Glulam Beam - Checking Problem

[lilranch2001]

It seems to me that since you paid for a highly strengthened glulam, then anything less that they would give you back is ripping you off……

 

[JasperFrank]

They pay for, labor, epoxy, lag bolts, possible sister, and the original cost of the beam. With a contract that the beam will not fail as repaired. I don't see that big of a problem with this beam. It seems a bit over engineered in the first place. What was the building spec for this? Is it decorative, to be so large? Other wise, you'll probably have to sue, and get nothing.

 

[lilranch2001]

So you are saying that you would accept a welded block on a new truck??

 

[5030]

So you are saying that you would accept a welded block on a new truck??

depends on what material the block was made from actually.

 

[lilranch2001]

Not me, if the manufacturer screwed up, I’m getting a new block

 

[rScotty]

Two smaller beams are weaker than one large beam. The bending strength of a beam depends on the depth of the beam, and slicing it lengthwise only weakens it. Look at an extreme case where you slice the beam into 3/8" lath thicknesses. It would hold up very little.

That's interesting example. Very visual, too. It becomes pretty intuitive that a stack of laths will bend easier than a solid beam the same size, but how about shearing strength? Did that change as well?

And what happens if we take that stack of 3/8" laths and just glue them together real well at the ends? Is there any advantage to doing that?

 

[civilian]

My beams in the basement supporting the 36ft long floor trusses, have a cross section made from osb type material. Of the same sizes, is the 2x glulam stronger than the osb beam, or other way around? Just wondering. Jon

 

[Pettrix]

If the roof was not on the house, I would opt to replace the beam. The roof would have to be destroyed in order to remove it. We are talking about $80k+ in costs, labor, new roof panels, etc. Not feasible.

If the engineering says it can be repaired and made whole. Then I am good with that. I know the beam is oversized by 70% so let's say the beam loses 20% of it's strength, I am sill 50% over sized in terms of strength.

 

[Pettrix]

They pay for, labor, epoxy, lag bolts, possible sister, and the original cost of the beam. With a contract that the beam will not fail as repaired. I don't see that big of a problem with this beam. It seems a bit over engineered in the first place. What was the building spec for this? Is it decorative, to be so large? Other wise, you'll probably have to sue, and get nothing.

It is for a house SIP roof. The house has 5 glulam beams supporting a SIP (polyurethane) roof. The walls are ICF/concrete.

 

[ponytug]

My beams in the basement supporting the 36ft long floor trusses, have a cross section made from osb type material. Of the same sizes, is the 2x glulam stronger than the osb beam, or other way around? Just wondering. Jon

The engineered joists ("I-joists") are less likely to warp or change dimension compared to a 2by, but they are engineered to be the same strength, which is a lot in the vertical, and not so much horizontally. That makes the great for floors, where almost all of the load is vertical.

Engineered Lumber

www.weyerhaeuser.com

Gulam beams have relatively more strength to torsion and bending, due to the width of the glued area and the width of the beam, but they are used in places like roof support where those forces are more common.

So, different horses for different courses. Both are up to their task at hand.

@rScotty you can answer the question by making a stack of narrow paper strips and stapling just the ends together. Then try a glued stack. That's the difference between a stack of 2bys, fastened at the ends, and a glulam beam. Years ago, I built a Gudgeon Brothers type wood/epoxy laminated ice boat that ended up being incredibly strong and light. The strength of well epoxied wood is, I think, impressive. You could lift the main hull with one hand.

All the best,

Peter