![]() ![]() ![]() LVL work for interior and dry location applications. The adhesive on many LVL beams is waterproof, but that glue will start to delaminate with repeated water infiltration, weakening the LVL beam. Strong adhesives are the key to making LVL wood strong, resistant to mold, and resistant to termite infestations.Ī drawback of LVL is it is more susceptible to water damage and rot if it gets wet than traditional lumber. Being a composite, LVL is much less likely than dimensional lumber to twist, warp, shrink, or bow. ![]() The days of crooked and warped lumber are in the past. Engineered LVL lumber is made in a factory and is robust, straight, and more uniform than dimensional lumber. Is LVL Stronger than Dimensional Lumber?ĭimensional lumber in today’s market is grown quicker with wider spaced growth rings and is not as strong as it once was. Other manufacturers also make LVL engineered products, and all use similar processes for making engineered lumber. Weyerhauser referred to the product as “Microlam” for two years until then changed it to “Microllam.” Many still refer to Microlam when speaking of Microllam as they are frequently interchanged to identify all types of laminated veneer lumber. Microlam and Microllam refer to the same LVL product. Microlam is a common misspelling of Microllam, a Weyerhauser brand of engineered wood products. They are cut to size, wrapped, and prepped for storage or transportation. ![]() The process to get to a finished LVL beam starts with debarking the log, then rotary peeling the veneer to send the sheets to the jet tube dryers to reduce the moisture content to 8-10%.Īfter drying, the manufacturer grades the veneer sheets, gets a resin application, and compresses the sheets until dry. The most common wood used in LVL beams is Douglas fir. During World War II, plywood became an essential war material. There is recorded use by the Chinese, English, French, and Russians well before the 20th century, and it received its first patent in 1856. An LVL engineering process uses multiple layers of thin wood assembled with adhesives.Įngineered lumber was first seen in use as early as ancient Egypt. LVL is typically made in a factory, straighter, more uniform, and stronger than traditional milled lumber. The difference is that plywood changes the grain’s direction with each layer, and LVL keeps the grain direction the same. LVL stands for Laminated Veneer Lumber and is similar to plywood in appearance. 2 Stress grade, and wet service conditions.Video can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: What is Laminated Veneer Lumber? (LVL) () Note: The span chart below is an example of how spans charts are presented. Because building code and lumber spans are updated from time to time, you should always check to make sure the span chart you are using is up to date. See the applicable code section, or the NDS to confirm the span chart you are using is correct.ĭimensional Lumber Deck Beam Spans Supporting a Single Span of Joists with or without Overhangs:Īssumes 40 psf live load, 10 psf dead load, L/360 simple span beam deflection limit, cantilever length L/180 deflection limit, No. The longer the joist, the more area of deck the joist supports, and thus the beam supports more area as well. In addition, many residents prefer the fell of a deck that is designed for higher loads. Building codes for residential decks only require 40 psf in some areas, but check your local requirements to make sure you are aware of any additional local guidelines. Beam span maximums are based on a maximum anticipated live load as well as other factors. Fewer posts on upper-level decks are typically more desirable to the occupants and this drives the use of larger framing materials for longer spans. The span of a beam is dependent on a few variables: The grade and species of lumber, size of lumber and the load it carries. ![]()
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