Using Glulam for Curved Architectural Features
Glulam is an ideal material choice for architectural features that require curves such as roof arches and decorative ceilings, thanks to its beauty and structural performance – ideal for custom designs that demand durability while remaining flexible.
Visually, curved glulam members can be distinguished with clear finishes or customized by staining, while complex curves such as inward curvatures can also be accommodated for.
Curved Glulam Beams
Arched glulam beams add beauty and strength to any project, from vaulted ceilings to commercial buildings requiring curved columns or entranceways. Curved glulam also serves a wide array of hidden applications including purlins, ridge beams, garage door headers, floor beams and much more!
Glulam is a wood product composed of multiple strips of lumber joined together with adhesives to form larger, stronger beams than individual pieces of lumber alone. While structural wood products like laminated veneer lumber (LVL) are constructed by adhering thin sheets of veneer together, glulam construction involves stacking and glueing dimensioned softwood lumber such as Douglas Fir or Alaskan Yellow Cedar together into beams for strength.
Glued lamination creates a sturdy beam much heavier than its wooden equivalent, which allows curved glulam beams to support heavy loads without sagging or losing shape – saving builders both cost and adding beauty and design flexibility to projects.
When a curved beam must withstand heavy loads, dowels should be used within glue joints to strengthen its bending resistance and take precaution when selecting wood species that ensure maximum performance and kiln drying for proper moisture management after radius cuts.
Douglas Fir is the preferred material for curved glulam projects due to its attractive natural hue and long lifespan, but BOISE GLULAM can also be produced using various wood species to meet project specific requirements. When considering design stresses on each column glulam column it is crucial to consult either the Glulam Column Specifiers Guide or King Beam Specifiers Guide for more details.
Curved Glulam Columns
Timber frame homes feature glulam columns as vertical load-bearing elements to support roof structures and create open floor plans with impressive structural integrity. Modern retail architecture uses these columns as additional support against wind loads to keep expansive glass facades secure and welcoming.
Buckland’s team of engineers designed, manufactured and installed this complex curved glulam structure that features an elevated timber truss supporting a glass facade – an illustration of its far-reaching structural capabilities.
Glulam beams can also be formed into arches to add both beauty and functionality to projects. Arched members provide the strength required to carry heavy loads over long spans while still maintaining their shape over time.
Arches are one of the most distinctive structural forms found in gymnasiums, arenas and other large multi-purpose spaces, often combined with exposed timber ceilings to offer both aesthetic appeal and performance.
Curved beams can add natural movement and visual interest to any residential project, while softening rigid layouts with their fluid forms. Curved glulam is becoming an increasingly popular material choice, thanks to its increased design value and cost competitiveness.
Curved beams offer great versatility when it comes to construction materials. Douglas Fir, redwood, and yellow cedar are common choices that offer both flexibility and beauty – not to mention low moisture content for no warping or cracking issues!
As is true with any glulam product, selecting and sizing of curved beams should be driven by engineering considerations. Referring to APA’s Resource Library is helpful when making these decisions; take for example their S475 Tables can provide recommended preliminary design loads for common roof and floor applications as outlined here.
Curved Glulam Staircases
Curved glulam staircases are an easy way to transform a utilitarian feature into an architectural showpiece. Their rounded silhouette stands out in any room, adding movement and drama. Since these staircases are custom built, there’s ample flexibility when it comes to radiuses, railings and design ideas.
Stairs are often the first thing visitors see when entering a home, making an immediate statement about its inhabitants. A curved staircase can draw eyes upward for a strong entryway or two-story ceiling effect; they’re also perfect for wide foyers or front entrances where they’ll be immediately noticed by guests.
Create a curved staircase by first calculating the total rise between floors and dividing it by an ideal riser height, then planning out your tread layout to ensure comfortable rises and walking rhythm. When it comes time to constructing the actual staircase itself, experienced builders use various tools such as trammel points or trial layouts to adjust its arc accordingly, matching adjacent framing dimensions or how it meets with second floor floor treads. Finally, this final product is assembled in-shop and transported on site via a customized jig featuring stud walls and helix-shaped center stringers for transport.
Curved Glulam Railings
Glulam railings are an increasingly popular choice in various settings. Their environmentally-friendly nature offers beauty and functionality while simultaneously minimizing construction impacts on our environment. Furthermore, using eco-friendly materials gives an opportunity for creative design while maintaining structural integrity.
Glulam is less susceptible to corrosion than steel, making it the perfect material for exterior construction projects. Additionally, its natural appearance evokes feelings of warmth and community that enhance user experiences. Furthermore, energy efficiency makes for healthier interior environments – plus several wood species make glulam an attractive choice that can be tailored specifically for each project.
Gulam can be seen everywhere from vaulted ceilings and striking outdoor structures like pergolas to purlins, ridge beams, garage door headers and floor beams in more concealed applications like purlins. Gulam manufacturers often utilize high-grade lumber such as Douglas Fir, Redwood Larch or Alaskan Cedar when manufacturing these pieces of lumber glulam – creating dramatic configurations with tight radius corners using wood slats that can be tailored into striking configurations with dramatic effects.
The versatile nature of glulam allows contractors to utilize it in creating an array of structures, from state-of-the-art basketball courts and indoor swimming pools to sleek commercial showrooms and retail stores. Furthermore, its strength and longevity make it an excellent choice for airports with wide open spaces while its beauty adds warmth to public buildings.
Gulam stands apart from other building materials by being carbon neutral; it reduces greenhouse gas emissions during manufacturing while sequestering carbon dioxide throughout its lifecycle. Steel and concrete, on the other hand, release significant quantities of greenhouse gases during these same processes.