It has been my experience to never use a beam smaller than a two ply 2 x 8.
Lvl roof support beams.
Most interior beams need to include the roof load.
Resists warping splitting and shrinking while supporting heavy loads.
It is imperative to design lvl beams to the right size in order to create a safe structural system.
Laminated veneer lumber lvl is manufactured by bonding layers of wood veneers together under heat and pressure using a waterproof adhesive.
Our 12 ft long beam was made from doubled 11 7 8 in wide x 1 3 4 in thick lvls laminated veneer lumber a very common strong type of beam that looks exactly like thick plywood boards.
We opted to use a 1 thick by 11 7 8 tall member of an lvl beam and secured four of them together using engineered screws.
This calculator matches up with 90 of the applications in the 2012 international residential code book.
No matter where they re used they install quickly with little or no waste.
Having the grain of all veneers run in the same longitudinal direction results in a product that is strong when edge loaded as a beam or face loaded as a plank.
Versa lam laminated veneer lumber lvl beams and headers eliminate twisting shrinking and splitting and deliver flatter quieter floors and structures.
Use the span tables below to determine allowable lengths of joists and rafters based on size and standard design loads.
Not all space reconfigurations require structural beams but in this case a structural support made with lvl beams was the most efficient choice.
Lp solidstart lvl is a strong straight and durable framing product made for superior performance.
They can easily be built up on site to reduce heavy lifting.
You can also use the wood beam calculator from the american wood council website to determine maximum rafter and joist lengths.
Laminated veneer lumber 103 pressure treated glulam beam 3 actual thickness.
Microllam lvl beam benefits.
If there is are any questions about anything else then you should contact your supplier or an engineer.
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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.
Any lumberyard will be able to furnish the beam and other materials.
The beam system we show will work for nearly any opening up to 12 ft.
Microllam lvl beams work well in applications all over the house.
For example if you are using an lvl beam with two plies of 16 inches or three plies of 14 inches with the columns spaced 14 feet from one another the maximum span size is 36 feet.
It can be used in place of traditional lumber for greater consistency and design flexibility.
