Lvl span tables weyerhaeuser free#

This alignment takes advantage of the natural strength properties of wood. Thin veneers are glued together like plywood, but the grain of every veneer runs in the same direction. To the untrained eye, LVL looks like plywood. It was about this time that residential builders began to consider I-Joists as a serious framing option for floors in expensive custom homes. TJ was first, but other manufacturers quickly followed. Microllam”! the first Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) replaced solid lumber as TJ s flange stock. Then TJ tweaked its design using one of its own inventions. I-Joists were made with plywood webs and solid lumber flanges until 1977. This is a very attractive feature for builders quoting bids. More recently, the “timber crisis” of the 1990’s has made prices of engineered wood more stable than lumber. But they were straight, lightweight and did the job without breaking a sweat. Early versions of I-joists were not cheap.

Lvl span tables weyerhaeuser free#

Designers now had a free hand to fashion less restrictive load-bearing strategies. Enter I-joists: products made with deep plywood webs edged by strong lumber flanges. You could buy lumber joists that were longer than 20-feet, but they were expensive, hard to find, and lacked the adequate load-carrying ability required for long spans. Contemporary designs, first made popular in the 1970’s, were inspired by homeowners who wanted open floorplans. Builders now have a list of brands, prices, service levels, and product lines to choose from.Ĭost and performance drove the development of wood I-joists. At one time there was one product and one price - TJ’s. Stiff competition and rapid technological advancement has been good for builders. Apollo 11 lands on the moon and Trus Joist Corporation makes the first wood I-beam.” TJ not only pioneered the development of this industry, but has maintained a clear leadership role in a hotly contested market. Trus Joist Corporation (TJ) invented the wood I-joist industry. Expanded product lines and competitive market forces now provide builders with high performance at entry-level cost. Some information contained in it may be outdated.įor years engineered I-joists have been pricey framing options in high-end custom homes. Please note: This older article by our former faculty member remains available on our site for archival purposes.