Is your living room looking a little lacklustre? Does your bedroom appear dreary and dark? Here’s how to freshen up your interiors by revealing the true beauty of your wooden beams.
If you’re lucky enough to live in a property with wooden beams, you’ll love the cosy and characterful look they bring to the home. But blackened beams and painted beams don’t normally fit with the idea of bright, cheerful space. We asked the experts at bespokebeams.co.uk how to best expose the splendour of the traditional wooden beam, and what you need to watch out for when you renovate your wood.
How Can I Quickly Lighten My Beams?
If your beams are painted a dark colour, the quickest way to lighten the finish is to brush over it with water-based paint. Choose a pale distemper with a matt finish and use it to coat your beams. This can be a temporary solution as you can wash it off with warm water later.
Can I Remove Paint or Varnish From My Beams?
The fashion for painting every wooden beam black has made many living rooms look darker and less inviting. If you want to remove the black paint or strip off the dark varnish on a beam, you have a few options. But they can be destructive. Be careful not to damage the beams with harsh sandblasting or wire brushing, otherwise, you risk making a mess of your ceiling and the room. Also, bear in mind that original paint could be lead-based or contain other hazardous chemicals. The best way to remove a coating from an original wood beam is to use a professional beam renovating company. Choose a business that works with less damaging methods to gently reveal the true character of the beam. In this way, you can continue to live in the room while the beams are renovated, without worrying about unpleasant fumes or dust. You can then enjoy your newly revealed beams in an original shade.
How Do I Protect Newly Renovated Wooden Beams?
Use a beeswax polish or a turpentine protector on newly renovated timbers. If your beams, once renovated, reveal imperfections like nail holes or insect tracks, you can use wax to smooth out the flaws. If the surface appears too damaged, apply a soft distemper to the surface or water-based paint. This helps to unify the overall look of the timber. Avoid using gloss paints or polyurethane stains; these give a modern finish that doesn’t fit with the more traditional appearance of a cottage or older property interior.
How Do I Find a Beam Renovation Company?
Look online for a renovation company that specialises in the sensitive and gentle restoration of old beams. Check reviews to make sure the company handles this job in a responsible manner, without harsh chemicals or severe repair methods. If your house is listed, you may want to check that you can carry out work on the beams without any problems.
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