Can LVL beam be used outdoors?
Herein, can LVL beam be used outdoors? Microllam® LVL should only be used in dry (interior use) applications and should not be pressure treated. Also some wood species used in Microllam® LVL production may not be appropriate to absorb the chemicals used in treatment. The best choice for exterior use is our treated Parallam® Plus PSL. Can glulam beams exposed weather? Yes. Treatment to hazard class 3 (H3. 2) is recommended for all Glulam beams exposed to the weather.
Can LVL be used outside?
NelsonPine LVL should not be used in external applications where it is not protected from the weather and moisture. The life expectancy of untreated and unprotected NelsonPine LVL fully exposed to the weather and/or in contact with the ground is less than 5 years. Simply so, are LVL beams waterproof? Laminated veneer lumber (LVL) Are you aware
What sizes do LVL beams come in?
Sizes may vary according to manufacturer but Georgia Pacific says LVL standard thicknesses are 1 3/4 inches and 3 1/2 inches. Lengths are generally available in 24, 28, 32, 36, 40 and 44 feet with special orders of up to 60 feet. How much is an LVL per foot? A steel I-beam costs $6 to $18 per foot for just the materials.
Where to buy LVL beams?
- Orchard Park, NY
- Macedonia, OH
- Pataskala, OH
- Bridgeville, PA
- Cresson, PA
- Highspire, PA
- Douglasville, PA
- Summersville, SC
- Greenville, SC
- LaVergne, TN
Are LVL stronger than wood?
Laminated veneer lumber (LVL) studs can be two times stronger in compression and tension than standard framing lumber of the same dimension.
What is the purpose of a LVL?
LVL is suitable for use as beams, trusses, planks and rafters. When cross-bonded for increased stiffness it can be used to form wall and floor panels with load-bearing capacity. While frequently used solely as a concealed structural component of a building, finished appearance grades are also used.
What does a LVL stand for?
LVLAcronymDefinitionLVLLevelLVLLatvian Lats (currency)LVLLaminated Veneer LumberLVLLouisville (Kentucky)9 more rows
What is the difference between LVL and plywood?
LVL is an engineered wood product that uses multiple layers of thin wood, oriented in the same direction, assembled with resins . Plywood sheets are used in many areas such as furniture, shuttering and container flooring. LVL is typically used for headers, beams, rimboard, and edge-forming material.
Is LVL good for exterior?
Laminated veneered lumber provides uniform widths and strength, as well as the elimination of shrinkage and twisting typically found in traditionally milled, forest-grown wood lumber. With LVL now being offered with pressure treatment, it is approved for outdoor decks.
How much does an LVL beam cost?
LVL beams cost on average $3 to $12 per linear foot for the material or $50 to $200 per foot installed. LVL beams are more cost-effective and durable than regular wood beams.
How long does LVL last for?
6-8 weeksHow long do LVL lashes last? If you take care of them properly, then LVL Lashes last up to 6-8 weeks.
What type of wood is LVL?
structural composite lumberLaminated veneer lumber, abbreviated to LVL, is a type of structural composite lumber (SCL) commonly used in wood construction for both residential and commercial buildings. Similar in concept to plywood, LVLs consist of many thin (less than a quarter inch) wood veneers adhered with high strength adhesives.
What timber is used in LVL?
Laminated Veneer Lumber (or LVL timber) is a high-strength engineered wood product used in construction. The timber uses thin veneer sheets layered together and heavy-duty adhesive for high-pressure bonding. LVL is a cost-effective material, and its strength is comparable to concrete and steel.
What are some of the benefits of LVL?
Benefits of LVLThe Strength of Steel. ... Consistency Means No Surprises. ... Lightweight for Safer, Easier Handing. ... Better Cost Control. ... Longer Lengths for Bigger Spans. ... Sustainably-Managed Timber is One of the Most Environmentally Friendly Materials Available.
Can you paint an LVL beam?
NelsonPine LVL billets in standard thicknesses come with an industrial type finish that can have normal timber paint and stain systems satisfactorily applied to them. Enhancement of the visual appearance and coating adhesion can be achieved by relatively coarse sanding the surface prior to the first coat.
Are LVL beams termite resistant?
SmartFrame Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) products are made exclusively for Tillings and supplied with built-in protection from termites using a Glue Line Additive (GLA) treatment from Zelam Limited, a Lonza company.
What are some benefits of LVL?
Major advantages of LVL include its dimension, shape, high strength properties and low cost. The size of LVL is not limited by log size, due to its manufacturing method. LVL is one of the strongest wood-based construction materials relative to its density.
How is LVL used in construction?
When should I use LVL? Laminated Veneer Lumber is ideal for a variety of uses inside the home, especially when it comes to maintaining a structure. This includes everything from rafters, headers, lintels, purlins, roof trusses, and formwork – in addition to window frames and steps.
Can LVL be used as rafters?
It is highly durable, and its engineering makes it uniformly straight. LVL is often used for structural work for roofing including ridge beams, strutting beams, hanging beams, and valley or hip rafters. It can also be used for long span joists and floor bearers.
What is the difference between LVL and glulam?
LVL refers to a manufactured timber product made from thin veneers (often 3mm) glued together to form large structural members, often known as Hyspan or similiar. Glulam is made from thicker sections of timber, generally 15-45mm thick, glued together to form a large variety of products.
What is a LVL?
LVL: Laminated Veneer Lumber. What is an LVL? Laminated Veneer Lumber ( LVL) is an industry standard in framing of new wood frame buildings. LVLs are used to replace solid wood beams and joists. They are made in a process similar to plywood, where rotary peeled wood veneers (usually pine or fir) are dried then laminated together with glue ...
Where are LVLs most often used?
Where are LVL’s most used? In framing buildings, LVL is most often used for beams and joists. Its strength makes it good for door and window headers, stair stringers and other beams. Designed for structural applications, the surface finish is of low architectural quality.
Why are LVLs so strong?
Due to its high tensile strength it has the ability to support a great deal of weight along its length without sagging. This strength also gives the ability to span long distances without the need for posts. LVLs have high design values not only for bending, but also stiffness and shear strength.
Does LVL shrink or warp?
Does an LVL shrink or warp? As a low moisture content, factory produced product, LVLs resist shrinkage, warping, splitting and checking. Many manufacturers use sealants on their LVLs to protect from moisture damage. No special fasteners are required for assembly, LVLs installs just as easily as ordinary lumber.
What is LVL lumber?
Laminated veneer lumber (LVL) is one of the most widely used engineered wood products for constructional applications. It is a composite product manufactured from multiple thin layers of veneer that are aligned with the length of the finished lumber. This fact sheet summarizes basic manufacturing steps, advantages and disadvantages of LVL compared to other structural engineered wood-based products.
What are the advantages of Lvl?
Major advantages of LVL include its dimension, shape, high strength properties and low cost. The size of LVL is not limited by log size, due to its manufacturing method. LVL is one of the strongest wood-based construction materials relative to its density.
What is laminated veneer lumber?
Laminated veneer lumber is a versatile wood-based product. Together with plywood, lumber or oriented strand board (OSB), LVL can be used for many structural applications. Some of the most popular uses of LVL include I-joists, header, rimboards, truck bed decking, roadway signpost, beam, truss, special applications such as skateboards, ...
Why is LVL produced in different shapes?
Because it is manufactured with homogeneous quality that has a minimum number of defects or even distribution of defects, mechanical properties of the final product can be predicted. In general, LVL can be produced in different shapes depending on for what it will be used.
What is the loose side of veneer?
The side of the veneer next to the knife-edge is called the loose side, while the other side is called the tight side. There are many fine cracks on the loose side of veneer due to lathe checks running parallel to the grain. Figure 1. Rotary peeling veneer production.
How long does it take for a veneer to peel?
Rotary peeling veneer production. A bolt, which is a short log depending on its diameters, may take 5 to 10 seconds to peel before its core is discharged and the charger is ready for the next cycle.
What happens if you leave defects on a veneer?
Even if defects are left on each veneer sheet, random distribution of such defects during veneer assembly will make the final products more uniform and strength properties comparable to that of high-grade lumber.
What is LVL lumber used for?
It is typically used for headers, beams, rimboard, and edge-forming material. LVL offers several advantages over typical milled lumber: Made in a factory under controlled specifications, it is stronger, straighter, and more uniform.
What is LVL used for?
Because it is specifically sized to be compatible with I-joist floor framing, residential builders and building designers like the combination of I-joist and LVL floor and roof assemblies. LVL is considered to be a highly reliable building material that provides many of the same attributes associated with large sized timbers. LVL can also be used in combination with gluelam as an outer gluelam tension lam to increase the strength of the gluelam beam. However, due to the fact that the assembly adhesives limit the penetration of chemicals typically used to treat outdoor-rated lumber, LVL may not be suitable for outdoor load-bearing use. A deck built using pressure-treated LVL collapsed due to internal rotting of the twelve-year-old LVL components, although the LVL beams had passed regular visual inspections. The breakdown of LVL end uses in North America is 33% new single family residential construction, 25% residential renovations and upkeep, 8% new non-residential construction and 34% manufacturing furniture and other products.
What is LSL board?
LSL is also made from strands rather than veneer, although the strands are shorter and aligned with less precision than PSL and is created as billets that are like a thick version of oriented strand board. Billets of PSL and LVL are very similar although their sizes are different.
What is laminated veneer lumber?
For other uses, see LVL. Laminated veneer lumber (LVL) is an engineered wood product that uses multiple layers of thin wood assembled with adhesives. It is typically used for headers, beams, rimboard, and edge-forming material.
How much wood is in LVL?
Although the creation of LVL is often proprietary and thus its make-up is largely dependent on individual manufacturers, in general one cubic meter of North American lumber is composed of 97.54% wood, 2.41% of phenol formaldehyde resin, 0.02% of phenol-resorcinol-formaldehyde resin, and 0.03% fillers.
When was Lvl first released?
The 1991 release is the first release which mentions LVL. LVL is mentioned as a subcategory of structural glued laminated timber. The first explorations into engineered lumber happened during World War II in the United States. In 1942, an increased demand for wood caused a sudden timber shortage.
When was Lvl made?
While plywood became widespread by the early 20th century, the invention of LVL was not until the 1980s after the invention of oriented strand board. The American Wood Council 's National Design Specification for Wood Construction is generally updated on a 3- to 5-year cycle.
Step 1
Use the supplier's span tables to determine the size of beam you will need based on the span.
Step 2
Sometimes you will be required to use a two- or three-ply beam.Two-ply means two pieces fastened together and three-ply means three pieces fastened together. For a two- or three-ply beam, fasten one beam to the other by nailing two rows of nails across the length of the beam. One row across the top of the beam and one row across the bottom.
Step 3
Cut the beam to the desired length using regular tools such as a circular saw or mitre saw.
Step 4
Place the beam in its permanent position. LVL beams don't require any special fasteners. You can either nail the beam in place or use top flange or face mount hangers. These hangers are metal casings that support the ends of the beam. The minimum bearing requirement for LVL beams is three inches.
How It's Made
LP® SolidStart® LVL is a strong, straight and durable framing product made for superior performance. It can be used in place of traditional lumber for greater consistency and design flexibility. Advantages include:
Working Better Together
Gorilla Glue Technology® helps build one of the strongest, stiffest sub-floors in the industry.
What is LVL lumber?
Unlike plywood or OSB, LVL lumber uses wood fragments that are all oriented in the same direction to produce very stiff beams that generally have greater span capacity than sawn lumber. GluLam produces laminated wood beams, timbers, I-joists, and other engineered wood products.
What is LVL trim?
Like LVL beams, LVL trim is dimensionally stable and is easy to cut, nail, and install, similar to a piece of plywood. Its weight falls in between solid wood and hardboard. It can be used for fascia, casings, corner boards, and most other exterior trim, and is available in lengths from 8 to 24 feet. According to Laminated Veneer Lumber, Overview ...
What is laminated lumber?
Laminated veneer lumber is an "engineered wood product", developed in the 1960's, is produced by gluing together layers of wood veneers with the wood grains in parallel . Illustraged in our photographs of LVL beams in use at a Poughkeepsie NY Project, our example LVL beams are made of fifteen laminated wood plies.
How thick is LVL lumber?
Typically an individual LVL ply or layer of veneer is 45mm to 65mm in thickness, and may be up to 1.2 meters wide and as much as 25 meters in length, depending on the size of the original tree. LVL lumber, including trim and structural beams (see our photo at left) is provided by several wood products companies including Georgia Pacific (GP-LAM).
Is laminated wood stronger than lumber?
Because individual wood ingredient defects in a laminated wood product will not extend beyond a single layer or "veneer" of wood, the overall laminated product is stronger than a piece of lumber of the same dimensions sawn from an individual tree. This approach also permits construction of large structural beams from smaller-diameter ...
What is LSL framing?
LSL is used primarily as structural framing for residential, commercial and industrial construction. It is suitable for headers and beams, tall wall studs, rim board, sill plates, millwork and window framing. LSL also offers good fastener-holding strength. It can also be left exposed as a design feature. Earth Sciences Building, UBC.
How is LSL similar to LVL?
LSL is similar to LVL in many ways, with the exception that it uses flakes, and not layers of veneers. The flakes are pressed together with heat—using a steam injection press— and bonded by adhesives.
What is LSL lumber?
LSL is part of a family of products, structural composite lumber (SCL), that are made of dried and graded wood veneers, strands or flakes that are layered upon one another and bonded together with a moisture-resistant adhesive into large blocks known as billets. Other products in this group include laminated veneer lumber (LVL) ...
What is LSL in Vancouver?
LSL is used for the ceiling at the North Vancouver City Hall in an unexpected way. Typically, LSL panels are cut into smaller pieces rather than used as large panels as seen here. This innovation not only looks good but means ceiling component can be prefabricated and installed with greater ease and speed.
Why does LSL resist fire?
LSL, like other mass timber products, naturally resists fire because it chars. In the event of a fire, this char on the outside forms a protective layer while retaining strength. This slows combustion allowing time to evacuate the building safely.
What is parallel strand lumber?
A sister product, parallel strand lumber (PSL) is used as hollow box beams to form the “eyebrow” overhangs of the building. Read the project profile.
Is LSL a good alternative to wood?
This efficient use of wood fibre adds to its eco-friendly benefits and makes it an attractive alternative to more carbon-intensive materials. Like most wood products, it is well-suited to prefabrication. LSL is a cost-effective solution for a wide range of framing applications.
Lvl Production
Lvl Versatility
- Laminated veneer lumber is a versatile wood-based product. Together with plywood, lumber or oriented strand board (OSB), LVL can be used for many structural applications. Some of the most popular uses of LVL include I-joists, header, rimboards, truck bed decking, roadway signpost, beam, truss, special applications such as skateboards, and custom-ma...
Advantages
- Major advantages of LVL include its dimension, shape, high strength properties and low cost. The size of LVL is not limited by log size, due to its manufacturing method. LVL is one of the strongest wood-based construction materials relative to its density. Because it is manufactured with homogeneous quality that has a minimum number of defects or even distribution of defects, me…
Disadvantages
- Conversely, LVL has several disadvantages as wood composites. Enhancement of strength properties of LVL by densification of veneer during the press is very limited. Although its dimensional stability is better than solid wood, the product may result in some defect, such as warping, if it is not properly stored in the warehouse. Also, LVL requires high capital investment t…
Further Information
- Detailed information about LVL manufacturing and its properties also can be found in the following literature: Smulski, S. (Ed.) (1997). Engineered Wood Products. PFS Research Foundation: Madison, Wisconsin. Bowyer, J., Smulsky, R., & Haygreen, J. (2007). Forest Products and Wood Science. Blackwell Publishing: Boston, Massachusetts. Baldwin,R. (1995). Plywood a…
Overview
Laminated veneer lumber (LVL) is an engineered wood product that uses multiple layers of thin wood assembled with adhesives. It is typically used for headers, beams, rimboard, and edge-forming material. LVL offers several advantages over typical milled lumber: Made in a factory under controlled specifications, it is stronger, straighter, and more uniform. Due to its composite nature, it is much …
Use
Because it is specifically sized to be compatible with I-joist floor framing, residential builders and building designers like the combination of I-joist and LVL floor and roof assemblies. LVL is considered to be a highly reliable building material that provides many of the same attributes associated with large sized timbers. LVL can also be used in combination with gluelam as an outer gluelam tension lam to increase the strength of the gluelam beam. However, due to the fa…
History
Structural composite lumber products, including LVL, are a relatively recent innovation. They are the result of new technology and economic pressure to make use of new species and smaller trees that cannot be used to make solid sawn lumber. While plywood became widespread by the early 20th century, the invention of LVL was not until the 1980s after the invention of oriented strand board. The American Wood Council's National Design Specification for Wood Constructio…
Qualities
Laminated veneer lumber is similar in appearance to plywood, although in plywood the veneers switch direction while stacking and in LVL the veneers all stack in the same direction. In LVL, the direction of the wood grain is always parallel to the length of the billet. The stacking of these veneers into a complete board, called a billet, creates a single piece of LVL sharing a common direction of wood grain. LVL is typically rated by the manufacturer for elastic modulus and allow…
Manufacturing
LVL is commonly manufactured in North America by companies that also manufacture I-joists. LVL is manufactured to sizes compatible with the depth of I-joist framing members for use as beams and headers. Additionally, some manufacturers further cut LVL into sizes for use as chord-members on I-joists. In 2012, North American LVL manufacturers produced more than 1.2 million cubic metres (43.4 million cubic feet) of LVL in 18 different facilities, and in 2013 the productio…
Structural composite lumber
LVL belongs to the category of engineered wood called structural composite lumber. Other members of this category are parallel strand lumber (PSL) and laminated strand lumber (LSL). All members of this category are strong and predictable, and are thus interchangeable for some applications. PSL is made from veneers that are cut up into long strands and oriented parallel to its length before being compressed into its final shape. LSL is also made from strands rather th…
See also
• Cross-laminated timber
• Homasote
• Papercrete
• Parallel strand lumber
External links
• "Deck Collapse Conclusions"