LVL timber: main characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of the material

New technologies are being widely introduced into various areas of production and sometimes an uninitiated person simply does not know about the emergence of new goods and products. This applies to almost all areas, including the construction industry, where, it seems, everything has been known and tested a long time ago. LVL timber, what it is - scope of use, properties and performance characteristics, advantages and disadvantages, as well as an overview of leading manufacturers and prices for their products, this is the topic of this article by the editors of HomeMyHome.ru.

Appearance of LVL timber

LVL timber: where innovative material is used

LVL timber is a building material made from softwood by peeling the raw material and then gluing the resulting veneer under external mechanical pressure.

Important! The raw materials used for the production of LVL timber are selected during its procurement, which allows us to reduce the percentage of waste during production and ensure the quality of the resulting product.

The thickness of the peeled veneer used in the manufacture of products is 3.0 mm, and the thickness of the final product depends on the number of layers and varies from 18 to 102 mm.

For your information! When making timber, the veneer is laid in such a way that in adjacent layers the fibers are parallel to each other.

LVL timber is produced in various standard sizes, which expands the possibilities of its use in construction.
This technology produces not only timber, but also sheets, respectively, the width of the resulting product ranges from 100 to 1800 mm, and the length, in accordance with the standard, is up to 18.0 meters.

Expert's point of view

Dmitry Kholodok

Technical director of repair and construction

Ask a Question

“The document regulating the production of LVL timber is GOST 33124-2014 “Multilayer laminated veneer lumber. Technical specifications!

Using Ultralam LVL timber

Glued veneer lumber for use in various areas of construction (from the English LVL - Laminated Veneer Lumber).
High-strength LVL timber made from multi-layer laminated veneer is the No. 1 building material made of wood for the construction of load-bearing structures. Areas of application of laminated timber from LVL veneer:
1. Load-bearing structures (trusses, frames, etc.) of long-span buildings and structures:

1.1. Sports facilities (swimming pools, stadiums, sports and recreation centers, ice rinks, tennis courts, horse riding arenas)

1.2. Agricultural buildings (cowsheds, pigsties, storage facilities, hangars)

1.3.Industrial buildings (warehouses, production workshops, hangars)

1.4.Cultural, entertainment and commercial facilities (theaters and cinemas, exhibition pavilions, water parks, winter gardens, shops, shopping centers, cafes, bars, restaurants)

2. Transport infrastructure structures (mobile road surfaces, small bridges, berths, pontoons)

3. Low-rise frame housing construction (individual houses, cottages, country houses, bathhouses, individual swimming pools, greenhouses and winter gardens)

4. Elements of buildings and structures:

4.1. Rafter systems

4.2. Floors

5. Attics and reconstruction of the old building

6. Custom scaffolding

7. Production of doors, window elements
INDIVIDUAL SCAFFOLDING
The use of LVL timber in individual scaffolding allows the use of the structure “addressed” without floor-by-floor broaching.
There is no need to create a multi-level structure. Allows you to work from mobile mobile tours directly on scaffolding floors. The material has high acoustic properties.
It was used during the reconstruction of the Mariinsky Theater concert hall and is used in the production of musical instruments.
Characteristics
The technical characteristics of laminated timber from LVL veneer significantly exceed the parameters of solid timber, laminated veneer lumber and high-class lumber. This allows you to use lvl timber economically, reducing your costs for construction and further operation.

The thickness of laminated timber slabs made from LVL veneer is from 24 mm to 100 mm, depending on the structural tasks assigned to you. The production technology of laminated timber from LVL veneer allows the production of material of different sizes. The maximum width of the slab is 1.25 m. The maximum length of LVL timber is not limited due to continuous pressing and depends only on the needs of customers and transportation capabilities (usually up to 20.5 m). Laminated timber from LVL veneer is a homogeneous material, during the production of which defective areas of the wood are completely eliminated. This structure gives LVL timber especially high strength characteristics. At the same time, the likelihood of deformation from shrinkage or swelling is reduced. Qualities of laminated timber from LVL veneer:

• Very high strength LVL
• Excellent deformation resistance of LVL
• LVL is available in different thicknesses and sizes
• Thin cross-section and low weight LVL
• LVL homogeneous material with oriented layers of wood
• Good screw holding capacity LVL
• High ability to connect LVL when using connecting elements
• Fire resistance LVL

LVL timber allows you to develop and implement structural solutions of varying levels of complexity in wooden architecture in a number of construction areas directly related to the use of long-span structures:

• Sports facilities: swimming pools, stadiums, sports complexes, sports and recreation centers, hockey fields, tennis courts, stables and horse riding arenas;
• Cultural, entertainment and public catering facilities: water parks, winter gardens, cinemas and concert halls, shopping and entertainment centers, cafes, restaurants, bars;
• Agricultural and industrial buildings: cowsheds, pigsties, poultry houses, greenhouses and greenhouses, granaries, warehouses and warehouse complexes, hangars, production workshops;
• Residential buildings and their parts: half-timbered houses, frame houses, attics, rafter systems, ceilings, domes, skylights, facade glazing systems.
• Infrastructure elements: berths, pontoons, bridges and footbridges
• And so on…

Laminated timber from LVL veneer:

• LVL strength : The strength of LVL veneer lumber is higher than that of conventional laminated veneer lumber or conventional lumber, due to special adhesive resins and the integral structure of the beam. Bending and tensile loads along the fibers are almost 2 times greater than for conventional lumber.
• Exact linear dimensions of LVL : laminated timber from LVL veneer has minimal rates of natural shrinkage, is resistant to moisture, and is not subject to rotting.
• Uniformity of LVL : laminated timber from LVL veneer is a completely homogeneous material with unchanged qualities along its entire length. Veneer joints in different layers never coincide, because... the programmed machine arranges them in a checkerboard pattern, which eliminates weak points in the beam, while a large knot in the board calls into question its entire strength.
• High thermal insulation and acoustic characteristics of LVL : goes well with any type of thermal insulation; the use of timber eliminates the phenomenon of condensation and “cold bridges”.
• Fire resistance LVL : the resin used in production is neutral to oxidation and resistant to fire. The rate of charring of structures made of laminated veneer lumber LVL in the horizontal direction is 0.6 mm/min and 1 mm/min in height. Without a fire source, the structure fades and does not burn.

Glued veneer lumber LVL Ultralam R

Most effective in supporting building elements. All veneer layers are glued in parallel direction

LVL Ultralam X laminated veneer lumber

It is used as wall panels, wooden ties, etc. About 20% of the veneer layers in the slab are glued in the transverse direction.

^Values ​​refer to H≤300mm.
For H greater than 300mm, the characteristic strength value must be multiplied by the coefficient kN = (300/H)0.15. H is the height of the overall section for the corresponding bending test in mm Test results from the agency “Testing of Materials, University of Stuttgart” Advantages of spatial structures made of LVL timber
Spatial structures (PrK), unlike planar ones (arches), are able to absorb loads acting in different directions . They do not require bracing with special stiffening bonds and in coatings simultaneously perform the functions of load-bearing and enclosing structures. PrK elements can operate in two or three planes, i.e. experience a plane or volumetric stress state. As a result, the forces in spatial structures are redistributed between adjacent elements, which generally leads to a decrease in the maximum value of the design forces in them. This makes it possible to significantly reduce the material consumption of spatial structures and increase the reliability of the entire structure as a whole. The use of spatial structures allows you to either significantly relieve the load on the foundations of a building by uniformly distributing the load from the coating along the contour of the building, or, by concentrating the load on individual racks, unload the foundations under other parts of the building.

LVL timber is a laminated keyed timber product (LVL), which is used in all types of construction work, from new buildings to reconstruction and repair of structures. It has numerous applications, including beams, auxiliary beams, trusses, frames, ceiling, floor and wall components, door and vehicle components, concrete formwork and scaffolding boards.

Laminated timber from lvl veneer is a durable and dimensionally stable product; it does not twist or bend. Its high strength is ensured by a homogeneous glued construction, which also reduces the impact of individual defective veneers to a minimum. LVL laminated timber is made from peeled softwood veneers 3 mm thick, glued to form a single slab. The slab is cut lengthwise and sawn widthwise according to the dimensions of the beams or panels.

ADVANTAGES:

STRENGTH LVL: high strength parameters, excellent for load-bearing structures. CALCULATION OF LVL SIZES: easy to optimize thanks to a wide range of sizes. STRAIGHT LVL: maintains exact dimensions, does not curl or bend. CONVENIENT LVL MATERIAL: beautiful, noise-damping, fire-resistant. EASY TO USE ON LVL CONSTRUCTION: light in weight, easy to process. ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY LVL: the timber was harvested in accordance with the Pan-European Forest Certification (PEFC) standard. COMPLETE SUPPLY AND SERVICE LVL: reliable supplies, a comprehensive global supply network and comprehensive design and sizing services.

• Durability. LVL timber has high load-bearing capacity and strength characteristics with small cross-sectional dimensions. Unlike lumber, in LVL timber the influence of knots on the strength characteristics of the final material is minimal, because they are evenly distributed throughout the layers. When producing LVL timber, veneer is also sorted by density. For the production of structural grades of timber LVL “R” and LVL “X”, veneer of higher grades with increased density is used; lighter grades of veneer are used for the production of timber grade LVL “I”, the main purpose of which is to use it in finishing and non-critical structures. The strength characteristics of LVL laminated timber are significantly higher than those of solid wood and laminated veneer lumber, and due to its lightness and lower price, LVL laminated timber is often used instead of a metal structure. • Uniform structure and dimensional stability. LVL laminated timber is a completely homogeneous material with unchanged qualities along its entire length and has constant physical properties that do not depend on seasonal factors, unlike other lumber. LVL laminated timber is made from 3 mm thick softwood (spruce) veneer sheets, glued parallel in the longitudinal direction of the workpiece. The design of LVL laminated timber is symmetrical, since the veneer sheets are laid with the dense side up and down. Veneer with knots is laid in the middle layers of the workpiece, consisting of 9 or more layers. Such natural wood defects as curling, longitudinal and transverse warping, cracking and others, which are common for lumber, are completely eliminated in LVL laminated timber due to their design. • High load-bearing capacity. According to inspection tests conducted by TsNIISK them. Kucherenko, the strength of LVL timber is 2-2.5 times higher than that of laminated veneer lumber or conventional lumber. Such high performance is ensured by the absence of defects in the structure of the material caused by natural defects of wood. The undeniable advantage of LVL laminated timber is its use in wide-span structures: the creation of lighter structures, i.e. reduction of static loads. Compared to such traditional building materials as metal and reinforced concrete, LVL laminated timber has an optimal ratio of strength and weight indicators. For example, beams made of laminated timber LVL can span huge spans of up to 18 m and carry the same load as metal ones. Structures made from laminated timber LVL with a sufficient safety margin do not require a reinforced foundation. • High thermal insulation and acoustic properties. LVL laminated timber can be combined with any type of insulation. Ease of installation of thermal insulation and its fastening in a vertical plane. • Fast installation. LVL laminated timber is easily processed with carpentry tools and connected with traditional fasteners, which allows you to quickly assemble complex roofing structures, which, due to their low weight, make it possible to completely or partially avoid the use of lifting mechanisms. The use of LVL laminated timber in construction not only reduces construction time, but also saves enormous amounts of money.

There are international and Russian licenses, certificates and other documentation for LVL laminated timber. The manufactured products comply with special building codes and standards and are suitable for building structures.

Properties and characteristics of laminated timber LVL

Initially, this material was intended for the construction of houses, so one of the main properties that was paid attention to was the ability to withstand loads acting on the ends of LVL beams. It is for this purpose that during the manufacture of products, the fibers in adjacent rows are arranged in parallel.

For your information! LVL timber is one of the most durable materials made from wood. Its strength is several times greater than that of a simple glued bursa.

Use of LVL timber in the manufacture of flights of stairs
The operational and main technical characteristics of LVL timber are given in the table below:

Using LVL timber in the manufacture of rafter systems of complex design

Pros and cons of the material

Let's consider what advantages LVL timber has over other wood products and what its most significant disadvantages are, and we will also tell you for what purposes it is used most often.

Advantages

First of all, it is necessary to note all the positive factors that are the reason for the popularity of the product group in question in Western Europe and America:

• The strength of products with similar parameters is three times higher than that of laminated veneer lumber, known for its reliability. This is due to the fact that the highest quality raw materials are used and the structure of the material does not contain any defects inherent in wood;

Comparison of the characteristics of solid wood, laminated timber and LVL elements

• Uniformity of products, due to the fact that the raw materials do not have any flaws, the characteristics are the same over the entire area of ​​the product, which is especially important when constructing long spans;
• A very big advantage is the stability of the elements; they are not subject to shrinkage and retain their geometric dimensions during changes in temperature and humidity. Another advantage is the fact that cracks do not appear on the surface, which not only has a positive effect on the appearance, but also guarantees continued reliability;

High reliability with a small thickness has made lvl slabs very popular in the construction of rafter systems

• The products have high thermal insulation rates and good acoustic properties, in addition, they are perfectly combined with any type of insulation, which allows thermal insulation without any restrictions;
• Due to its low weight (a beam of 0.3x0.3x12 meters weighs about 60 kg), the work process can be carried out without the use of lifting equipment. In addition, the load on the structures is significantly reduced, which allows saving on the construction of the foundation;
• If the loads are high, then an option using two or three elements is used, this provides a very high load-bearing capacity and allows the construction of even large buildings.

This material can be used to make full-fledged trusses for modular structures

As for the areas of use, they are as follows:

• Construction of frame buildings - due to the accuracy of parameters, stability of elements and high load-bearing capacity, this option can be called one of the best. At the same time, LVL timber is easy to process, and you can easily install it yourself;
• The construction of load-bearing structures for hangars, warehouses and other prefabricated structures can also be carried out using the group of products under consideration. The photo above shows just one such project;
• Rafter systems are that part of the structure in which such factors as the low weight of elements and their high strength are especially valued, which is why LVL materials can be used as an alternative to unstable wood;
• Elements of thin thickness are used in interior design; they can serve as load-bearing structures, but at the same time the appearance of the elements will be very attractive and will fit organically into any environment;
• If you decide to make a house with an attic, then multi-layer timber will be an excellent solution for constructing both the rafter system and internal structures, since they will have low weight and high load-bearing capacity;
• Another industry in which the material we are considering is in demand and widely used is the installation of formwork for monolithic and other concrete works. Due to the fact that the finished structures can easily withstand the weight of concrete and are not damaged by moisture, they can be used repeatedly.

Timber is often used in the construction of structures of complex shapes

Disadvantages of the material

Like any other option, LVL timber has its drawbacks, but it is worth noting that there are few of them.

The main negative factors are the following:

• The high price makes this solution inaccessible to many developers; the average cost per cubic meter ranges from 25 thousand and above, which is several times more than budget wood and twice as much as laminated timber. But if, first of all, reliability and durability are important to you, then this option will be optimal, because it is much stronger and more durable than cheap analogues, and the instructions for carrying out the work are no different from simple wood;
• The presence of formaldehyde in the composition raises certain safety questions. But if the manufacturer complied with the technological process, then the release of harmful fumes will be within acceptable limits. In addition, it is this component that provides increased resistance to fire.

Advice! Buy products that have all the necessary certificates confirming quality; the seller must also have a hygiene certificate, which is a guarantor of product safety.

Is it worth buying: studying the advantages and disadvantages

LVL timber is a fairly popular building material when performing certain works and manufacturing critical structures due to its advantages, which include:

• high strength with relatively low weight;
• ability to maintain specified dimensions - not subject to shrinkage during use;
• excellent appearance and uniformity of structure;
• good performance in heat retention and sound insulation;
• long service life.

The main disadvantage of this material is its high cost, as well as the presence of formaldehyde resins used in the production process.

Expert's point of view

Dmitry Kholodok

Technical director of repair and construction

Ask a Question

“If production technology is followed and high-quality materials are used, the release of harmful substances from the finished product will not exceed permissible standards. This information must be reflected in the quality certificate that comes with the finished product."

The production of LVL timber is a rather complex technological process.

What are the disadvantages of LVL timber?

• Since the timber is vapor-tight, it practically does not allow air to pass through at all. Therefore, rooms made of LVL timber must be equipped with good ventilation.
• The cost of timber is very high. But the physical advantages and possible choice of sizes more than cover this disadvantage

Glue included

• The presence of glue in the composition scares off many. But, LVL timber, made using the correct technology, is not handicraft, and contains an adhesive composition that is harmless to the environment and humans. And also meets all international requirements. It is important to check for material certificates when purchasing.

Technological production process

The production of LVL timber is a high-tech process that is similar to other technologies for the production of wooden products and panel materials (laminated veneer lumber, MDF, plywood, etc.), but has some features in comparison with them.

Initially, the raw materials are supplied to a debarking machine, which removes bark from logs harvested from coniferous trees (spruce, pine, fir), after which the prepared blanks are sawed and sent to a veneer removal machine.

For your information! Peeled veneer is veneer produced on a special machine by using knives that are brought into contact with a rotating workpiece (block) and cut off a layer of wood of a certain thickness.

The resulting veneer in the form of a strip is cut and sent to the drying chamber, where it is dried.

The press is the most complex and energy-intensive element in the production process chain

After drying is completed, the veneer is checked and sorted by quality and external indicators (uniformity, roughness, etc.).

When sorting is completed, the dried sheets are treated with an adhesive, laid in several layers in accordance with the specified dimensions, and sent to a press, where they are glued under excess pressure and at high temperature.

Upon completion of gluing, the sheets are cut according to predetermined parameters (shape, length, width, etc.) and packaged.

Use of the term in role-playing games

Role-playing games are the original birthplace of this term. What is lvl in an RPG? This genre of games involves the development of a certain character - for killing monsters and completing quests, he gains experience, and upon reaching a certain point, he increases his level, which gives him the opportunity to improve his characteristics, learn a new skill, and so on. Accordingly, the higher your lvl in the game, the stronger you are. However, you can very often see lvl in Minecraft - how can you understand this? After all, Minecraft is not a role-playing game.

Leading manufacturers of LVL timber

LVL timber is produced in many countries around the world, its production is especially widespread in the USA and Europe, which is due to the popularity of frame house construction in these countries.

In our country, the production of this material is present, but not as widespread as other types of woodworking industries.

Manufacturing complex load-bearing structures is one of the uses of LVL timber

Similar production facilities exist in our country in the city of Torzhok, Tver Region (Talion Terra enterprise) and in the city of Nyagan, Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug, Tyumen Region (LVL Yugra enterprise).

Related article:

Projects of houses made of timber for permanent residence. Interesting layouts and advantages of laminated veneer lumber and profiled timber in a separate publication on our portal.

Level reduction - what is it?

In computer gaming terminology, there are a large number of universal terms that you can use in any case, and everyone will understand you. These terms also include the concept of lvl, which you should definitely know.

What is lvl? It's not actually a term, but an abbreviation that is used in chats to write fewer characters. This term completely sounds like “level” and means the level of the character in the game. Its origin will be obvious to those who speak English - it comes from the word level, which translates as “level”. But the word “level” is usually used in colloquial speech - during a conversation about a game or during negotiations over a speakerphone. If you use game chat as a means of communication, then it will be easier for you to write just lvl, not level. It would seem that only two symbols make a difference, but in particularly tense moments they can also save. Moreover, other terms are also abbreviated in most cases, and as a result, in one phrase you can save up to ten or even more characters, which already gives you quite a lot of time. Now you know what lvl is, but you also need to understand under what conditions this abbreviation is used.

LVL-beam brand Ultralam (Ultralam)

The Ultralam trademark is owned and products are manufactured under it at the Talion Terra enterprise (Torzhok).

Distinctive features of the products of this company are such indicators as:

• The production process is based on continuous pressing technology with microwave heating;
• The press installed at this enterprise is one of the longest, which allows the production of products up to 55 meters in length.

Important! The use of high-tech equipment from the world's leading manufacturers allows us to produce high-quality LVL timber using waste-free technology.

LVL timber can be simply irreplaceable in the manufacture of complex building structures of original shape

Areas of use of LVL timber: studying the issue

Due to its physical properties and good characteristics, LVL timber is used in the construction of houses and other structures, if it is necessary to create durable building structures, such as:

• rafters and other structural elements of the roof;
• frame house construction;
• load-bearing structures of buildings and structures of complex geometric shape.

In addition, this material is used in the manufacture of individual elements of building structures, which during operation are subject to significant mechanical loads, these are:

• staircases and openings;
• arches and other light open structures used in the construction of summer verandas and cafes.

High strength and resistance to external influences make it possible to use LVL timber in the manufacture of complex structures operated in harsh conditions
Expert point of view

Dmitry Kholodok

Technical director of repair and construction

Ask a Question

“Due to its high cost, this building material is not advisable to use in individual housing construction as the main one used for the manufacture of enclosing structures.”

Use of the term in other genres

Do not think that this term is used exclusively in role-playing games, if it originated there. Levels can exist in various games of other genres, but they almost always mean the same thing. In strategies, for example, your units can also increase their level if they act successfully enough. In other genres it is also appropriate to use the term lvl.

Review of prices for products from domestic manufacturers

As was already written above, only two companies produce LVL timber in our country, and it is for this reason, as well as due to the high technology of the process, which requires complex and energy-intensive equipment, that the cost of these products is quite high.

As of the third quarter of 2022, the cost for LVL timber and LVL slab, on average across the country, is 28,000 - 35,000 rubles per 1.0 m3 of product.

The price depends on the quality of the raw materials used (grade, density, etc.), as well as the region where the construction site is located or the trading company involved in the sale of such products.

A variety of standard sizes allows you to choose timber for a specific type of use and location