FAQs

  • What is engineered timber?

    Engineered timber products, such as glulam and cross laminated timber (CLT), have been engineered to remove natural weaknesses and enhance natural strengths. They provide stronger, longer, wider and more stable solutions than natural timber.

  • What is glulam?

    Glulam is an abbreviation of glue laminated timber. It is made by bonding together layers of timber using a very durable adhesive. Lots of smaller layers are stuck together to make a larger piece of timber.

  • What is cross laminated timber (CLT)?

    CLT is an engineered wood product consisting of layers of kiln-dried dimension lumber (usually three, five, seven or nine) oriented at right angles to one another and then glued to form structural panels. By gluing layers of wood at right angles, the panel delivers excellent structural rigidity in both directions.

  • Is mass timber sustainable?

    lulam and CLT are natural alternatives to steel and concrete. It is renewable and recyclable, and its manufacture is largely based on bio-energy. Our zero carbon products absorb CO2 rather than emitting it, so you can rest assured that your build meets the low CO2 emissions standard and aligns with your commitment to the environment.

  • What is glulam used for?

    Glulam is a hugely versatile construction material and is comparable to traditional steel frame and reinforced concrete structures in the construction of a variety of buildings types.

  • What is CLT used for?

    Cross Laminated Timber is a panellised product and is usually used for walls, roofs and floors. It is highly versatile building product and offers a robust and aesthetically pleasing finish.

  • Is glulam as strong as steel?

    When looking at strength to weight ratio, glulam is actually around 3 times stronger than steel. Steel does have a much higher allowable stress, so steel members tend to be smaller than the equivalent glulam member, but the glulam is usually lighter, reducing foundation requirements.

  • Is Glulam or CLT a fire hazard?

    A glulam structure is much safer (predictable burn) and can be more cost effective than an unprotected steel structure. When fire encases a glulam beam, a carbonized layer forms (charring) around the structural core, which restricts the external supply of oxygen and heat and thus significantly impedes the subsequent burn-off.

    The burn-off rate of glulam is 0.7mm/min and therefore expensive fire protection coatings are normally not necessary.

    For practical use this means that without any surface protection and any additional provisions, laminated timber construction requiring a fire resistance of 30minutes, 60minutes and 90minutes is simple to achieve.

  • Is mass timber's carbon footprint smaller than concrete?

    Yes – glulam has a sixty per cent lower carbon footprint than concrete.

  • Are Glulam and CLT cost effective?

    Engineered Timber offers a superior product at a comparable price. Steel and concrete require expensive fireproofing and decoration as well as significantly more foundations, all of this must be taken into account in any cost comparisons, making timber a very viable alternative.
    It should also be noted that using exposed glulam and CLT can reduce the need for gypsum linings and paint finishes. It is also very important that site prelim costs are also fully appraised as mass timber can offer reduced programme durations and less scaffolding as examples.

  • Can building with gmass timber help save time on site?

    Glulam Solutions handle the entire process, design > manufacture > installation. Designed to specification and off-site (MMC) prefabrication before build brings you lower costs through quicker installation and less time on site.

  • What other benefits can mass timber construction bring to projects?

    Adopting a biophilic design approach and exposing the natural timber can offer significant advantages in terms of health & wellbeing for the building occupants, which has been proven through tests and studies conducted worldwide.
    The off-site nature of mass timber, reduces wastage, site operating noise and the number of deliveries made to a site.