Laminated Plywood Beam Strength

You can find stock glulam that is available in commonly used dimensions and cut to length when the beam is ordered.

Laminated plywood beam strength. Lvl offers several advantages over typical milled lumber. Our versa lam lvl is manufactured in either alexandria lena louisiana in eastern united states or in white city oregon for the western united states. Depths range from 7 to 18 matching standard i joist depths. Anthony power beam apb is a relative newcomer to the structural beam market positioned to compete with lvl and parallam.

Made in a factory under controlled specifications it is stronger straighter and more uniform. It is also relatively easy to find stick glulam beams available in i joist compatible depths. Most stock beams widths for residential construction include 3 1 8 3 1 2 5 1 8 5 1 2 and 6 3 4 inches. Beams of more than one ply must be fastened together with either nails or bolts.

Common psl beam sizes are available in widths of 3 5 and 7 and depths matching i joists from 9 1 2 24 deep. An assumption i have made for the plywood is that only two of the three plies have the grain oriented along the ength of the beam so only two of the three plies contribute to the strength of the beam. Laminated and single piece beams are often reinforced with plywood. Engineered wood products ewp lvl span and size charts.

Plywood between the 2x10s and the relative stiffness jumps 15 to 341. Psl columns are also available in sizes comparable with sawn wood members from 4 4 to 8 8 in size. If you re going to use built up beams exterior i would say as a minimum you need pt plywood not cheap and graceshield over the top to keep the water out. Our titan timber beams resist checking and twisting and are job site ready with one piece construction and more cost efficient than lvl and psl.

Glue laminated glulam beams timber technologies glue laminated beams are superior in all strength characteristics to solid sawn lumber and pound for pound stronger than steel. Staggered pattern with at least a 3 x 120 nail. The 2012 irc code calls for a minimum of a 32 o c. This is also routine procedure for some ceiling or floor joists that are manufactured in many pieces or when overall beam.

Boises laminated veneer lumber lvl is a product that uses multiple layers of thin wood assembled with adhesives. We have learned from our experience to use at least a 3 1 4 x 131 groove shank nail in a column of four every foot apart down the laminate. Apb is a laminated beam product that comes in 3 1 2ö and 5 1 2ö widths to match standard 2 4 and 2 6 wall thicknesses. For built up beams using plywood i followed the link and gave a read.

Psl beams are primarily used in beam and header applications where high strength is required. Lvl is similar in appearance to plywood without cross bands.