We always wanted a real barn beam in the house, we bought an old ash beam that we used to create a modern mantel. After some research, I decided to save some money and mount it on a 2 x 4. I've provided some instructions on my blog.
http://www.woodworkingfourdummies.com/blog/barn-beam-mantel-diy
Cheers,
Ian
Estimated Cost
We paid $150 for the hand hew barn beam mantel.
The only other costs were a 2x4 and a few screws!
The only other costs were a 2x4 and a few screws!
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Polyurethane
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner