U-Shaped Wood Beams
A U-shaped beam is a three-sided wood beam: two sides and a bottom, with the top left open. It slides up over a board fastened to your ceiling, so from below it looks exactly like a solid timber beam, at a fraction of the weight. Charlotte Lumber builds every U-shaped beam by hand from real wood, white oak and more, cut to your width, height and length.
Why choose a U-shaped beam?
- Light enough for any ceiling. Because the beam is hollow, it weighs far less than a solid timber of the same size. No structural changes, no engineer, no extra framing.
- Room inside. The open channel hides wiring, speaker cable, plumbing or ductwork, and it is a natural spot for recessed or pendant lighting.
- Looks solid from every angle you can see. The three visible faces are real wood with tight corners, so nobody on the floor can tell it is hollow.
- Covers what is already there. Wrap an existing structural beam, a soffit or a header in real wood instead of tearing it out.
Real wood, not foam
Most U-beams sold online are molded polyurethane printed to look like wood. Ours are built from real wood boards, so the grain is real, the stain soaks in the way it should, and the beam matches the wood floors, mantels and ceilings in the rest of your home. You can sand it, refinish it, and it ages like wood because it is wood.
Sizes and options
- Wood: White oak, red oak, hickory, maple, pine or poplar
- Width: 4 to 30 inches
- Height: 4 to 30 inches
- Length: Custom, cut to your room
- Finish: Natural or stained to match your floors
- Popular sizes: 6x6, 7x7, 8x8, 9x9, 10x10 and a low-profile 4x8
Every beam is built to order. Build your beams: enter your own width, height and length and see your price right away. Not sure what to enter? Read how to measure for U-shaped beams.
How a U-shaped beam is installed
- Mount a nailer. A board sized to the inside of the beam is screwed to the ceiling joists along the beam's path.
- Run anything you want hidden. Wires or lighting go in before the beam goes up.
- Lift and fasten. The beam slides up over the nailer and is fastened through the sides.
In the Charlotte area we can do it for you: see faux ceiling beam installation. Everywhere else, most finish carpenters can hang them in an afternoon.
U-shaped beam vs. solid beam
If the beam has to hold something up, you need a solid structural beam. If it is there for looks, a U-shaped beam gives you the same appearance, weighs much less, costs less to ship and is far easier to install. Not sure which one fits your project? Compare our faux wood beams and solid wood beams, or ask us.
Frequently asked questions
Is a U-shaped beam the same as a box beam or faux beam?
Yes. U-beam, 3-sided beam, box beam, hollow beam and faux beam all describe the same thing: a beam with three finished sides and an open top that mounts over a ceiling block.
Are your U-shaped beams real wood?
Yes. Every beam is built from real wood boards (white oak, red oak, hickory, maple, pine or poplar), not polyurethane or foam.
Can I put lights in a U-shaped beam?
Yes. The hollow center is a common place to run wiring for recessed lights, pendants or LED strips.
Can a U-shaped beam be stained to match my floors?
Yes. Because it is real wood, it takes stain like a wood floor. We can stain it for you.
Do you ship U-shaped beams?
Yes. We build beams in North Carolina and ship them across the country.
Ready to start? Use our beam builder to enter your measurements and get your price, or contact us with your room size and beam layout.