How to Enclose a Steel Support Beam

Enclosing a structural steel beam can enhance the character of a room.

If you have an exposed steel support beam and want to enclose it with a material similar to the adjacent walls or ceilings, before you can install the drywall or paneling, you will first have to attach nailing blocks, or wood "grounds," to the steel using bolts. Adding grounds gives you the opportunity to modify the size of the finished beam by adjusting the blocking to the desired size and shape you wish to ultimately achieve.

Things You'll Need

• Hammer
• 12d common nails
• Heavy-duty corded drill
• 5/8-inch metal and wood bits
• ½-by-4-inch carriage bolts, washers and nuts
• 2x framing lumber, 4 to 6 inches wider than the beam
• 2-by-4 the length of the beam
• Adjustable wrench
• 4 large C clamps
• Circular saw
• Level
• Work benches

Instructions

Preparing the Steel

1. Make a pair of marks on the bottom flange of the steel, starting 1 foot from the end and 1.5 inches from each outside edge, being careful to remain more than 1 inch from the center vertical part of the beam.

2. Continue to place these pairs of marks along the length of the steel at 4- to 6-foot intervals.

3. Drill holes through the bottom flange at each of the marks using the 5/8-inch metal bit.

Preparing the Wood

1. Measure the width of the bottom flange and the length of the exposed beam. Add 4 inches to the width and mark that dimension along the entire length of the wider 2x material.

2. Cut along this mark to evenly rip the board to the desired width using the circular saw.

3. Mark and cut the ripped board to the proper length.

Installing the Wood Ground

1. Hold the prepared wood up to the bottom of the beam and clap into place with the width of the board evenly centered on the bottom flange.

2. Mark through the holes in the steel to locate the position of the holes on the wood.

3. Put the wood on the benches and use the wood bit to drill all of the holes in the wood.

4. Return the wood into position under the beam, clamp in place and check the alignment of the holes.

5. Put the bolts through the holes with the threads pointing up, and place a washer and nut on each bolt. Use the wrench to tighten the nuts until the carriage head begins to sink into the surface of the wood.

Adding a Top Ground

1. Use the level to mark each ceiling joist directly above the edge of the wood ground on both sides of the beam.

2. Nail the ripped 2-by-4 material to the ceiling joists so the material is positioned on the steel side of the mark to create a top nailing edge that lines up vertically with the bottom wood ground.

3. Install the finish material of your choice on the beam using the wood grounds to anchor it into place.

Tips & Warnings

• A helper will make this task much easier to manage.

• Verify any code restrictions on drilling a steel beam.

References

• Canadian Wood Council: Heavy Connections
• Engineers Edge: Structural Steel Wide Flange Section Properties