"I'd caution against pool noodles... they tend to warp over time, especially in damp basements."
Haha, learned this the hard way myself. Thought I was being clever turning pool noodles into faux medieval beams—ended up looking like a sad, droopy dungeon. Reclaimed wood is definitely the safer bet.
Had a similar dilemma in my own basement reno and ended up using lightweight foam insulation boards carved and painted to look like stone blocks—worked surprisingly well. They're moisture-resistant, easy to shape, and haven't warped yet after two years. If you're handy with a carving knife and some paint, could be a solid alternative to wood beams or pool noodles.
Did something similar a while back, but I went with carved foam beams instead of stone blocks. Looked great at first, but after about a year, noticed some minor dents from accidental bumps. Curious if you've had any durability issues with the stone look?
I did something similar with foam beams too, and yeah, those dents can be a bit annoying. But honestly, they've held up better than I expected overall. A friend of mine went the stone-look route, and from what I've seen, it's definitely sturdier—no noticeable dents or chips yet. If you're worried about durability, maybe consider adding a clear protective coat? Helped mine a lot with minor bumps and scrapes...
I get the appeal of foam beams—lightweight, easy to install, and all—but honestly, I found them a bit too fragile for my liking. Even with a protective coat, mine still ended up with noticeable dings after a year or two. Maybe I'm just rougher on my stuff than most people, who knows...
Anyway, I switched over to actual reclaimed wood beams last year and haven't looked back since. Yeah, they're heavier and a bit more work to install, but the durability difference is night and day. Plus, there's something about real wood that just feels more authentic—especially if you're going for that fantasy-inspired vibe. Foam can look good from afar, but up close it never quite fooled me.
Just my two cents though; if foam's working out for you guys, that's cool. Just thought I'd throw another perspective into the mix in case anyone's still deciding.