wood Beams Accentuate A Stunning View

Where does all that character of reclaimed wood come from? Well, we have white pine from a peg and post barn in Minnesota. Or you could install a tamarack wood beam piece made by hand in the early- to mid-1800s from a Wisconsin barn. Classic milled beams are sturdy rock elm wood from near the Mississippi River.

All of the vintage, reclaimed beams are unique – so expect nail holes, distress marks, checking or peg holes. Each beam will have an individual look due to warp, twist, wane and inconsistency of material thickness. These reclaimed beams are left about 6” to 10” long intentionally for the finish carpenter to cut to length on site.

Reclaimed Wood Beams Above an Entranceway

See all the varieties of reclaimed wood beams here.