Profiled Beams

We can hollow out solid oak beams to create a ‘profiled’ or ‘U’ shaped carcass which can be used to clad an RSJ, or for any other decorative, non-structural purpose. The first step is done by using a chain saw to create a series of cuts both along and across the beam to be hollowed out. Each small section of the beam within these cuts is then removed, by hand, with a chisel, bolster and mallet. This is hard, time consuming work.

It is necessary that each vertical side of the ‘’U’’ is at least 1 ½ inches thick. This is the minimum required both to preserve the structural integrity of the hollowed out beam and also to allow cutting with a chain saw. As a rule of thumb, the diameter of the beam to be profiled must be at least 3 inches wider than the trench to be created, which itself must, of course, be wider than the dimension of the RSJ to be clad.

For example, to clad an RSJ 6 inches in width, a beam of at least 9 inches in cross section must be used. It is not possible to profile beams of less than 9 inches in cross section because the chain saw cannot be used accurately for small beams. The width of the chain saw blade, being 4 – 5 inches in width, makes working within a 6 inch dimension impractical.

We require at least 7 working days to profile any beam. Please contact us by telephone (01285 869222) to discuss the details of your requirement.