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What is a glulam beam?

A glulam beam is glued laminated timber: 2 or more lumber layers bonded with their grain running along the beam. It can span residential openings such as three-car garages. Its structural laminations are selected and positioned, so consult the engineer of record before field cutting, notching, or drilling.

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By InstaBids editorial team with AI research agents. Updated

What this means for your home project

  1. Look for the lumber layers and their lengthwise grain when identifying the beam; compare those visible features with the glulam description. Source: USDA Forest Service, read 2026-11-03.
  2. Request written connection details for the glulam installation; the reply should show the connections detailed by the design professional. Source: APA – The Engineered Wood Association, read 2026-11-03.
  3. For exposed roof-beam ends, request a written flashing detail referencing Glulam Connection Details, Form T300. Source: APA – The Engineered Wood Association, read 2026-11-03.
  4. Before any field hole, notch, or cut, consult the engineer of record about the proposed beam modification. Source: APA – The Engineered Wood Association, read 2026-11-03.
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What are allowable holes in glulam?

There is no blanket drilling permission here: APA's residential installation guidance says to consult the engineer of record before any field notching, cutting, or drilling. Get that decision before making a cut in the beam. “When field notching, cutting, or drilling a glulam beam is required, consult the engineer of record before making any cuts.” Source: APA – The Engineered Wood Association, read 2026-11-03.

What is the glulam to LVL comparison?

Glulam uses lumber laminations; laminated veneer lumber (LVL) uses thin wood veneers. The USDA handbook describes LVL production with veneers 3.2 to 2.5 millimeters thick, while Natural Resources Canada's material description puts typical glulam lamstock at 1½ inches. These are descriptions of the materials, not a substitution design. “Since the 1990s, production of LVL uses veneers 3.2 to 2.5 mm (1/8 to 1/10 in.) thick, which are hot pressed with phenol-formaldehyde adhesive into lengths from 2.4 to 18.3 m (8 to 60 ft) or more.” Source: USDA Forest Service, read 2026-11-03. “Glulam is made from high-quality dimension lumber (“lamstock,” usually 1½ inches thick) glued together so that the grain of all laminations runs parallel to the length-wise direction of the finished product.” Source: Natural Resources Canada, read 2026-11-03.

How do I order a glulam product?

Ask for a written beam specification and connection details. The USDA's 2021 handbook identifies ANSI 117-2015 for softwood glulam design values; this is its cited edition, not a statement of today's local code. APA says connections should follow the design professional's details, so include those details in the requested installation scope. “For softwoods, these design values are given inANSI 117-2015, “Standard Specifications for Structural Glued Laminated Timber of Softwood Species” (APA2015).” Source: USDA Forest Service, read 2026-11-03. “Because of glulam's larger sizes and longer spans, it's important to make connections as detailed by the design professional on record.” Source: APA – The Engineered Wood Association, read 2026-11-03.

Do I need to coat my glulam with anything?

For a roof beam extending outside the house, protection involves the exposed-end detail as well as the surface finish. APA's guidance calls for detailing and flashing over exposed ends in Glulam Connection Details, Form T300. Ask the installer to show that detail in the written scope. “Be sure to use proper detailing and flashing over the exposed ends of the beams as shown in APA Technical Note Glulam Connection Details, Form T300.” Source: APA – The Engineered Wood Association, read 2026-11-03. “Roof beams that extend to the exterior need to be protected from the elements.” Source: APA – The Engineered Wood Association, read 2026-11-03.

Can you laminate any timber?

Species choice is conditional: USDA says both mechanical and physical properties must be suitable and the gluing properties acceptable. This does not give permission to make a structural beam from arbitrary boards. Its handbook describes a four-part manufacturing process, including drying, grading, bonding, and fabrication. “Nearly any species can be used for glulam timber, provided the mechanical and physical properties are suitable and gluing properties acceptable.” Source: USDA Forest Service, read 2026-11-03. “The manufacturing process can be divided into four major parts: (a) drying and grading the lumber, (b) end jointing the lumber, (c) face bonding, and (d) finishing and fabrication.” Source: USDA Forest Service, read 2026-11-03.

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