Engineered Lumber

Engineered lumber products — LVL, I-joists, glulam, PSL, and LSL — are manufactured wood structural members designed to be stronger, straighter, and more consistent than solid sawn lumber. They are the standard for modern residential and commercial framing.

Engineered Lumber: The Modern Structural Framing Standard

Engineered lumber products are manufactured by bonding wood veneers, strands, or laminations together with structural adhesives to create members with predictable, consistent structural properties. Unlike solid sawn lumber, which varies in strength based on natural defects like knots, grain deviation, and moisture content, engineered lumber is designed and tested to deliver reliable performance across every piece.

Why Contractors Choose Engineered Lumber

The shift from dimensional lumber to engineered products in floor, roof, and beam applications has been driven by several practical advantages:

Longer clear spans — I-joists and LVL beams span distances that would require intermediate support with dimensional lumber, opening up floor plans and reducing the number of columns and bearing walls.
Dimensional consistency — engineered lumber does not crown, twist, bow, or cup like solid lumber. This means flatter floors, straighter walls, and fewer callbacks.
Less shrinkage — engineered products are manufactured at low moisture content and are dimensionally stable. This reduces nail pops, drywall cracks, and floor squeaks caused by lumber shrinkage.
Design flexibility — available in depths, lengths, and capacities far beyond what is possible with solid lumber.

Product Categories

Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) — The workhorse beam material. LVL is used for beams, headers, rim board, and as flange stock in I-joists. Available in thicknesses of 1-3/4" (single ply) and depths up to 24".

I-Joists — The dominant floor framing member in production home building. The I-shaped cross section is weight-efficient and allows utility routing through the web. Standard depths from 9-1/2" to 20".

Glulam — Glue-laminated timber combines structural performance with exposed-wood aesthetics. Used for beams, arches, and columns where appearance matters. Available in architectural and framing grades.

Parallel Strand Lumber (PSL) — The premium structural product. PSL offers the highest stiffness of any engineered lumber and is used for demanding beam and column applications. Sold as Parallam by Weyerhaeuser.

Laminated Strand Lumber (LSL) — A cost-effective alternative for headers, rim board, and studs. LSL uses shorter wood strands than PSL and is more affordable for moderate-load applications.

Specifying and Ordering

Engineered lumber is specified by manufacturer, product series, depth, and width — not by species and grade like dimensional lumber. Each manufacturer publishes span tables and connection details specific to their products. While products from different manufacturers are functionally similar, they are not interchangeable without verifying that the replacement product meets the same design values specified in the structural plans.

At Haselton Lumber, we stock the most commonly specified engineered lumber products and can special-order any size from major manufacturers including Weyerhaeuser, Boise Cascade, and Louisiana-Pacific. Our staff can help you match the right product to your structural requirements.

📦 Materials

LVL (Laminated Veneer Lumber)

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Laminated veneer lumber (LVL) is a high-strength engineered wood product made from thin wood veneers bonded with structural adhesive under heat and pressure. It is the most commonly specified engineered beam and header material in residential and light commercial construction.

I-Joists (Engineered Wood Joists)

engineered-lumber

I-joists are engineered wood floor and roof framing members with an I-shaped cross section — LVL or solid lumber flanges bonded to an OSB or plywood web. They are the dominant floor framing material in new residential construction, offering long spans, dimensional stability, and lightweight handling.

Glulam (Glued Laminated Timber)

engineered-lumber

Glulam (glued laminated timber) is a structural engineered wood product made by bonding multiple layers of dimensional lumber with waterproof adhesive. Available in architectural and industrial grades, glulam is used for beams, columns, arches, and exposed structural applications where both strength and appearance matter.

PSL (Parallel Strand Lumber)

engineered-lumber

Parallel strand lumber (PSL) is a high-strength engineered wood product made from long, thin strands of wood veneer bonded with waterproof adhesive under high pressure. Known commercially as Parallam PSL (Weyerhaeuser), it is used for beams, columns, and posts where maximum load-carrying capacity is required.

LSL (Laminated Strand Lumber)

engineered-lumber

Laminated strand lumber (LSL) is an engineered wood product made from flaked wood strands aligned and bonded with structural adhesive. Known commercially as TimberStrand LSL (Weyerhaeuser), it is used for headers, rim board, studs, and plates where dimensional stability and long lengths are valuable.

Engineered Lumber