The tech industry might get all the headlines and hype in recent years but building material companies have been every bit as innovative. One such innovation is engineered wood (also known as LVL – laminated veneer lumber) which combines real wood elements to create a more durable – and predictable — building material.
For contractors, that predictability is key. Ordinary lumber behaves differently from log to log because each tree’s structure is at the whim of nature. But engineered wood is uniform with consistent dimensions, making installation faster and more efficient while leaving less waste to clean up. And as any contractor knows, time is money.
What is LVL Lumber?
Engineered wood or Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) is a composite product manufactured by aligning multiple thin layers of veneer the length of the finished lumber. Its manufacturing process is designed to result in predictable and consistent strength and stiffness needed for construction. Pacific Woodtech uses ultrasonic testing to select the veneer, then assembles them using engineered and continuously tested menus. The result is an improvement on nature with superior strength, allowing for long spans. The water-resistant coating, applied during production, helps resist warping, twisting and bowing.
Engineered Beams vs Wood
Contractors who use engineered wood products are also more likely to have happy customers, for a number of reasons. Engineered wood is stronger and more resistant to warping and splitting because of how it’s designed. It’s denser than dimensional lumber, and the crisscross layering of grain provides more structural integrity, especially important in load-bearing beams, headers and joists.
This makes for longer-lasting, lower-maintenance buildings that can better withstand the elements. With engineered wood, your client’s home will be able to weather the stress from increasing storms—and will be a better long-term investment.
At BPI, we’ve partnered with Pacific Woodtech and TrimJoist to provide high-quality engineered wood products to contractors who are looking to enhance the quality and ease of installation in their builds.
BPI Offers Pacific Woodtech LVL and Treated LVL Products
Pacific Woodtech’s laminated veneer lumber (LVL) is designed with precision for consistent strength and stiffness. The structure of their LVL products is modeled on natural wood, but with a testing and manufacturing process that ensures the strongest possible board, every time. This also allows for longer spans, meaning more efficient builds for contractors. And the LVL’s water-resistant coating means that it will retain its structural integrity for years to come.
PWT also offers an LVL product that is treated throughout the manufacturing process, making it last even longer. PWT Treated LVL comes with a 25-year limited warranty against fungus, termites, and other threats, and is ideal for projects such as decks, roofs and floors.
Contractors can even take advantage of PWT’s software tool, Exacte, which makes it easy to figure out which products will work best for their particular project.
For the nitty-gritty info on Pacific Woodtech’s LVL products, check out the user guide.
BPI Offers TrimJoist Open-Web Floor Systems
As more homeowners look to make their homes environmentally sustainable, TrimJoist offers a low-impact flooring product that is also easier for contractors to use. Over one-third of each TrimJoist product is recycled material, and unlike traditional joists, they don’t require large old-growth trees to be chopped down.
Contractors also no longer have to choose between an open web floor joist and a strong wood I-joist, as TrimJoist combines the best elements of both. They come in lengths ranging from four feet to 30 feet and can be trimmed on site to your exact specifications. And the open web design doesn’t just mean faster installation—subcontractors will also be able to install electrical, ducts, and plumbing more quickly as well, saving time and money on the build.
Check out this video to learn more about how their products are engineered:
Read the installation guide for a deeper dive.
Get Your Engineered Wood From BPI
Stronger, more sustainable, and easier to install: Engineered wood has everything a contractor would want. If you’re a lumberyard looking to stock more high-quality engineered wood products, reach out to our team today.
Builders and contractors: find an authorized BPI dealer near you.
