Engineered Timber – What is it and how can it help me?

Engineered Timber 

Engineered timber is in fact any timber that has been man made or put together by man using wood and glue products. Why is it so important? Engineered timber is now used in most homes and in many different ways. It is important because it makes building faster and stronger when spanning large areas and to strengthen walls. Construction plywood, for example, is used of all modern timber framed homes to strengthen the walls by stiffening the frames to help stop damage from wind and to take out some of the flex that the walls have.

Types on Engineered Timber

• LVL – stands for Laminated Veneered Lumber. Timber is glue laminated together and becomes very strong.
• Plywood – Comes in many different forms from decorative to high strength load bearing.
• I beams – Mostly used for large span floor joists. The results are a prefect flat and strong floor every time.
• Chipboard flooring – very strong and comes in different thicknesses and ratings.

Using an Engineered timber LVL Beam

LVL beams can be used to span large areas and are load beams that can be build to the size and rating needed. I have used engineered timber for extensions and additions with excellent results. In the following photo you can see a house extension (extension example) in which I used a large 200kg LVL bean to span the width of the extension plus the kitchen next to it. So the load of the roof is completely on this beam for nine metres. The roof was propped up and the beam installed into place using two mechanical lifters and then the load of the roof was aloud back on to the beam.

Using Engineered Timber I Beams

Engineered timber I beam are excellent and I have used them many times to achieve a prefect flat floor. In the example below  ( I Beams) you can see that the Engineered timber I beams have been used to span the floor and then the chipboard flooring is glued and nailed directly to it. Engineered timber I beams have the advantage over natural timber of being perfectly straight without bows, twisting, or warping.

Engineered Timber is fast and true

Engineered timber adds speed and strength to any extenison  and new building. Whether you are building a new home or are just wanting to extend your existing home, engineered timber can be a great partner. It is always true and straight and for its size has more strength than natural timber. It can also be treated to battle the white ant foe and will last as long as natural timber within a building frame structure. If you are thinking of good looking exposed beams within your house then you will need to order the engineered timber that has been made also for looks otherwise it can be a pretty rough industrial look.

Uses of Engineered Timber

• LVL beams for large spans across double garages and large extensions.
• Construction Plywood to brace a timber framed house.
• I Beams for large span flooring joists.
• LVL beams used in large load beaming roof trusses.
• Large beams for any large opening – load bearing above windows, large sliding doors, extension opening, large roof spans.

For more information about Engineered Timber check out our engineered timber pages.

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