Lvl roof beam span tables how to#

Additionally, if holes need to be drilled through an LVL wood beam, it is recommended that the beam be 3-1/2” or wider.Ī 1-3/4” 2.1E 2800 beam with 100% load duration that is 7-1/4” deep will span up to 16’, an 9-1/2” deep will span to 20’, and 11-7/8” deep to 26’. This means trying to compare different products is often difficult, so always check with your local building department or a Structural Engineer. The structural design variables for the beam are vital and vary with the manufacturer. As is how it will be used – floor beam, joist, rafter, ridge beam, header, or lintel. Whether the span is multiple or a single is also important. The depth of the beam along with its width, combined with common construction variables such as building width, loads, number of stories, joist spacing, etc., determine its span. Beams can be cut to length and notched or drilled at the building site, and double, triple, or quadruple ply is used for strength, the same as dimensional lumber, making it a versatile choice. The length often depends on the manufacturer, with 80’ being available but 60’ or less are more common due to transportation restraints.

Most building suppliers will carry 8’, 12’, and 16’ lengths and order in longer lengths as required. Plus, special orders between up to 60’ or 80’ are available – depending on the manufacturer. The lengths commonly range from 4’ to 48’, usually available in 4’ increments. Laminated veneer lumber typically comes in 1-3/4”, 3-1/2”, 5-1/4”, and 7” widths or thicknesses, and depths of 5-1/2” to 24”, including standard and nonstandard depths. The distance an LVL beam can span depends on its width and depth. How Far Can an LVL Beam Span Without Support? The price per piece is affected by the distance shipped, as well as the dimensions of the LVL beam itself. It is then wrapped for shipping to domestic and international locations. The LVL wood beams are stamped every 4’ with the manufacturer’s name, branding logo, or product identification number and stress grade in accordance with ASTM D5456 or CSA 086. The LVL sheets are sanded smooth on all sides and then cut into widths and lengths based on market demand or special orders. LVL is also straighter and of more uniform dimensions than regular lumber, and is less likely to shrink, twist, warp, or bow. Since the layers of wood grain all run parallel to each other, LVL is similar to solid wood, but at least twice as strong. The stacks then pass into a machine that produces high heat and pressure to ensure a strong, long-lasting adhesive bond between layers. The number of sheets in the stack determines the thickness of the laminated beam. The glued sheets are then stacked with the grain running longitudinally like solid lumber not alternating longitudinally and latitudinally as with plywood. The veneer then passes through a gluing machine that applies a thin layer of waterproof adhesive. Once dried and trimmed, the sheets pass through a sander or grinder that flattens and smooths them to a consistent thickness. The veneer sheet is then dried with hot air, causing it to shrink some, and then it is trimmed to size for LVL production. The logs are debarked, pressure steamed with a mix of water vapor and chemicals for 48-hours, and then run through a veneer peeler that ‘unrolls’ the log into a continuous sheet with a thickness between 1/16” and 1/4”. It is made in a similar manner to plywood using softwood veneer logs or peelers. LVL or laminated veneer lumber was used to make propellers for aircraft in WW2 but didn’t become a construction material until the mid-1970s. How Far Can an LVL Beam Span Without Support?.Our goal is to provide you with information to help with your next or current building project.

Lvl roof beam span tables how to#

Additionally, we look at how to install an LVL beam. We explain how to determine beam size and also discuss their cost. In this article, we’ll identify what LVL beams are, their different sizes, how far they can span, and their different uses. Depending on its width, depth, and load parameters, an LVL beam can span up to 80-feet. The layers are heated, glued, and pressed together in different widths or thicknesses, and then cut to depths to meet various load requirements. After explaining what it was and the LVL beam span, I decided to give it a try, but I also wanted more information.Īn LVL or laminated veneer lumber beam is made up of thin layers of wood veneer similar to plywood. Such was a recent experience when I was looking for a beam for a renovation project. Every time I wander through my local lumber store, I seem to encounter a new product, not that it’s all that new, just to my awareness or my location.