Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL)
Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) is an engineered wood product made by bonding thin wood veneers together with all grain running parallel, creating a beam material that is stronger, straighter, and more dimensionally stable than solid sawn lumber of the same size.
In Detail
LVL is manufactured by peeling logs into thin veneers (typically 1/10" to 1/8" thick), drying them to a controlled moisture content, coating them with structural adhesive, and pressing them together in a continuous billet under heat and pressure. All veneers are oriented with the grain running in the same direction — the long axis of the finished product — which is what distinguishes LVL from plywood (where veneers alternate grain direction).
The resulting material has a consistent, predictable modulus of elasticity (MOE) and bending strength because the manufacturing process eliminates natural defects like knots, slope of grain, and juvenile wood that reduce the strength of solid lumber. LVL is graded by its MOE value — common grades include 1.5E, 1.7E, 1.9E, 2.0E, and 2.1E, where the number represents millions of psi of stiffness.
LVL is used primarily as beams and headers in residential and commercial construction. It is also used as scaffold planks, flange material for prefabricated I-joists, and as rim board. Standard thicknesses are 1-3/4" (single ply) and 3-1/2" (double ply), with depths from 5-1/2" to 24".
Related Terms
I-Joist
An I-joist is an engineered wood floor or roof joist shaped like the letter "I" in cross-section, with top and bottom flanges made of solid lumber or LVL connected by a vertical web of OSB or plywood. I-joists are lighter, straighter, and span farther than dimensional lumber joists.
Glulam (Glue-Laminated Timber)
Glulam (glue-laminated timber) is an engineered wood product made by bonding layers of dimensional lumber together with structural adhesive to create large beams, arches, and columns. Glulam combines the strength of engineered wood with the appearance of natural timber.
Parallel Strand Lumber (PSL)
Parallel Strand Lumber (PSL) is an engineered wood product made by bonding long, thin strands of wood veneer together under heat and pressure, with all strands oriented parallel to the length. PSL is used for heavy-duty beams, headers, and columns where high strength and stiffness are required.
Modulus of Elasticity (MOE)
Modulus of Elasticity (MOE) is a measure of a material stiffness — how much it resists bending under load. In lumber and engineered wood, MOE is expressed in millions of pounds per square inch (psi) and determines how far a beam or joist will deflect under a given load. Higher MOE means less deflection.
Related Materials
LVL (Laminated Veneer Lumber)
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)
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.