#Span table for lvl beam how to

Remember when your science teacher said: every action has an opposite and equal reaction? Well every building load has an equal “reaction load”. The structural goal of a house is to safely transfer building loads (weights) through the foundation to the supporting soil. A complete analysis of wood’s mechanical properties is complex, but understanding a few basics of lumber strength will allow you to size joists and rafters with the use of span tables. Wood is naturally engineered to serve as a structural material: The stem of a tree is fastened to the earth at its base (foundation), supports the weight of its branches (column) and bends as it is loaded by the wind (cantilever beam). LVL Beam width should be 1/4 to 1/3 beam depth.Using span tables to size joists and rafters is a straight-forward process when you understand the structural principles that govern their use. LVL beam span calculator, design an LVL beam depth based on the rule of thumb for estimating the depth of manufactured beams which is to divide the span in inches by 20. Beam depths are typically 5 1/2 inches, 7 1/4 inches, 9 1/4 inches, 11 1/4 inches, 11 7/8 inches, 14 inches, 16 inches, 18 inches, and 20 inches. The width can be increased by laminating in multiples of 1 3/4 inches. LVL Beam width should be 1/4 to 1/3 beam depth.ĭesign a beam width based on the fact that the typical width of an LVL beam is 1 3/4 inches. Rule of thumb for sizing LVL beamĭesign an LVL beam depth based on the rule of thumb for estimating the depth of manufactured beams which is to divide the span in inches by 20. For example: An 12 inches deep an LVL beam can span up to 20 feet (12″÷12× 20= 20 foot).

LVL span calculatorĬalculate LVL beam span on the rule of thumb for estimating the span of LVL manufactured beam which is to multiply the depth in feet by figure 20, resulting figure is span of LVL beam. LVL beam thickness is usually between 1-3/4″ (one ply) and 7 inches (4ply). Generally, you can find LVL beams in a 4-foot increments starting at 24 feet and going up to 44 feet long, with special customize size up to 60 feet. LVL beam width should be 1/4 to 1/3 beam depth.įor example what size lvl beam for a 20 foot span, as per general thumb rule, for a 20 foot span, size of LVL beam or GLULAM should be (20×12)÷20 = 12 inches deep and width of LVL beam = 12÷ 4 = 3″, which is nearly equal as 3-1/2 inches or 2ply wide, thus you need something like a 12″ thick or 3-1/2″× 11-7/8″ size of LVL beam to span up to 20 feet.Īn LVL beam can span up to 60 feet due to its strength and is much stronger than traditional lumber. Because of the wood’s dimensional stability, inspection times are often reduced, too.īeam depths are typically 5-1/2 inches, 7-1/4 inches, 9-1/4 inches, 11-1/4 inches, 11-7/8 inches, 14 inches, 16 inches, 18 inches and 20 inches. Use an LVL beam to eliminate twisting and splitting for quiet floors. It is a straight, enough strong wood that fights warping and shrinking, providing great stability for your projects. LVL beam is generally made of thin sheets of wood which are sandwiched and bound with super stronger glue. It helps in better understanding about span and depth of LVL beam.

#Span table for lvl beam how to

This article describe about LVL beam span calculator and how to determine size of beam do you need. It is typically used for headers, beams, rim board, and edge-forming material. Laminated veneer lumber (LVL) is an engineered wood product that uses multiple layers of thin wood assembled with adhesives.

LVL is product of recent innovation they are result of new technology and economic pressure to make use of new wood species and smaller trees that cannot be used to make solid Lumber. The American wood Council National design specification for wood, lvl is type of structural composite lumber comparable to glued laminated timber (Glulam).