Engineered lumber......

lilranch2001 · Aug 8, 2013

I am in the process of designing a breezeway and garage addition

I am thinking about using gluelams and I Joists

I have been told by several people that I joists are proving problematic

Anyone have a take on them?

Tomtint · Aug 8, 2013

I have built several homes with engineered lumber. The only thing I do not like about them is that you have a very small area of edge nailing. Other than that they are tough to beat. Straight, unlimited length,light,and easy to run mechanicals through. The house I'm sitting in now is all Micro lam and I joist, 5 years onl and not one Sheetrock crack or any other sign of settling /sagging
anywhere.

Tractor Seabee · Aug 8, 2013

APA - The Engineered Wood Association Go to this web site and find the data on the product you are planning to use. They are the association that establishes all the standards for engineered wood products. They have all kinds of aids on selection and installation standards also. These products are all engineered by structural engineers and extensively tested before being approved for the APA stamp. If the product you are looking at does not have the APA label don't buy it at any price, probably has not been tested. I have been in construction all my life and watched the evolution from structural timbers up to the lightweight products on the market today. Even the federal agencies specify their use in their contracts. As an inspector I saw all the reason why they fail, shoddy installation workmanship also. The low end residential contract community gives excellent products a black eye when failures occur not even realizing they do not know what they are doing. Engineered wood is not forgiving like massive timbers and do not have the tolerance of mass. What used to take four men to put in place is now done by two. The savings are more on the labor side that the material side. Good for the environment and sustainability also. One 6 X 16 X 16' timber will now provide the floor framing for a small house and 0 waste as even the sawdust is used.

If I was building anything today I would only use engineered lumber, even finger stock studs. A lot of trusses are now fabricated with finger stock dimension lumber.

Ron

powerpace · Aug 9, 2013

I was a superintendent and eventually head of sales for a Glulam manufacturing firm for a number of years. Asthetically the glulams are used in exposed building projects. Structurally they are more forgiving in the installation and design. TRACTOR SEABEE is right about going to the APA Web site.

Midniteoyl · Aug 9, 2013

Dont leave them exposed in the breezway (if not enclosed)

tommu56 · Aug 9, 2013

I used them for a bathroom addition on pier foundation. Straight and easy to work with.

Insulating the floor was a breeze push up the insulation pin it in place with the wires.
I covered bottom to keep critters out with wafer board cut to sit on the top of the bottom flanges.

BTW insulation and the wires has to be wider than for standard floor joists I used 6" metal stud wall insulation and 24" joist wires on an angle to hold it up tight to the floor.

GeneD14 · Aug 9, 2013

I have built several new homes for my family and the most recent one we used the I joists. We used them to span a 20' floor and with dimensional lumber we couldn't have done that without breaking up he span and having extra posts in our basement. I am impressed with modern engineered lumber.

LD1 · Aug 9, 2013

The three main advantages of engineered lumber are

1. Longer free spans
2. Stronger Headers
3. Easier to run utilities

For a Breeze way I dont see any of them 3 being an issue. How long are you spanning???

There are some major drawbacks to consider
1. Cost
2. They dont like moisture at all

2x12's are pleanty strong up to 15-16' spans. And far cheaper.

SPIKER · Aug 9, 2013

LD1 said:
The three main advantages of engineered lumber are

1. Longer free spans
2. Stronger Headers
3. Easier to run utilities

For a Breeze way I dont see any of them 3 being an issue. How long are you spanning???

There are some major drawbacks to consider
1. Cost
2. They dont like moisture at all

2x12's are plenty strong up to 15-16' spans. And far cheaper.