Become builders' indispensible sourse for o engineered wood beams

By Chris Degnan iLevel by Weyerhaeuser

\ZEARS ago. if you had a I- headache. aspirin was the only medicine available to relieve the pain. It didn't matter if you had a crushing migraine or a simple ache, you visited the corner drugstore and there were the bottles of aspirin. Some stores offered more than one brand, but they were all pretty much alike.

It was the same situation for homebuilders. At one time, there was only one type of carrying beam available for residential construction: solidsawn timbers. One beam was much like another. With the lack of options, lumber and building material dealers competed primarily on price.

Over time, technology has greatly expanded the types of beams available, allowing dealers to better market the right beam, for the right application, at the right price. For engineered wood products, many different types of beams are available. A larger selection enables dealers to differentiate themselves and increase sales by offering a variety of beams and by serving as an information resource to builders for choosing the products that meet their specific needs.

TYpes of EWP Beams

EWP beams provide a number of benefits: they are stiff, strong and straight; durable; and resist bowing, twisting and shrinking. In addition, they are available in long lengths, are uniform, and provide predictable performance.

The beams are also an environmentally responsible choice - an issue increasingly important to homebuyers and homebuilders. As with other EWP framing members, beams can be manufactured from logs that are not large or straight enough to be of structural value in conventional wood products. They also utilize fibers from plentiful, fast-growing trees and use a high percentage ofeach log.

Three primary types of EWP beams are laminated strand lumber (LSL), Iaminated veneer lumber (LVL), and parallel strand lumber (PSL). The different composition of each type of material provides a range of benefits, offering flexible solutions for a variety of applications.

Lsl

LSL is made from long wood strands that are dried and bound with resin. During manufacturing, the alignment of the strands is carefully controlled to take advantage of the wood's natural strength. For beams, the result is a one-piece member that eliminates the labor needed to build up a multiple-layer beam on the job site.

economical solution.

LSL beams are a good choice for most residential loads and spans and are an economical solution. In manv cases, a lower-cost LSL beam can be substituted for an LVL beam of the same size, while providing sufficient load carrying capacity.

Improvements to LSL beams are also improving flexibility and ease of use for builders. For example, last year ilevel by Weyerhaeuser introduced a new Trus Joist TimberStrand LSL beam, which can accommodate holes up to 4-518" diameter in a 14" deep beam. The beam also has the capacity for multiple holes. For builders, larger and greater numbers of holes make it easier-and potentially more cost effective-to route pipes, wire and conduits through the beam, instead of around it.

Lvi

LVL is made from sheets of veneer that are dried, ultrasonically graded, and evaluated to ensure uniform thickness and moisture content. The sheets are coated with adhesive, layered, and subjected to heat and pressure to achieve a permanent bond.

LVL beams are versatile and work well in applications throughout the house. They are available in deeper depths than many other types of beams and are most economically used in applications where load or span requirements exceed the capacity of an LSL beam.

A key advantage of LVL beams is that they can be easily built up on site to form a larger-size structural member, thereby reducing the heavy lifting associated with other types of beams. As a result, LVL beams, including the popular ilevel Trus Joist Microllam LVL, install quickly.

PSr

PSL is manufactured from long, narrow veneer strips bonded together with adhesives using a microwave process. The result is one of the strongest wood products available.

Ideal for applications requiring large beams or heavy loads, PSL is available in sections up to 60 ft. long. Because of their high strength, PSL beams are often used for large-span, open spaces, such as great rooms, without the need for intermediate supports. They are also frequently used for cantilever and multi-span applications. The thick section. one-piece beams eliminate field assembly. Due to the larger cross-sections and long lengths, they are typically heavy enough to require a crane to safely lift them into olace.

While they are most often used behind finished walls, PSL beams such as ilevel Trus Joist Parallam PSL are also available in an architectural grade, which can be sanded, stained and finished, providing a unique architectural look and feel. For exterior applications, Parallam can be treated to resist decay and insect damage.

Helo Builders Choose theT,ight Beam

While the selection of a beam for specific applications should be made in consultation with a qualified architect or structural engineer, dealers can serve as a valuable resource to builders in highlighting the options available. Dealers play a critical role in describing the benefits of alternate types of beams that builders may not have considered. For example, many builders are accustomed to working with LVL beams and may not be aware of the potential to substitute a similarly sized LSL beam.

By carrying a range of beam types, and understanding the ways they can be used. dealers can set themselves apart from the competition. Offering a range of beam solutions also can help grow market share, and potentially improve profitability, especially when beams are marketed as a system solution with other framing components, such as I-joists and rim board.

It all comes down to selection. Rather than the one-style fits all approach of the past, variety in beam products allows dealers to better serve