Exposed Ceiling Beams/Floor Joists

[barry1010]

What's the difference? If I pull my ceilings down will the joists then be beams?

[nicebloke1]

I admire anyone who has a go, but there is a wealth of info out there, all you need to do is a little homework and you can get it right. But there are also jobs you shouldn't attept because they sometimes can only be done by a person with experience. Just be choosey to start off with and don't take on to much. Think about it first, some people just dive in at the deep end everytime, and that can be expensive.

[barry1010]

From my years of experience I know my limitations.  I struggle to put a standard three pin plug in to a wall socket - what I see as straight, really isn't.  You should see my trying to plug my mobile in to the charger. 

[nicebloke1]

You best just give up now then while your ahead:0)))))

[barry1010]

While I still have a head 😂

[douglas9401]

Deflatine is available to remedy a draughty cavity.

[The Builder]

Couldn't resist this.  

Actually... if you want to be picky Barry, the technical answer to your question is 'no'. Pull down the ceiling, and what you expose are still 'joists'.

Beams usually go at 90 degrees to joists to 'break' their span so they can carry more load. When people say 'exposed beams', they are really 'exposed joists', but it doesn't sound so groovy 😎

Beams are usually oak, mainly because there's a lot of it in the Uk. As a stronger alternative to deal(pine), beams and joists are often 'Douglas Fir' (Oregon Pine.)

[barry1010]

Thank you, Builder. Cleared it up nicely.

[Khandro]

Further to what builder has said; I seem to remember that in a former life, (one of the many!) another name for a beam was a 'trimmer' and the smaller beams supported by & 'housed'  in to it were known as the 'trimmed'. 

Oak was always the timber of choice by the British for beams, but it was always also an essential for ship-building. Whenever you come across in old buildings the use of other timbers, ash, chestnut etc. I was told (as an apprentice) it was from a period when oak was being prioritized for ship construction during warfare.