Glulam Beams
What Is a Glulam Beam?
A Glulam Beam (glued laminated timber) is an engineered wood member made by face-bonding individual lumber laminations, typically 1-1/2 inches thick, into one structural unit. Unlike solid sawn timber, which is limited by the size of the tree, glulam can be manufactured in almost any depth, width, and length a design requires.
The lamination process spreads natural defects (knots, grain deviation) across many layers, producing more consistent and predictable structural properties than any solid-wood alternative. Higher-grade laminations go on the outer faces, where bending stress is greatest; lower-grade material fills the less-stressed core, an efficient use of the log that maximizes performance per board foot.
Glulam is one of the oldest and most proven engineered wood products, in structural use for more than a century. Today it serves as beams, columns, arches, trusses, and framework in buildings, bridges, and structures of every scale.
How
Glulam Beams
Are Made
Glulam is manufactured to the ANSI A190.1 standard through a controlled, engineered process:
Lumber selection & grading
Dimension lumber is graded for strength and stiffness; the strongest material is placed in the high-stress tension and compression zones.
Moisture conditioning
Laminations are dried to a controlled moisture content (typically 16% or less) for dimensional stability and bond quality.
Finger jointing
Boards are end-joined with structural finger joints to create continuous laminations of any length.
Adhesive application
Waterproof, non-toxic structural adhesives bond the lamination faces — a bond stronger than the wood itself.
Assembly & pressing
Laminations are stacked in the engineered layup and clamped under pressure until cured into a single monolithic member.
Finishing
Cured beams are planed to final dimensions; appearance-grade beams receive additional surface finishing for exposed use.
Why Glulam /
Why RedBuilt
Glulam gives design teams a structural material that spans farther, weighs less, performs predictably in fire, and is aesthetically pleasing when left exposed — all from a renewable resource. RedBuilt adds the design, fabrication, and local support that turn the material into a delivered structure.
V8 and V4 layup options
Balanced and unbalanced configurations matched to your exact loading conditions.
System integration
Glulam coordinates with RedBuilt open-web trusses, Red-I™ joists, RedLam™ LVL, and wall panels for a complete engineered-wood structure.
Custom fabrication
Straight, curved, arched, tapered, and custom-shaped members built to your specifications.
In-market technical reps
A local representative provides design support, budget pricing, and coordination from spec through installation.
Multiple appearance grades
From concealed framing grade to premium grade for exposed features and species.
Benefits & Structural Performance
Glulam delivers performance that makes it a direct alternative to steel and concrete in many commercial applications:
High strength-to-weight ratio
Pound-for-pound stronger than steel, reducing foundation loads and simplifying handling and installation.
Long spans
Straight beams commonly span 40 to 100+ feet; arched and curved members reach hundreds of feet for arena and bridge work.
Predictable fire performance
Large timber chars at a known rate (~1.5 in./hr) instead of losing strength suddenly like steel — enabling fire-rated designs without spray-on fireproofing.
Dimensional stability
Controlled moisture content and lamination minimize warping, twisting, and shrinkage after installation.
Design flexibility
Curved, tapered, pitched, and custom shapes are fabricated from the same structural-grade material.
Glulam beams are specified against steel because they combine structural capacity with lower weight, predictable fire behavior, simpler installation, and a finished appearance.
This comparison serves the comparative search intent behind “glulam vs steel beam”.
Strength-to-weight
Stronger per pound than steel; lighter members reduce foundation loads.
Fire performance
Chars predictably (~1.5 in./hr); retains capacity during fire exposure.
Spans
Straight to 100+ ft; arches to 500+ ft.
Shapes
Curved, arched, tapered, custom — from standard material.
Appearance
Natural wood warmth for exposed use; multiple appearance grades.
Sustainability
Renewable; sequesters carbon; lower embodied energy.
Installation
Standard wood connections; field-drilled with conventional tools.
Steel
Strength-to-weight
Higher absolute strength but heavier per linear foot.
Fire performance
Loses strength rapidly above ~1,000°F; needs spray-on fireproofing for rated assemblies.
Spans
Long spans possible but at higher cost and weight.
Shapes
Custom shapes need expensive forming, welding, fabrication.
Appearance
Industrial look; requires cladding or paint to finish.
Sustainability
High embodied energy; recyclable but energy-intensive to produce.
Installation
Welding, crane lifts, specialized ironworker labor.
Strength-to-weight
Stronger per pound than steel; lighter members reduce foundation loads.
Fire performance
Chars predictably (~1.5 in./hr); retains capacity during fire exposure.
Spans
Straight to 100+ ft; arches to 500+ ft.
Shapes
Curved, arched, tapered, custom — from standard material.
Appearance
Natural wood warmth for exposed use; multiple appearance grades.
Sustainability
Renewable; sequesters carbon; lower embodied energy.
Installation
Standard wood connections; field-drilled with conventional tools.
Strength-to-weight
Higher absolute strength but heavier per linear foot.
Fire performance
Loses strength rapidly above ~1,000°F; needs spray-on fireproofing for rated assemblies.
Spans
Long spans possible but at higher cost and weight.
Shapes
Custom shapes need expensive forming, welding, fabrication.
Appearance
Industrial look; requires cladding or paint to finish.
Sustainability
High embodied energy; recyclable but energy-intensive to produce.
Installation
Welding, crane lifts, specialized ironworker labor.
Sizes, Layups & Appearance Grade
Appearance Grades
Glulam is available in four standard appearance classifications (ANSI A190.1). Appearance grade affects visual quality only — not structural performance:
Premium grade
Highest classification for high-visibility features; selected-grain faces, minimal visible defects (usually custom order).
Architectural grade
Exposed applications needing a clean, consistent look; filled knot holes, smooth surface.
Industrial grade
Beams that may be visible but don’t need a refined finish; moderate surface quality.
Framing grade
Concealed applications where only structural performance matters; surface imperfections acceptable.
Balanced (V8) and Unbalanced (V4) Layups
Glulam is manufactured in two fundamental layup configurations, each engineered for a different structural condition:
V8 — balanced layup
Identical high-strength laminations top and bottom give equal bending capacity in both directions. Specified for columns and members with axial loads, reverse bending (wind uplift, cantilevers), or continuous spans where the tension zone alternates.
V4 — unbalanced layup
Higher-grade laminations on the bottom (tension) face optimize the beam for simple-span, one-direction bending. More material-efficient, with the best strength-to-cost ratio for standard beam application.
Sizes & Dimensions
Glulam is manufactured in standard and custom sizes to meet virtually any structural requirement.
Straight beams and columns
Standard floor, roof, and post applications.
Tudor arches
Classic pointed-arch profiles for worship spaces and assembly halls.
Radial arches
Curved members for domed and barrel-vault structures.
Pitched and tapered beams
Varying depth for drainage slope or architectural expression.
Three-hinged arches
Long-span systems for gymnasiums, arenas, and bridges.
Custom curves
Any radius within the minimum bending limits for the lamination thickness.
Shapes & Custom Fabrication
Glulam’s biggest advantage over other structural materials is the ability to fabricate curved, arched, and custom shapes that would be prohibitively expensive or impossible in steel or concrete:
Applications & Building Types
Glulam is specified across the widest range of building types of any engineered wood product:
Sustainability & Environmental Performance
Glulam offers measurable environmental advantages over steel and concrete:
Carbon sequestration
Wood stores the carbon absorbed during tree growth; a glulam beam keeps sequestering it for the life of the building.
Lower embodied energy
Manufacturing glulam takes significantly less energy than equivalent steel or concrete members.
Renewable resource
Wood is the only major structural material that is grown, not mined; responsible forestry sustains long-term supply.
Efficient material use
The layup process puts lower-grade lumber in less-stressed zones, maximizing the value of each beam.
Green building credits
Glulam supports LEED®, Green Globes®, and similar systems through biobased-material credits and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs).
Resources and Downloads
Everything your team needs to specify, design, and install Glulam Beams — from product guides to our safety data sheets.
National Presence
RedBuilt manufactures and supports glulam from multiple U.S. locations, with technical representatives in your market.
- Manufacturing plants: Chino, CA; Delaware, OH; Hillsboro, OR; Stayton, OR.
- Design centers: Boise, ID; Chino, CA; Delaware, OH; Hillsboro, OR.
- Corporate headquarters: Boise, ID.