In the current world of construction, it is hard to imagine how new materials are used to come up with sustainable, efficient and beautiful structures. One such material that has received much attention is glulam beams.
Stands for glued laminated timber, glulam beams are engineered wood products that offer strength, flexibility and sustainability and are popular among architects and contractors. In this article, you will learn all about glulam beams and why they are becoming the new standard in construction.
What Are Glulam Beams?
Glulam beams are made of laminating pieces of dimensional lumber with the help of strong adhesives in a factory environment. This process forms a single, continuous, and structurally sound member of the structure. Glulam beams are engineered products and are produced to standard sizes and strength characteristics as opposed to solid timber.
These beams can be made in different lengths and cross sections, from straight to curved and from constant to tapered cross sections, providing great design freedom. Glulam beams can be designed to meet specific requirements of a project, whether it is for a small residential home or a large commercial structure.
Key Benefits Of Glulam Beams
· Strength and Durability
Glulam beams are famous for their high strength and low weight. It can bear much weight but is lightweight, thus easy to transport and install. The manufacturing process removes natural imperfections like knots and splits, which makes the product strong and reliable in terms of performance. Moreover, glulam beams do not twist, split or shrink, thus providing long-term performance even in harsh climatic conditions.
· Design Versatility
Another important characteristic of glulam beams is their flexibility in design. They can be produced in several different sizes and forms to meet particular architectural needs. Whether you are planning to have curved beams in a modern home or straight beams for industrial use, glulam is a perfect solution.
They also have an aesthetic value that makes them valuable to own. Glulam beams are available in natural wood grain and warm colours that give an elegant and natural touch to the interior and exterior designs and are popular for use in structural cladding.
· Sustainability
In the current world where environmentally friendly construction is the way to go, glulam beams are the way to go. These are produced from a renewable material, namely wood and may be derived from sustainably managed forests.
This is because the manufacturing process of the material has a lower carbon footprint than steel or concrete, thus promoting sustainable construction. In addition, wood is a carbon store that sequesters carbon dioxide for the duration of its life and helps to mitigate the environmental impact of other construction materials.
· Cost-Effectiveness
Glulam beams are more economical than other materials, such as steel and concrete. They are easy to transport and handle, which in turn means that they will cut down on the costs of transportation and labour. Besides, they are easy to install and this can only mean that the project time will be shortened. Also, they have a long life span and do not require frequent maintenance, which makes them valuable products.
Conclusion
Glulam beams are an excellent example of how strength, versatility, and sustainability can be combined to create an ideal material for today’s construction projects. From small houses to large buildings, glulam beams provide the stability and beauty that any project requires. As more and more people discover the benefits of using glulam beams in construction, it is evident that this product is defining the future of construction.