Laminated Veneer Lumber is found within the Structural Composite Lumber category, along with Parrallel Strand and Laminated Strand Lumber. It is a structural framing product made by adhering many layers of thin wood together which creates a unit stronger than site made beams of attaching 2x material together. The most commonly utilized locations for LVL are:
-floor beams
-headers
-garage doors
-ridge beams
-and hip beams
. Because LVL is composed in a factory under a controlled environment it is seen as straighter, more uniform, stronger, and more resistant to defects like bowing, twisting, warping or shrinking. The primary strength ratings provided by the manufacturer are the elastic modulus and allowable bending stress. Elastic Moduli typically ranges from 1,900,000PSI and 2,000,000PSI, and the bending stresses range between 2,800 – 3,000psi. LVL can commonly be found in thickness of 1-3/4″ and 3-1/2″, depths between 7-1/4″ – 24″, but special order sizes may be available depending on manufacturer.
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