What is engineered lumber?

Engineered lumber is a family of wood products made by binding together wood strands, particles, fibers, or veneers with adhesives to create a stronger, more stable, and more consistent material than traditional solid sawn lumber.

What are the benefits of using engineered lumber?

Engineered lumber products are typically stronger and less prone to warping, twisting, or shrinking than solid wood. They can also be produced in much longer lengths and larger dimensions, allowing for longer spans in construction.

What is LVL (Laminated Veneer Lumber)?

LVL is made by bonding thin layers of wood veneer together with the grain running in the same direction. It is incredibly strong and used primarily for headers, beams, and rim boards in residential and commercial construction.

What are I-Joists?

I-Joists are 'I' shaped structural members with a top and bottom flange (often LVL or solid wood) and a center web (usually OSB). They are lightweight, resist shrinking, and can span much longer distances than traditional 2x10 or 2x12 floor joists.

What is Glulam (Glued Laminated Timber)?

Glulam is made of several layers of dimensional lumber bonded together with moisture-resistant adhesives. It is versatile and often used for large beams, columns, and curved structural elements where both strength and appearance are important.

Can engineered lumber be used outdoors?

Most engineered lumber is designed for dry-use applications. However, some types are treated with preservatives or manufactured with waterproof adhesives for specific outdoor or high-moisture uses. Always check the manufacturer's rating for exterior use.

How is engineered lumber more sustainable?

Engineered lumber can be made from smaller, faster-growing trees and uses a higher percentage of the log than traditional milling. This reduces waste and puts less pressure on old-growth forests.

Is engineered lumber more expensive than traditional lumber?

While the upfront cost of engineered products may be higher per foot, they often save money in total construction by requiring fewer pieces, reducing labor time, and minimizing future call-backs for issues like floor squeaks or drywall cracks.

How should engineered lumber be stored on a job site?

It should be stored flat, off the ground, and covered with a waterproof tarp that allows for airflow. Keeping the material dry before installation is critical to maintaining its structural integrity and dimensional stability.

Can I drill holes in engineered beams for plumbing or electrical lines?

Yes, but you must strictly follow the manufacturer's guidelines regarding hole size and placement. Drilling in the wrong location can significantly weaken the structural integrity of a beam or joist.

Engineered Lumber is a manufactured product including natural wood species with adhesives and glues to create a structurally superior product.

Plywood is an engineered product and considered a general construction material as it is used for sheathing, subfloors and various applications in construction. Plywood is constructed from two thin sheets of softwood, hardwood or a combination of both with a sandwiched layer of wood chips running vertical to the grain of the top and bottom layers. The chips are glued and the sheet is baked at high temperatures to create a strong sheet. Three layers, or plys, are standard but extra layers may be added to create a stronger sheet. Plywood is tested for tensile strength, can be treated for fire and water resistance. Produced in 4X8 foot sheets.

    •  Structural plywood is used where strength is needed such as flooring.

    •  External plywood is not used for structural purposes and has a finished panel and is used for wall cladding, or exterior door panels.

    •  Internal plywood is not used for structural purposes, has a finely finished top panel and is used for walls and ceilings.

    •  Marine plywood is treated with preservatives, paint or varnish so it won’t delaminate.

    •  Grades of plywood run from A, B, C, D, or N. N has very few and little knots or defects in graining while D may have many of these. A, B, and C will range from few to a few more. C-D is interior rated with a top sheet with few defects and a D undersheet that may have more so. Also, the adhesive used is appropriate for interior use.

Oriented Strand Board (OSB) is used for sheathing and underlayments. Created from chips and flakes of wood oriented at 90 degree angles from each other and set in a resin that is baked at high temperatures to produce a strong sheet. Water resistant, OSB is tested for strength by how much weight it will hold. Available in 4X8 foot sheets, ¼-inch to ¾-inches thick. Tongue and groove designs are manufactured.

Finger jointed lumber is used when the lengths of 22-feet to 24-feet are needed. Dimensional lumber is cut to small lengths under 2-feet and with finger joints are glued together producing stronger lengths up to 36-feet long.

Structural Composite Lumber is a category of engineered products formed into billets by layering dried and graded wood strands, veneers or flakes in a moisture resistant adhesive. The billets can be sawn into sizes specified for construction materials. Due to the engineering process, these materials will not warp or split.

    •  Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) is produced from thin layers of wood that are bonded together with the grain parallel to the long direction.  Since it is manufactured under controlled situations with jointed or lapped veneers, it is engineered to be stronger, more uniform, and straighter than traditional lumber. It can be sawn and used as flanges on engineered i-joists. Frequently specified for headers, hip and valley rafters and ridgeboard.

    •  Parallel Strand Lumber (PSL) is engineered from clipped long strand veneers that are laid parallel and bonded with adhesives. The strength-to-thickness ratio is about 300. Designed for use on long, clear spans, PSLs can be used as beams, headers and even load-bearing columns.

    •  Laminated Strand Lumber (LSL) is composed of flaked wood strands combined with adhesives with a length-to-thickness ration of about 150. The strands and adhesive are formed into a large mat or billet and pressed. Cut in lengths up to 30-feet as studs, sill plates, and headers, they can be used for creating tall walls without warping and twisting. 

I-Joists are engineered as strong yet lightweight for framing in residential and light commercial construction. Shaped like a capital I, the I-joist has a top and bottom flange, often created from sawn LVL, with a center web of plywood or OSB. Used for floor and roof framing, I-joists are engineered for longer spans, and will not crown or warp. Common depths are 9-1/2”, 11-7/8” 14” and 16”; flanges vary in width from 1-1/2” to 3-1/2”.

Glulams are strong structural beams often left exposed due to their beauty. Created by using durable, moisture-resistant adhesives with wood laminations running parallel to the length of the design.  Available in custom or stock sizes, Glulams are used where a long run is desired, such as in garage door headers, ridge beams and large cantilevered beams.  Stock sizes are 3-1/8”, 3-1/2”, 5-1/8”, 5-1/2” and 6-3/4”. Created in premium, architectural, industrial and framing classifications.    

Rim Board is rated by the APA-The Engineered Wood Association and is manufactured for strength, dimensional stability and structural reliability of plywood, OSB, glulam, or LVL in lengths up to 24’. Designed to match the depth of I-joists, Rim Board is used in floor systems between the sill plate and bottom plate of a wall, or between the top plate and bottom plate of two wall sections.    

Cross-Laminated Timber is engineered for use in multi-family and commercial construction. Manufactured from several layers of kiln-dried lumber boards stacked in alternating directions and pressed with structural adhesives.