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. How far can a double 2×12 beam spanĪs per general rules and guidelines, a double 2×12 deck beam (#2 grade southern pine) can span upto 12 feet when total load of 50 psf (40 psf live load + 10 psf dead load) with deflection limit L/360.Īs a general guide, a 2×12 double deck beam (#2 grade Southern Pine) can span up to 12 feet without support with a total load of 50 psf (40 psf live load + 10 psf dead load) and deflection limit of L/360.Video can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: What is Laminated Veneer Lumber? (LVL) () How far can a double 2×10 beam spanĪs per general rules and guidelines, #2 grade southern pine of a double 2×10 deck beam can span upto 10 feet when total load of 50 psf (40 psf live load + 10 psf dead load) with deflection limit L/360.Īs a general guide, a 2×10 double deck beam (#2 grade Southern Pine) can span up to 10 feet without support with a total load of 50 psf (40 psf live load + 10 psf dead load) and deflection limit of L/360. Typically a #2-Southern pine of a double 2×8 deck beam can span upto 8 feet when total load of 50 psf (40 psf live load + 10 psf dead load) with deflection limit L/360. Joists are technically beams that typically spans relatively short distances compared to beams and are made of wood, steel, or engineered wood or lumber.Īs a general guide, a 2×6 double deck beam (#2 grade Southern Pine) can span up to 6 feet without support with a total load of 50 psf (40 psf live load + 10 psf dead load) and deflection limit of L/360. It is like the skeleton/ framing of a building that supports the load which the floor is built to bear.

Their function is similar as beams, except floor joists are supported by wall, foundations, or beams framing.īeam carries the load and transfer the dead load of the subfloor and floor finishes and live load of people, furniture and furnishings to walls, headers, or foundation walls. Floor joists are typically a horizontal structural member that runs across an open space of building on supporting wall or studs. Grade 1 lumber have higher strength than other grade Lumber due to fewer knots.Ī double 2×6 are made when two 2×6 beam nailed together, a double 2×8 are made when two 2×8 beam nailed together, a double 2×10 are made when two 2×10 beam nailed together and a double 2×12 are made when two 2×12 beam nailed together.ĭeck beam provides structural support to floor joists can be define as several small beams. Southern yellow pine is strongest species of wood that can span more distance compared to other species of wood. There are different depth of deck beam made of timber are used in floor construction such as 2×6, 2×8, 2×10 and 2×12 etc made of different species of wood (southern yellow pine & Douglas fir) and different grade such as grade – 1, grade – 2, grade – 3.

Lvl support beam span table