A structural engineered wood product made by laminating multiple layers of dimensioned lumber with adhesives to create large, strong beams capable of spanning long distances.

A glulam beam, short for glued laminated timber beam, is a structural engineered wood product manufactured by bonding together multiple layers of dimensioned lumber with high-strength adhesives under controlled pressure and temperature conditions to create large, strong structural members capable of spanning long distances and carrying heavy loads. This innovative building material combines the natural strength and beauty of wood with modern engineering and manufacturing techniques to produce beams that can exceed the performance capabilities of solid sawn timber while utilizing smaller, more readily available lumber pieces. Glulam beams are widely used in residential, commercial, and industrial construction where long spans, heavy loads, or architectural appeal make them the preferred structural solution.

The primary purposes of glulam beams include providing structural support for long spans that exceed the capabilities of solid sawn lumber, creating large, open spaces without intermediate supports for architectural and functional flexibility, offering superior strength-to-weight ratios compared to solid timber of equivalent size, enabling the use of smaller, more sustainable lumber pieces to create large structural members, providing consistent structural properties through engineered manufacturing processes, delivering architectural appeal through exposed wood construction, and offering design flexibility through custom shapes, curves, and configurations not possible with solid timber.

Manufacturing process for glulam beams involves selecting and grading individual lumber laminations based on strength and appearance requirements, kiln-drying lumber to specified moisture content for dimensional stability, applying structural adhesives to lamination surfaces using controlled application methods, assembling laminations in predetermined orientations to optimize strength characteristics, applying pressure through hydraulic presses or clamps to ensure proper bonding, curing under controlled temperature conditions to achieve full adhesive strength, and finishing through planing, sanding, and quality control inspection.

Fun Fact: The largest glulam beam structure in the world is the Richmond Olympic Oval in British Columbia, Canada, built for the 2010 Winter Olympics. The roof structure uses massive glulam beams spanning over 300 feet, creating a column-free interior space larger than three football fields. This engineering marvel demonstrates the incredible capabilities of modern glulam technology.

• Beam
• Beam Clamp
• Beam Pocket