Can you cut LVL beam in half?

Manufacturers rip it as standard practice when producing beams. LVL is made in billets up to 48 inches wide that are ripped to commercially available standard depths. It’s okay to rip LVL beams to a smaller depth, too, though you’ll have to recalculate the beam capacity.

How thick should a LVL beam be?





1 ¾” thick

Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) is strong, stiff and versatile. It spans long distances. I was able to use LVL for every application in the case-house. Typically, LVL comes 1 ¾” thick and ranges in depth from 7 ¼” up to 18″.

How far can a LVL beam span without support?

The distance an LVL beam can span depends on a plethora of factors. Some manufacturers limit their beams to 60′ due to transportation issues, while others have the capability to manufacture beams up to 80′ long. So, the longest unsupported span possible using LVL would be 80-feet.

What size LVL do I need for a 20 foot span?

What size lvl beam for a 20 foot span:- as per general thumb rule, for a 20 foot span, size of LVL beam or GLULAM should be 10 to 12 inches deep and 3-1/2 inches or 2ply wide, thus you need something like a 10-12″ GLULAM or LVL to span upto 20 feet and can use simple 2×14 dimensional lumber at 16″ apart from centre as …

Can LVLS be ripped down?





Occasionally, it is necessary to rip down Murphy Company LVL (laminated veneer lumber) to a shallower depth that is not one of our standard manufactured depths. A “ripped” cut is one that occurs along the length of the beam parallel to the grain. There is no structural penalty for ripping down Murphy Company LVL.

Can you paint an LVL?

NelsonPine LVL billets in standard thicknesses come with an industrial type finish that can have normal timber paint and stain systems satisfactorily applied to them. Enhancement of the visual appearance and coating adhesion can be achieved by relatively coarse sanding the surface prior to the first coat.

What size LVL beam do I need to span 30 feet?

What size lvl beam for a 30 foot span:- as per general thumb rule, for a 30 foot span, size of LVL beam or GLULAM should be 16-18 inches deep and 4 inches wide, thus you need something like a 16-18″ GLULAM or LVL to span upto 30 feet used for residential building or projects.

Is LVL stronger than dimensional lumber?

Laminated veneer lumber (LVL) studs can be two times stronger in compression and tension than standard framing lumber of the same dimension.

How thick is a 3 ply LVL?



Laminated veneer lumber or LVL are available in 1 ply of thickness 1 -3/4″, 2 ply lvl of thickness 3 -1/2″, 3 ply lvl of thickness 5 -1/4″ and 4 ply lvl of thickness 7 inches wide.

How much does a 20 foot LVL beam cost?

The LVL beam thickness is usually between 1.75 and 7 inches. The price for beams that fit 10 feet of space will range from $3 to $5 per linear foot, while a 20-feet span will need a beam that costs $6 to $11 per linear foot.

What size LVL Do I need to span 18 feet?

For span upto 18 feet, generally you need 3 × 9 1/4 standard size of LVL beam or 2×12 dimensional lumber at 16″ apart from centre on normal weight condition which providing great stability for your projects.

Is glulam the same as LVL?



LVL refers to a manufactured timber product made from thin veneers (often 3mm) glued together to form large structural members, often known as Hyspan or similiar. Glulam is made from thicker sections of timber, generally 15-45mm thick, glued together to form a large variety of products.

Is LVL cheaper than steel?

LVL beams are cheaper than steel beams; however, steel beams take up less space and are easier to install inside a ceiling.

Is LVL or glulam stronger?

The laminated beam is stronger but more expensive and used when bigger cross-sections are required. Generally made from hardwood, rather than the lvl softwood. Better performance from a laminated beam can be got when using cambered lamination.

Is LVL stronger than CLT?

If CLT is known as plywood on steroids, LVL is like plywood on a diet. It is used like Glulam, for columns and beams, but compared to lumber it is stronger, straighter and more uniform, and takes greater stresses than Glulam.

What are the disadvantages of LVL?



Although its dimensional stability is better than solid wood, the product may result in some defect, such as warping, if it is not properly stored in the warehouse. Also, LVL requires high capital investment to have relatively low production cost.

What is the strongest engineered wood beam?

Power Beam® is the strongest engineered wood product (EWP) on the market with design values of 3000Fb – 2.1E – 300Fv. Power Beam® is manufactured with superior strength southern yellow pine MSR Lumber.

Is glulam stronger than solid wood?

Today, the advancements in engineered wood construction materials with products like glulam can produce posts and beams with more added strength than from that in solid sawn lumber alone, with far less warping and extraordinary durability.

What are the disadvantages of glulam?

Disadvantages of glued laminated timber houses:



Manufacturers can use some substandard timber which darken, come unglued, etc. after some time. Compared to natural logs, glued laminated timber beams, to a certain extent, lose the natural look of wood.

Is glulam more expensive than timber?

Glulam is more expensive than non-laminated timber. This is because there are a large number of stages involved in the manufacturing process.