8 Types of Structural Wood Beams (with Pictures)

Beams are an essential portion of design as they supply the needed structural help between two areas. They can be made from steel or wooden, but we’ll cover wooden beams along with their characteristics and usages.

Wood beams are utilised far more frequently than metal ones since they are a lot more inexpensive but durable.  They offer structural support for flooring, ceilings, decks, walls, roofs, and garages. Various wood beams appear in numerous styles and finishes and can even be customized-made. We have appear up with a listing of structural wooden beam kinds to support you understand much more about their attributes, advantages, and disadvantages.

The 8 Types of Structural Wood Beams

1. Finger-jointed Wood Beams

When we discuss about kinds of wooden beams, we have to mention finger-jointed wooden beams. They are manufactured out of numerous short items of solid wood joined jointly. They are made longitudinally and related by finger joints. Finger-jointed wooden beams can be created in lengthy lengths, which supplies longevity and power. This beam-generating approach is eco-helpful because you make the use of lumber that would in any other case be thrown away.

2. Solid Wood Beams

Sound wooden beams are the most gorgeous types of beams out there. As the name suggests, they are created of strong wood. The woods utilized to make reliable wooden beams are commonly Alder, Poplar, Walnut, Oak, and Mahogany. Solid wooden beams are quite resilient and can have remarkable hundreds. You can use them for outdoors development or have uncovered beams inside of that will make your house charming and inviting.  They come in various dimensions, and they all look distinct dependent on the wood you decide on.

3. LVL (Laminated Veneer Lumber) Wood Beams

LVL wood beams belong to engineered wood types of beams, specifically named structural composite lumber. They are produced by assembling multiple thin layers of wood with adhesives. These beams are extremely reliable and provide outstanding structural assist and several individuals use LVL wooden beams for design. Nonetheless, they are not the greatest option for out of doors load-bearing use.

4. LSL (Laminated Strand Lumber) Wood Beams

LSL wooden beams are one particular of the most high-priced engineered wood beam types. This wood beam type is manufactured of wooden veneers, flakes, or stands layered with each other and bonded with a moisture-resistant adhesive. People commonly use them for household, business, and industrial development, but you can also use them for structural framing. LSL beams are sturdy, fireplace and drinking water-resistant, and if set up appropriately, they will also be rot and decay-resistant. LSL beams are another beam which is very good for the setting.

5. PSL (Parallel Strand Lumber) Wood Beams

PSL wood beams are manufactured from engineered wooden. Related to the other two kinds we talked about, PSL wood beams are produced by connecting parallel wood stands with drinking water-resistant adhesive. They are dense and challenging, generating them great for any kind of development. PSL beams are not susceptible to shrinking, twisting, or bowing, so you will not have to fret about assist. They are utilized for equally indoor and out of doors structural assistance. Given that you can use waste components to make PSL beams, they are also eco-welcoming.

6. Glued Laminated Timber Beams (Glulam)

Glued laminated timber beams are kinds of wooden beams men and women typically phone Glulam. Makers bond with each other wood laminates of a similar energy class with humidity-resistant adhesives to generate this beam kind. Glulam beams are durable and much better than standard steel beams simply because they are greater for the setting even though nonetheless serving the same purpose. People typically use them for generating activity structures, spiritual buildings, and bridges. They are developed in different sizes dependent on your demands.

7. Prefabricated Open-web Joists

Prefabricated open-internet joists are a amazing choice for structural assistance and building produced by skillful engineers. Individuals use them to make floors for their houses. Their most substantial advantage is that they have open up spaces that permit the passage for wiring, piping, and other mechanical aspects of the developing. This beam variety will need much less time for installation whilst nonetheless becoming durable and offering you with the required assistance. Prefabricated open up-internet joists are personalized-created, so you can select the measurement you need.

8. Hand Hewn Wood Beams

Hand-hewn wood beams, as the name indicates, are varieties of wood beams that are hand-hewn. They are squared by hand, typically with a wide ax or an adze ax. This beaming approach was well-known all through historical past when humankind didn’t have equipment. Nonetheless, people use these beams these days because of to their eye-catching visual appeal and toughness. Because they are hand-hewn, they arrive from diverse wooden sorts and can be made in different measurements. You can use them for ceiling beams, posts, and other building.

What are the different types of beams?

Numerous sorts of beams are typically produced out of wooden or metal. They can also be created as a combination of metal and wood to supply far better assist.  Some of the most typical are strong wooden beams, universal beams, composite beams, and LVL wooden beams. They are all good in their own way, and they offer the structural assist for design. Relying on your funds and wants, you can choose from numerous possibilities on the market place. Familiarize yourself with their execs and disadvantages just before purchasing to make positive they will go well with your needs.

Conclusion

Wooden beams are tough, powerful, and most of them are drinking water-resistant. They all occur in various dimensions and are a good choice for development. There are eco-pleasant alternatives, and some wooden beams cost much more than other individuals, and we hope this report has produced you far more acquainted with the varieties obtainable.

Showcased Image Credit history: MarkMartins, Pixabay