How is Laminated Veneer Lumber Used?
Laminated veneer lumber is used in a variety of ways including but not limited to the following –
- Structural framing: Laminated veneer lumber is often used to make beams, joists, and other load-bearing elements. This is because laminated veneer lumber, like most engineered woods, is a high strength, high durability construction material that can substitute or even replace concrete and steel elements in many situations. LVL is also used in headers and rim boards.
- Furniture: Laminated veneer lumber is often used in the furniture as it is incredibly versatile. LVL furniture comes in a variety of sizes and styles and can be stained or painted along with other decorative coatings. Due to its strength and durability, laminated veneer lumber is especially suited for tables and chairs.
- Formwork: Formwork, also referred to as shuttering, is the molds or structures onto which wet concrete is poor. Often temporary, these forms are used until the form can support itself. Formwork can be made from a variety of materials including wood, metal, and plastic. Laminated veneer lumber is utilized because it provides a strong and stable surface for the concrete to be poured into.
- Decking: LVL is also commonly used for used for decking and stair stringers. Laminated veneer lumber is a popular material for decking because it has a high strength-to-weight ratio allowing for longer spans and wider joists than traditional lumber. The specific manufacturing and design of laminated veneer lumber, using layers or wood veneers, orientated in the same direction following the wood grain, helps to evenly distribute the load across the boards surface reducing the risks of splitting and warping.
- Stair stringers: Laminated veneer lumber as stair stringers is yet another example of the LVL being utilized for its strength, durability and versatility. A stair stringer is a structural engineering element designed to support the treads and risers of a staircase. Like LVL decking, laminated veneer lumber stringers are less likely to warp or split than their traditional lumber counterparts.
What are the Advantages of Laminated Veneer Lumber?
Laminated veneer lumber comes with many advantages such as –
- Strength and durability: One of the biggest advantages laminated veneer lumber and other engineered woods have over traditional lumber is LVL’s strength and durability. As mentioned previously, this strength and durability stems from the layered design and gives laminated veneer lumber a high strength-to-weight ratio. The high durability makes laminated veneer lumber great for inside and outside use when properly treated.
- Sustainability: Unlike traditional steel and concrete elements, laminated veneer lumber is made from renewable wood resources. LVL is typically manufactured using young, fast-growing, underutilized trees, contrasting that of traditional lumber. The manufacturing process of laminated veneer lumber also produces less waste than traditional lumber, as the manufacturing process of laminated veneer lumber, like many other manufactured woods, can utilize all parts of the log.
- Dimensional stability: As mentioned in the section “How is Laminated Veneer Lumber Used?”, LVL has a reduced risk of warping, twisting, or shrinking compared to traditional lumber. This is because laminated veneer lumber is manufactured in a controlled environment to ensure uniformity in size and moister content making LVL less likely to expand, contract, or contort in response to changes in moisture content.
What are the Disadvantages of Laminated Veneer Lumber?
The primary disadvantage of laminated veneer lumber and manufactured wood in general is costs. LVL can be more expensive than traditional lumber and other engineered wood alternatives such as plywood or oriented strand board (OSB). However, each of the engineered wood types is advantageous in the correct situation. Laminated veneer lumber may be more expensive than alternatives, but this price increase comes with increased durability, strength, and dimensional stability.
Conclusion
Laminated veneer lumber is a strong, versatile, more sustainably alternative to many traditional lumber, concrete, and steel construction elements. Commonly used in both residential and commercial construction projects, the applications of LVL are virtually endless.
