I'm working on a home addition that will have an exposed ridge beam and I'd like to hang two ceiling fans from the beam. I haven't been able to find a suitable mounting method for my setup. I bought 1" deep boxes but I'm realizing now that they will not work. I need some advise here. Thanks!

Well, there is a 1/2" deep "pan cake" round box designed to be surface mounted. Have to drill the beam to hide the wiring. Should feed the switch in order to minimize the number of wires in the ceiling box.

Well, there is a 1/2" deep "pan cake" round box designed to be surface mounted. Have to drill the beam to hide the wiring. Should feed the switch in order to minimize the number of wires in the ceiling box.

Just measured my box. It is 1/2". I was remembering wrong on my 1st post. I was REALLY trying to avoid drilling through the beam. The beam is 5.5 X 18". I guess I could drill an "L" shaped hole towards the bottom of the beam and feed the wire in from the side and out the bottom.

Then there is always surface raceway like wiremold.

I was going to suggest using wiremold boxes. They mount on the surface and blend right in.