Help with timber frame

[pghstochaj]

Hi everybody,

I read this forum everyday but barely post, but having just moved into a new house I think that will change!

I have just bought a new timber framed house from 2002. It has lots of dated fittings which I am going to work through and update (the look will be modern rather than rustic). Looking at the master bedroom (which is split between a bedroom and a sort of living room), there are exposed beams as per the photographs below. I want to decorate in this room in the not too distant future and would really like to improve the look of these beams. They look like they have been coated in something but I don't know what wood/the quality of the wood beneath. Any suggestions on how to modernise the look of the beams please? I have thought about sanding but there's a fairly acute angle between the ceiling and the beam which I think would make this very difficult.

Thanks in advance!

[pghstochaj]

Thanks guys for the ideas so far. I think I will plasterboard the top beam as it will allow me to run some cables there too. Not sure about the bottom beam, I hoped to keep it as wood but lighten it up but perhaps that's not possible.

[pghstochaj]

AndrewEH1 said:

Good idea, the reddish/brown stain here is terrible!

You should see the 7 km of skirting and door frames etc. that are the same colour! I don't know if there is any coating to lighten it but maintain the wood look. I would even clad it in something nicer, but this seems to be very expensive.

[pghstochaj]

AlexIT said:

Not sure how long it takes or if it actually works at all, but maybe this is worth a try on some small surface first:
http://www.wikihow.com/Bleach-Wood

Thanks, it might be possible I could try this on the beam I will cover up. I have also contacted a veneering company as maybe this will be a way to hide it.

[pghstochaj]

Hi everybody,

I had to do some electrical work in this room and then found it wasn't insulated so I have taken down the ceiling to insulate it. I have used this as an opportunity to sand down the offending beams.I now have the beams as per the photograph below, can anybody recommend a product to seal and darken it slightly?

Thanks

[pghstochaj]

It's insane isn't it - it's a one off build so I don't know how they got away with it. A huge waste of time and money to fix it and almost certainly not worth it but it helps with running lighting etc (both rooms involved have pretty much zero lighting). It's a beautiful house but not well specified.

Thanks for the above - I'll go and see what b&q has.

[pghstochaj]

Thanks but it's fine - 100 mm pir plus superfoil sf19+ below the rafters (not shown in that picture). U value of about 0.15 by my calculations (if you believe the superfoil performance anyway).

The house is huge but they have cut corners throughout so I'm now making up for it!

[pghstochaj]

I wish - would have been easier to fit!!