The Spectacular Beauty of Hand Hewn Beams - And How to Identify Real Ones

Classic, sophisticated, natural, and rustic. These words best describe hand hewn beams. Despite being centuries-old, hand hewn beams never fail to delight us with their spectacular beauty. They never went out of style. Many people still opt to use reclaimed beams to beautify modern rustic homes while matching them with decorative wall panels and other custom millwork.

What Are Hand Hewn Beams?

Hand hewn beams were created from trees or logs using handheld tools like the adze axe or broad axe. The round logs were shaped into square beams without help from any machinery because machines were not present back then. Thus, each beam was crafted purely by hand and with so much effort from highly-skilled carpenters of that era.

The hand hewn beams we have today are usually antique and reclaimed from old structures like barns and warehouses that are no longer in use. Most hand hewn beams have mortise and tenon pockets, and they do show real axe marks that hit the timber as they were being made into beams. With custom molding and custom trim, old hand hewn beams are likely a wonderful addition to many modern interiors.

Why Choose Reclaimed Hand Hewn Beams?

Rich in history, these hand hewn beams provide a natural and rustic appeal to any room you add them to. One of its amazing attributes is its old original face patina, which is visible on all four sides of the beam. These rustic beams have successfully aged over the years and are more durable and of higher quality than beams recently cut from trees.

As technology developed, architectural design evolved, and beams were hidden in low-drop ceilings. While such design helps reduce heating bills, timber frame assembly and post and beam never went out of style. It has a timeless appeal that never gets old, even if the wood used to make them ages.

Identifying Authentic Hand Hewn Beams

Authentic hand hewn beams may be challenging to come by. It is crucial to know how to distinguish real hand hewn beams from fake ones.

Inspect Markings

Since handheld tools were used to make ceiling beams and construction timbers, you can see marks made by an adze or axe, which are very distinguishable from marks made by machinery.

Heavy Weight

Hand hewn beams are way heavier than beams cut by machines. So, don’t hesitate to lift a beam or check its weight using a scale.

Check the Edges

What makes hand hewn beams exquisite is their imperfection. They do not have tight corners or precise edges. Rustic beams made by hand were never really straight. These imperfections in edges are tell-tale signs that they are authentically hand hewn.

Hand Hewn vs Rough Sawn Beams

You might get confused between hand hewn and rough sawn beams.

Hand hewn beams were more time-consuming to make. The trees would be cut down and scored every four to six feet. Then, the bark would be removed. All these steps were done by hand loggers and craftsmen, giving the ceiling beams their rough and unique appearance.

On the other hand, rough sawn beams were cut using electrical tools in mills. However, these beams weren't finished at the sawmill since they were primarily used for structural support and were hidden from view during the Industrial Revolution. Rough sawn beams have a smoother look than hand hewn ones.

FAQs

How old are hand hewn beams?

Reclaimed hand hewn beams made from hand and axe are mostly more than a hundred years old. They have proven their worth as they surpassed the test of time. A hewing machine was patented during the early 1800s.

Are hand hewn beams expensive?

Making hand-hewn beams is tedious and requires mastery, making this type of beam more expensive than other reclaimed wood products.

Where to Buy Hand Hewn Beams

Authentic hand hewn beams are golden treasures! The rarity of these reclaimed pieces makes them hard to find. But specialty lumber dealers such as Alderfer Lumber Company Inc might just have the stock for you.

At Alderfer, we carefully source our reclaimed items from old barns, mills, warehouses, and factories while ensuring that each piece is safe for future use in other applications. We are an established and respected company; thus, we only sell authentic hand hewn beams.

Due to the fast turnover of products, you can call or email us if you can’t find what you are looking for on our website. We’ll check our on-hand inventory for reclaimed wood that you need.