For any homeowner, it’s easy to stress out about the long-term value of your home. That’s why it can be concerning if you have exposed beams or you can see the imprint of beams through the drywall. Why are the ceiling beams visible and is it a problem?
Exposed ceiling beams are not a problem if it’s part of the design of the structure. For attic ceilings where you can see the imprint of the ceiling beams, thermal ghosting is responsible, which is due to thermal bridging between the attic and the interior.
There are several significant reasons why your ceiling beams might be visible, but visible ceiling beams are only a problem if the drywall starts to crack./ The rest of this article will address why you can see beams in the ceiling.
What Do Ceiling Beams Do?
Ceiling beams, quite simply, provide structural support for the building. Modern buildings use turners, structural ceiling beams installed in parallel rows for roof and wall support. Generally, these beams are hidden from view behind the drywall or above ceiling tiles.
Function ceiling beams are typically made from wood, although some are build from plastic laminate, which offers additional strength and better moisture resistance. Internal ceiling beams aren’t meant to be pretty—they’re purely structural.
Sometimes, however, these beams can be left exposed to create a more dramatic framing for the room. Depending on the style, exposed beams are preferable for some buildings.
Do Exposed Wood Beams Look Good on a Ceiling?
Homeowners will also sometimes install faux beams, which are usually made of plastic or urethane and are hollow inside.
They can be made to look like wood or steel beams and add aesthetic value to some homes. These beams can also add value to a home in some cases by adding charm and style to a home, leading to a better sale price.
Should You Be Concerned about Exposed Ceiling Beams?
There’s no reason to be concerned about exposed ceiling beams above your head unless one of them is sagging or showing visible signs of wear and tear. Exposed ceiling beams are no less safe than ones hidden by drywall or ceiling tiles—it’s just a stylistic difference.
If you have any concerns about exposed ceiling beams, it’s best to call a building inspector to have a look at it and see if there are any structural concerns with your beams. These are likely due to a buildup a heat or moisture in the home. Of course, you don’t have to be worried about exposed faux beams since these don’t offer any structural support.
Why Are the Studs and Joists Coming through the Wall?
If you can see the imprint of a ceiling beam or studs in the wall, then you might feel pretty alarmed and wonder whether your home is structurally sound.
More often than not, this is a result of a drywall seam on the ceiling joist. When builders tape and float the drywall, a ridge of mud is typically used to keep the seams as low as possible and float it to hide it.
Based on the quality of the job, this 3D imprint might be more visible than other seams. Even if you can feel the outline of the ceiling beam, there’s nothing to worry about.
The joists are usually cut from natural wood and cut by hand, so there will be a very slight variation in the lengths of the beams. It’s not anything to be concerned about if the beam settles a little lower than the other beams.
This can happen with the house settling over time and isn’t hazardous as long as it doesn’t progress to the drywall cracking. If it does, it’s advisable to contact your local building inspector or have a drywall guy take a look at it.
Thermal Ghosting and Ceiling Beam Imprints
Another common cause of seeing the outline of your ceiling beam is if your home is experiencing thermal ghosting. This can happen when the insulation in your home isn’t properly installed, allowing for the exchange of air.
As a general rule, you shouldn’t use your attic as a storage space since the attic is most exposed to heat, cold, and humidity. It may seem like wasted space, but if you’re seeing thermal ghosting, then it’s likely that you have a lot of air infiltration from your living space into the attic.
Improving your insulation can help, but in an ideal world, you should have a complete air seal installed. These will help reduce any potential thermal ghosting in your home and protect the ceiling beams in your attic for longer. Put simply, if the heat isn’t ventilated well enough, ghosting can occur.
Most often, thermal ghosting results in a visible layer or dirt or moisture forming at the ceiling joist, outlining it and making it more noticeable. You can scrub off the accumulated dirt, of course, but if you want to check for damage to your home, look for cracks in the drywall.
Seams are nothing to be concerned about, but if you notice that the joist seems to be cracking the drywall, it’s worth having a building inspector take a look at your attic to see if they can fix the cause of the thermal ghosting and assess and repairs that need to be done.
If you’ve just put up layers of drywall, you’ll need to wait a few days for it to settle to check for the presence of cracks.
Final Thoughts
The main reason you can see beams in the ceiling is likely because your home or the building you’re in has exposed beams. These are just as safe as hidden ones and don’t pose a risk unless they are visibly sagging, rotted, or cracked.
If you’re noticing the imprint of a beam in your ceiling, it’s likely due to thermal ghosting caused by poor installation of your home envelope. As long as there’s no cracking in the drywall, it’s nothing to be concerned about.
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