How to Renovate and Extend Existing Homes With Glulam
Glulam’s unfinished beauty fits seamlessly with many design styles, while its structural properties open up more framing options and reduce support beams that could otherwise obstruct views or restrict an open space.
Glulam construction typically utilizes kiln-dried dimension lumber or lamstock that has been laminated together using adhesive. Glulams can be found used for floor beams, ridge and rafter beams and ambitious cantilevering applications that feature exposed elements.
1. Add a Floor
Glulam flooring beams are an economical and efficient choice for floor framing applications, offering consistent strength across a floor while being available in depths that complement standard residential I-joists – eliminating additional structural support beams altogether. Framers particularly enjoy working with glulam because it resists shrinkage, warping and nail popping more effectively than conventional wood framing materials while offering reduced squeaks when walking over it. Unlike steel beams which must be attached using complicated wood-to-wood connections using standard carpentry tools; glulam floor beams can easily connected using simple wood-to-wood connections or simple wood-to-wood connections using standard carpentry tools for easy connection between wood floor components and connections between components like these – saving valuable resources when building frames!
Kiln-dried glulam offers many advantages over sawn lumber that may shrink and twist with age; its stability, strength, versatility, framing width consistency and design load requirements allow it to fit a wide variety of window header dimensions and load requirements; making glulam an ideal material choice for window openings in new or existing homes alike.
When coupled with wood wall framing, glulam headers offer outstanding lateral resistance for walls. Attached via moment-resisting connections at the top of a section and a hold-down connector at its base, their bend capacity combines with that of the wall to resist loads that would otherwise pass through foundations and cause them to collapse.
Oak glulam adds an air of grandeur and works particularly well when applied to large vaulted ceilings or window openings, as it complements timber siding beautifully. Furthermore, this framing material can be used in modern, classic or traditional designs for maximum effect.
Addition or remodel of a house should include installing a glulam floor to create an open and airy atmosphere, sure to impress visitors. However, remember that during construction it must remain protected, so once all structural and interior work has been completed it would be wiser to unwrap and install. Doing this helps protect it against being damaged in later stages while making for a more straightforward installation experience.
2. Add a Roof
Glulam roofing framing material can be utilized both exposed and concealed roof framing applications. Commonly seen on garage door headers and floor girders, glulam is also widely utilized for wall framing, purlins, ridge beams and cantilever beam systems due to its stability, dimensional accuracy and standard framing widths that minimize splices – offering a viable alternative to sawn lumber products.
A glulam frame can have either a contemporary or traditional aesthetic depending on how it’s finished and fitted out with fixtures and fittings, including fixtures like timber paneling or vaulted ceilings to give a room an upscale modern aesthetic. Or it can remain raw to showcase its beautiful timbers.
Gulam ceilings feature structural properties that permit for large openings without needing intermediate supports, making them suitable for spaces requiring high levels of visibility and light. isARK Studio’s renovated kitchen in an historic farmhouse features an exposed glulam roof that contrasts nicely with its original weathered wood flooring for a truly breathtaking feature in the space.
Installing a glulam roof onto an existing house requires careful thought and planning. Protecting it during other construction work must also be prioritized to protect it from potential damage; once everything else has been completed and all fixtures and fittings installed.
As part of any construction project, it is critical that glulam be protected from damage during its journey from its manufacturers to the site. As moisture and temperature fluctuations can damage it quickly, unwrapping should take place nearer the end of each build process – once all fixtures and fittings have been installed and any painting or staining done – in order to preserve its integrity throughout. This ensures it arrives on site in its optimal state.
3. Add a Wall
Glulam’s precise dimensions and straightness make it the ideal material for floor framing details of all kinds, from garage door headers to room additions. Its long span capacity and high load capabilities enable more open designs with higher ceilings while its structural properties reduce the need for hidden steel elements or bracing that might otherwise be required, streamlining framing costs while streamlining construction processes.
Solid section lumber can be damaged by water infiltration; however, glulam is protected against moisture infiltration by its protective coating and kiln drying process, eliminating shrinkage and warping, made up of individual wooden slats joined together using adhesives; therefore it remains resilient under significant loads without deforming or losing its integrity compared to solid lumber.
A glulam header is an ideal choice for new headers above garage doors and window openings that feature wood structural panels with heavy nailing required in specific patterns. Its high strength values and dimensional stability help ensure rigid wood panels that add shear resistance as well as shear/racking resistance resistance to your frame.
If you’re adding walls to a house that previously featured vaulted ceilings, glulam can be installed to achieve the height required by the homeowner and provide an attractive, seamless design that connects both parts of the building. Its frames can even match existing roof slopes for added aesthetic value and integration between new and old portions of a structure.
Rosboro offers both standard and appearance rated specialty types of glulam that make great ridge beams; these can easily fit in floor joist cavities for concealed applications and create the vaulted ceiling of a new great room design. Vaulting allows for larger and more open designs with lower walls and more windows to let in light and create an airier atmosphere. Rosboro offers standard- and appearance-rated specialty types to use as ridge beams in such designs for greater brightness and openness in any great room design.
Gulam beams can also be found inside exposed rafter beams, adding warmth and natural charm. Gulam rafters may be concealed beneath floor framing for an aesthetically pleasing effect or exposed for a rustic touch suited for homes built in rural locations.
4. Add a Skylight
Glulam can be used in exposed installations where appearance matters while simultaneously being concealed within floor framing – window headers being an example. Glulam’s strength enables it to support the design load of tall windows and doors while its long lengths enable generous spans – something especially appreciated in large, vaulted window openings. In comparison to sawn lumber that warps over time, kiln-dried glulam remains stable and long-lasting while being offered in standard framing depths/widths so it can cut to size upon installation of window openings.
Remodelers sometimes need to brace existing wall and roof frames in order to accommodate for new additions or more ambitious designs, and using glulam can significantly decrease the amount of bracing required, leaving behind a simpler frame with improved aesthetics.
Staining or painting glulam wood surfaces can further accentuate its aesthetic appeal, lending even greater visual impact to any project involving them. Staining or painting adds color and texture, fitting it in seamlessly with different architectural styles – for instance in isARK Studio’s renovated farmhouse of 108 years’ age which boasts robust glulam ceiling beams that contrast nicely against its weathered historic wood facade.
Designers looking for a more modern aesthetic can utilize glulam as a modern truss system to create vaulted ceilings in small spaces or add skylights, such as in this project by Studio Carpenter Oak. A glulam ceiling acts as the centerpiece connecting new dining and living areas with outdoor areas, its geometric pattern adding visual interest while simultaneously providing structural soundness – providing lightness in small spaces!