The growth of treated glulam

By Angelita V. Menchaca

rIIREATED glulam beams are not a new technology and yet the market has experienced unprecedented growth in the last few years. So what sparked this boom in the industry?

While no one can pinpoint one reason, Rosboro, Inc., Anthony Forest Products, and Boozer Laminated Beam Co., three of the largest glulam manufacturers in the U.S., agree there are definitely some strong trends that are responsible for the market shift.

M an ufactu rer-End o rsed Treatment

In the past, when a glulam beam needed a preservative treatment, many contractors would take their existing glulam stock and treat it themselves with a store-bought preservative. While this may seem perfectly acceptable, especially since many store-bought preservatives are the same or similar to what manufacturers use, treatment isn't as straight forward as it may seem.

"Just because a beam is treated doesn't mean it will perform well," says Jim Walsh, general sales manager for Rosboro, Springfield, Or. "Diff'erent species [of wood] react differently to treatment. Some treatments can even affect the design values and weaken or destroy the beam."

Builders are becoming much more conscious of durability and codes are being enforced more rigidly, so the demand is stepping up for manufacturer-endorsed treated beams. Rosboro was the first glulam manufacturer to recognize this trend and take action. "A couple years ago we recognized the opportunity in the markel" continues Walsh. "This was a chance for us to get involved and take control of the process so customers wouldn't treat something that wasn't meant to be treated."

As thc lone,lcng(h. solid slu n Douglas fir irnd southern yelkrrv pine tirnbcr supplies -qct rleplctecl. soliclsavn'rt mcntbcrs alc bccotlinc hardc'1. to corle br.

Explains Kcrlin Drake. r.icc prcsidcnt of nurrkctin-e at Antltony Iiorcst Ploducts. El Dcllado. Ar.: "Ther.c's .lust a shorta.tc clf that mateliul. So thcrefolc. w,e'rc fi lling a rrichc thut thc larqcr. solicl-sawn luntbel can't an)morc... tvith thc -gluliirn prcscrvit tivc trcatecl r', oorl."

Glularn rnanulhctLrrcls arc dcliver inu large. load-bcaring nrentbers maclc from srnallcr tlees that pcrfitrrn rnuch bctter than thc solicl sann tintbels. "So you'rc sal ing rarv ntaterial." continucs [)rake. "You'rc bcing grccn.'

Rosboro's Walsh agrccs: "Ycs. lrrchilccls ltrrtl builtlr.r's llt'c r'\.!()!ni,/ing that b1' using a glularn beam ths can crnplot fi'u'cl colurnns arrrl firunclation sultports. So thcrc's cost slr\ings in labor and rlatclials rvhcn t,ou can pull colurnns olrt of your clcsign. It also makes a niccr looking ltrojcct as n'ell.

"On tl-rc envirotrrr-rcntal sicle. tr.cutecl glulam is environrnerrtallv ft'icncllr. LIrED trrrtl r)lll\'t !l'cen rlrlirrL:1 :lcrrr: value both clurabilitv arrcl efficicnt use ot fcsourccs ancl trcated glularn rlcliv crs on botlr points. 'l-hc beunt is not goirrg t<l rot out in l0 ycars and need to bc rcplaccd. Thc only thin.r voLr can't clo is burn thcnr. otlterrr isc thcrc's r.ro issuc in disltosing ol thcrn."

Irinallr'. in thc al'tcrntath of thc clanrirge causcd by hurrictrne Katrina. the (iul1'Coast r.cgiorr is cre-ating a higlr dernarrcl fol trcatctl glLllurn. 'l'reatccl glLrlarrr's strcngth as rvcll lrs its rcsistance to inscct lttack arrcl frrngirl dcgradation ntakc it hishlv clcsirable lirr stfLlcturcs in arelrs ol'tlrc coLlntr'\, rr ith lots o1' \\'lttcl cxl)()sLlrc (.;ta lti,glr tttttl .sct'crc lclcrirtrtttiort -.otrc.r itt grttltltit bclotr 1.

Adclitirlrral |\'. cotrsurrer clcntanrl firr' functional or.rtdortr slraccs contin ucs to gfo\\' all oVcr thc countrl [3ucl

On sley. prcsidcrrt of Boozcr. l-aruinatcd [Jearn ('o., Anniston. Al.. Itotcs thut cvcrt * hcn solitl tiinber-s arc lur,ailablc. thcy Ittvc their dlat,blcks. "Solicl tintbcls." Iie cxpiains. "telt(l to rvar'1t antl tt,ist. split antl cult n he n rr secl outdoors, especiullv u, lrcn ther'r'c tre.atccl irnpropcrlt. l'l-realcd bcanrsl can bc usecl in urrv outcloor lbovc glourrcl altplicatiun rvherc a helltr ir rrcetled l()t'\Upl)r'fl lr. irt clccks. porchcs, pavilions. ctc."

Duricl Srnith. accoUnt nLrnagcr lirr [i.osboro. concLrrs ancl strnrs up n Ir-r trcatc(l glulunr is hcre to stuv: "[)ecks arc a rcal nichc it's :.r hLrgc nlrrkcl. Wc'vc becn burcly scratchinc thc sur' face- ancl lc'r'c 1.rositir.,e'it will cro\\, b1' leaps ancl bouncls."

To leurrt ntrtt t' dltot!t trL'utttl gltrlutrt, t t.rrl tltlrr'. ltr.rDo r( t.