What Is Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL)? What Is Laminated Veneer Used For?
What Is Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL)?
Laminated veneer lumber (LVL) is a composite product made from thin layers of veneer aligned in the same direction along the length of the product. It is one of the most widely used engineered wood products for structural applications due to its superior strength and stability compared to solid timber.
LVL is manufactured by gluing several layers of veneers under pressure, ensuring that it can withstand bending loads more effectively than solid timber, resulting in fewer splits or cracks occurring over time.
The individually laminated veneers also help eliminate warping and cupping associated with conventional lumber, making it an ideal choice for roof trusses, joists, and beams in residential and commercial construction projects.
What Is Laminated Veneer Used For?
Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) is an engineered wood product used for structural applications that can bear large loads. It is made with parallel layers of lumber veneers, which are then bonded with a strong adhesive to create a thick, strong material.
LVL is used in various types of construction projects, such as beams, trusses, planks, rafters, and wall and floor panels. Cross-bonding the veneers increases the material’s stiffness making it an excellent choice for load-bearing structures.
Although it’s mainly used as hidden support in buildings, finished appearance grades are also available depending on the project’s requirements.
How Is Laminated Veneer Lumber LVL Made?
LVL is made by bonding thin layers of wood veneers together with urea-formaldehyde resin and then applying heat and pressure to form a solid, uniform plank. Once the veneers have been bonded, they are then cut into various sizes depending on the intended application.
The quality of the LVL product is determined by carefully selecting quality lumber in terms of species and grade, as well as controlling all aspects throughout the manufacturing process including seasoning, glue curing, and pressing conditions.
The end result is an environmentally friendly product that’s strong and reliable while being lightweight and easy to use.
What Is The Main Difference Between Plywood And Laminated Veneer Lumber LVL )?
The main difference between plywood and laminated veneer lumber (LVL) is in the arrangement of their laminae.
Plywood consists of layers of wood glued together, with the grain of alternate layers crossed at right angles. Conversely, LVL has layers of wood glued together with parallel grain orientation. This distinction affects the strength and flexibility characteristics of the two materials.
Plywood provides high stiffness along its length but lower stiffness across its width. The opposite is true for LVL: it provides high stiffness across its width and low stiffness along its length.
As such a combination of both plywood and LVL can be used to create stronger structures than using either material alone.
Is LVL Stronger Than Wood?
LVL is commonly seen as a stronger choice compared to wood, with the added structural stability of gluing multiple layers together providing greater strength under shear and compression loads.
LVL can offer up to two and a half times greater strength than standard framing lumber of the exact dimensions; when used in residential structures, it can provide protection from winds up to 100 mph or more.
Furthermore, due to its glued laminated construction, and increased density & stability per cubic inch, LVL has significantly less nail-withdrawal resistance than traditional softwood lumber when connecting face-nailed materials such as flooring or siding.
This makes LVL an excellent choice for areas prone to seismic activity or other extraordinary stresses on the structure.
