Drywall – How to prepare an uneven beam to be wrapped with wood

beamceilingdrywallwood

We are doing a complete update of a 1975 home. The issue we can't figure out is in the living room. There is a drywall-wrapped beam at peak of vaulted ceiling that is 24' long. We want to wrap it with wood but have discovered it is inconsistent in every way possible… it sags in the middle (can't visually see it), the height varies, etc.

With being so long we can't build it first and install. But if we do it piece by piece on the beam nothing matches up because it isn't straight and equal across the beam. How do we do this???

We currently have 4×8 sheets of birch we were intending to cut and nail. Any suggestions would be so appreciated b/c we have brainstormed for weeks and searched all across the web and no ideas. Thanks!

Best Answer

  1. With a helper, pull a builder's line (dryline) from one end to the other along a bottom corner of the beam. Find a good compromise that's just outside all the curves and humps. Fasten the line to the walls at each end and make sure it's very tight.
  2. Check that you can plumb up from the line at all points along the beam without encroaching on the beam. If not, move the line outward as necessary to clear the beam.
  3. Check the line for level and square with the room. Adjust as needed.
  4. Set another line on the other side of the beam parallel to and level with the first, again just outside the beam's extremities.
  5. Plumb up from both lines at the four ends and mark the ceiling. Snap chalk lines along the ceiling to establish straight lines at the top. Pull the chalkline perpendicular to the ceiling when you snap it to prevent curvature due to a non-flat surface.
  6. At 16" intervals, fit and install shims, cut from two-by lumber, around the beam that come just shy of both lines and the ceiling marks. Don't touch the line or you'll push it out. This has a cumulative effect and will result in curves. Each set of shims should result in a plumb, level, square panel mounting base.
  7. Install your panels over the shims as though they were a framed wall.
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