The same rustic grade white oak, with circle saw marks across the face instead of a planed surface. You get texture and shadow overhead while the color stays in a narrow range. Lock mitered, unfinished, built to order in any custom size.
This is the option people land on when the smooth oak beam looks too finished and the hemlock looks too rough. The blade marks give the face relief and shadow, while the wood underneath stays in a controlled color range.
On a ceiling that distinction matters. A beam is seen from below and usually from ten feet away, so texture reads long before color variation does. Circle sawn gives you most of the visual effect with none of the unpredictability.
The arcs run across the face. Any light coming from the side, whether that is a window or a wall sconce, catches them and throws shallow shadow along the beam.
That is why circle sawn beams look better than they photograph. In a lit room they have depth. In a flat product shot they look almost smooth.
Up close, the arcs are easy to see. These samples show the circle sawn face.
If you are running several beams, this is the easiest of the four to keep consistent. Graded lumber comes off the mill within a narrow range, so a set of six will look like a set rather than six individuals.
Order the full run at once anyway. Beams are built to order either way, so it costs nothing extra, and it removes any chance of a mismatch between batches.
Common profiles: 3 by 6 by 3, 6 by 6 by 6, and 8 by 8 by 8 inches. Any custom size can be built.
The three numbers in a profile are the three exposed faces. A 6 by 6 by 6 beam shows 6 inches down each side and 6 inches across the bottom.
Beams longer than 16 feet are seamed. A single continuous board is rarely available at that length, so the face is joined. The seams are tight and read as part of the beam, but you should expect them.
Box beams are built to order, which is the reason for the two to three week lead time. Depending on inventory, we may have a few in stock, so reach out and ask. Samples are at the yard too, and visits are by appointment only.
Minimum order is four beams.
You are welcome to pick up at our yard in Hopewell Junction at no charge, by appointment, or we will quote delivery to your site.
Send the species, the profile, the lengths, and how many you need. We quote each order individually, including freight to your zip code. Because a custom order is made to size anyway, a non standard dimension does not add to the lead time.
Yes. The face is circle sawn rather than planed, which is how the texture comes out consistent across a whole set. If you want a beam whose face was marked by time rather than by a blade, the reclaimed hemlock is the one to look at.
Same wood, same grade, same profiles. The only difference is that the face keeps the arcing blade marks rather than being planed flat.
No. Unfinished, with no stain and no sealer.
The grooves take slightly more stain than the high points, which deepens the texture. Most people consider that the point. Test on an offcut if you want to be sure.
Common profiles are 3 by 6 by 3, 6 by 6 by 6, and 8 by 8 by 8 inches, in lengths from 12 to 20 feet, and we build any custom size.
Send the profile and the lengths and we will price the set with freight. If you want the same texture in a lighter and less expensive wood, the white pine box beams are worth a look. Call (845) 232-8943.
