A structural beam made by bonding multiple layers of lumber together with adhesives to create a stronger, more stable member than solid wood beams for construction applications.

A laminated beam is a structural beam made by bonding multiple layers of lumber together with adhesives to create a stronger, more stable member than solid wood beams for construction applications. These engineered wood products, commonly known as glued laminated timber (glulam), are manufactured by laminating dimension lumber with structural adhesives under controlled pressure and temperature conditions. Laminated beams offer superior strength, dimensional stability, and design flexibility compared to solid sawn timber, making them ideal for long spans and heavy load applications.

The primary purposes include providing structural support for long spans and heavy loads, offering superior strength-to-weight ratios compared to solid wood, enabling architectural designs with exposed structural elements, reducing material waste through efficient use of smaller lumber pieces, providing dimensional stability and reduced shrinkage, meeting structural requirements where solid timber is inadequate, and creating cost-effective solutions for large structural members.

Manufacturing process involves lumber selection, preparation, adhesive application, and pressing under controlled conditions.

Fun Fact: The first glued laminated timber was developed in Europe in the 1890s, but modern laminated beams weren’t widely used in North America until the 1950s! Some laminated beams can span over 200 feet without intermediate supports. The adhesives used are often stronger than the wood itself, creating joints that won’t fail even under extreme loads. Interestingly, laminated beams can be made from lower-grade lumber pieces, making them more environmentally sustainable than requiring large, old-growth trees for solid beams!

• Beam
• Beam Clamp
• Beam Pocket