What Is A Flitch Beam? What Is The Purpose Of A Flitch Beam?

What Is A Flitch Beam?

Flitches are a type of timber made up of two or more pieces joined together to form one piece.

Flitches come in several different varieties, depending on how the individual pieces are joined together.

Some examples include a multiple-piece ladder beam, a double-faced flitch, and an edge-glued flitch.

What Is The Purpose Of A Flitch Beam?

A flitch beam is a wooden beam used to support the roof of a building. It’s made of two pieces of wood joined together at an angle, which makes it stronger than a single-piece beam that hasn’t been cut and joined together properly.

Flitch beams are commonly used in residential homes because they’re easier to install than other types of wood beams. In addition, they can be customized to fit any design or style you want–you can even paint them if you like!

Are Flitch Beams Still Suitable?

Composite and Glulam beams have made it possible to achieve larger spans in construction today, and are also more lightweight and require less labor.

Despite this, the concept of using steel plate and timber beams, which was popular in the early 20th century due to steel shortages, still offers design versatility, particularly for roofing and loft conversions.

For example, existing purlins can be upgraded to flitch beams to support additional roof tile weight without the need to strip the roof, and floor depths can be minimized as they require less depth than timber beams for the same strength.

Additionally, steel plate and timber beams allow for easy notching and fixing of rafters with ridge beams.

A structural engineer can design the steel plate and timber needed, and the beams can be ordered pre-drilled and assembled on site.

What Are The Advantages Of Flitched Beam?

Flitches and flitch beams are manufactured by cutting a log in half, then peeling back the bark to create a continuous veneer of wood.

Flitches are typically used for siding, but they can also be used for interior paneling, flooring and decking. In this blog post we’ll explore the benefits that come with using flitched beam products in construction.

• Flitches and flitch beams are manufactured by cutting a log in half, then peeling back the bark to create a continuous veneer of wood.
• While traditionally used for siding, half logs can be used for flooring, decking and interior paneling.
• For siding and countertops, half logs are cut into planks and then sanded smooth on all sides.
• Because it is natural, flitched beam delivers a warm feeling and will last longer than typical plywood.
• It’s easy to cut into decorative shapes like heart or flower designs without damaging the product’s integrity.
• Since it comes from trees that have not been chemically treated or processed with pesticides or preservatives, no VOCs are emitted from these products during installation or use.
• Half-log construction results in an interior that is quite dry, so there’s no need for additional precautions to prevent mold growth.
• Half-log construction results in an interior that is quite dry, so there’s no need for additional precautions to prevent mold growth.
• Utilizing flitches in construction can provide many benefits including durability, design flexibility and eco-friendly construction.