Laminated Wood Beams

Laminated wood beams are used in a variety of applications from industrial, commercial, and religious construction to beautifully designed residences. Because the beams are considered the main structural framing members of the building, precise  lumber selection, grading, and quality control is required. The beams are manufactured in compliance with ANSI/AITC 190.1–92, the standard recognized by building codes throughout the United States.

The term glue-laminated timber refers to an engineered, stress-rated product comprising parallel assemblies of wood  laminations, finger-jointed at the ends, and face laminated with exterior-grade adhesives. Filler King uses the best grades of Douglas Fir laminating stock and adhesives the industry has to offer. No short-cuts are taken when producing a magnificent surfaced structural wood member.

Each beam is manufactured to a stress-rated formula as set forth by AITC. The lay-up of the beam prescribes the high grades of lumber on the bottom and top to establish the stress grade (f) of the member. When the customer specifies the grade, e.g., 2400 f architectural appearance, the beam is manufactured to the stress grade, size, and finish required. Filler King manufactures straight or cambered beams to lengths up to 76' in straight or cambered requirements. Beams can be finished to industrial, architectural, premium, or rough-sawn appearances. The grades of architectural and premium beams are planer surfaced and sanded.

Fabrication service is also available. Shop drawings can be developed, or customers' drawings can be used for fabrication in the beam finishing department.

Benefits
Economical
Laminated timbers can be manufactured for large spans and heavy uniform or concentrated load requirements. Standard carpentry tools can be used.

Creative
Designers have the option
to providing construction without the need for interior walls, supports, and costly footings.

Conserves Resources
 Smaller sized, but carefully dried and machined lumber is used in the center where in-place stresses are low, while higher grades are used on the faces.

Kiln-Dried
All lumber is kiln-dried to 10–12% moisture content
(maximum 15%) to reduce changes in size and wood checking when the wood beam is in its ambient condition.

Waterproof
Adhesives used are fully waterproof.

Insulating
Wood changes less in thermal expansion than steel or concrete. Its insulating power is many times higher than steel or concrete. It also has excellent electrical insulating qualities.

Absorbs Impact
Wood is resilient and can absorb impact loads.

Renewable Resource
Wood laminates making up the timbers come from the utilization of our most renewable resource—the forests
of America.