We take pride in supplying beams that look identical to solid timbers. However, there are advantages.

Stability

• Polyurethane is stable. It is an extruded product that will not shrink or twist. We have been able to also produce real wood box beams that are stable through a cross lamination process. We warranty our beams because of the engineering that we have applied.

Versatility

• Our custom sized, real wood box beams provide plenty of options to run ductwork, electrical, sprinkler systems, tele posts, and clad support beams such a laminated structures and I beams.
• Polyurethane is hollow but has many different inside measurements, depending on the manufacturer. We will custom build the dimensions you need to clad or cover existing structures and guarantee a perfect fit.

Installation

• Real wood box beams are light weight, weighing up to 70% less than solid timbers. Ceiling nailing strips are used for attaching the box beam to the ceiling and can be cut from any 2 x material. This allows for a straightforward installation , usually involving just 2 people.
• Polyurethane beams are also light weight.

Visual Character

• Our real wood box beams and polyurethane beams will not look the same. Poly Urethane beams will not stain the same as real wood. Stain tends to look flat and uniform . Real wood takes stain based on the hard and soft grain of the wood…….. This is the character everyone is looking for in a beam!
• Foam beams tend to be supplied in only a couple different colors. We provide our beams unstained, so each project can be stained to the specific design and look of the home.

Sustainability

• Real wood box beams use up to 70% less wood than solid timbers. We can produce many beams from 1 tree versus solids.
• Because both real wood box beams and foam beams are light weight, transportation costs are reduced and can be shipped with common carrier.
• Polyurethane beams are an extruded chemical product and can off gas.

How cost effective are Real wood box beams vs polyurethane beams?

There are many factors that go into the price of a beam project. It's important to factor in cost of labour, beam sizes, cutoff waste and the time to complete a project.

Polyurethane beams must be purchased at certain lengths and dimensions. When you need to span a 10 ft ceiling and the beams are purchased in 12 ft lengths, this equates to a 17% waste factor that is thrown away. We custom build all our beams to the lengths you need,…….with only 1 or 2 inches of waste.

The price per foot can vary depending on the quality. There can be some extremely cheap product out there, but you get what you pay for. Generally, polyurethane is more expensive per ft than our real wood box beams.

We are always glad to discuss the particulars of your project and work through the design and budget pricing for comparison. We are glad to help you move cost-effectively through to the successful completion of your project.  Nothing compares to real wood!