Wood has been a prominent building material dating as far back as Europe’s Neolithic Age, where timber was commonly used in the construction of the long house dwelling. With the evolution of construction practices and the introduction of alternate building materials such as steel and concrete, professionals continue to utilize the tried-and-true reliability of wood products.
Timmerman has been part of the explosive growth in the mass timber – engineered wood revolution and have developed solutions to the challenges that come with this new building culture. Our diverse team of designers, engineers, managers and installers have an integrated approach to the execution of your project that is unique in the sector.
This team has decades of experience and enjoys bringing our experience to bear on the challenges of new projects. We offer the benefits of our experience and “Wood Intelligence” to project teams who are seeking viable creative and financial solutions.
Wood has been used in buildings for millennia and there is many aesthetic, environmental, and technical reasons to build with wood.
The aesthetic benefits benefit the end user of the space with a beautiful environment that is good for both physical and mental health.
Studies show that working and living in exposed wood buildings mimics the effect of spending time outside which in turn reduces stress and lowers blood pressure and heart rates.
Such as weather events and fire. (A strength to weight ratio comparison with steel & concrete shows that a structural timber has a 20% higher ratio than structural steel, and 4 to 5 times higher ratio than non-reinforced concrete)
Solid Sawn Timber is harvested from mature trees such as Eastern White Pine, Douglas Fir or Cedar which is then milled and dried to dimensional lumber or heavy timber and has been traditionally employed as a structural element in post and beam construction.
Dimensional lumber is typically 2” in thickness while solid sawn heavy timber is 5.5” or more in its smallest cross-section. Both are readily available in various lengths and widths.
Solid sawn timber is available is three stress grades (select structural, No.1 and No.2) as well as two non-stress grades (standard and utility). Stress grades are indicative of the quality of appearance and strength of the lumber.
Solid Sawn Heavy Timber: Employed as the main structural element in post and beam construction and offers versatile architectural applications including structural and decorative roof trusses, external cladding, decking, fencing, framing and stairs.
Installation is quick and easy which offers consumers a cost-effective option when budgeting for projects.
The materials required to produce solid sawn timber are a readily available and are a renewable resource.
Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) is an engineered wood product consisting of layers of dimensional lumber laid flat and oriented in an alternating “cross” pattern that is glued together using adhesives designed for use in CLT manufacturing. Typical CLT panels consist of three, five, seven or nine alternating layers, ranging in thickness from 4” to 12”. Panel sizes range anywhere from 4’ to 10’ in width and 16’ to 64’ in length. Available in five primary stress grades (E1, E2, E3, V1 and V2), CLT offers a variety of structural capacity and appearance options based on design specifications.
CLT is most commonly utilized for long spans in walls, roofs or floors in both residential and commercial construction.
Due to the alternating direction during fabrication of the product, CLT provides high dimensional stability as well as a high strength to weight ratio. Architects and designers appreciate the adaptability of the product while end users are drawn to its structural, fire, thermal and acoustic performance advantages.
CLT offers cost-effective benefits as well as a lighter environmental footprint making it a viable sustainable product.
Glue-Laminated Timber (Glulam) is a stress-rated engineered wood product that consists of individual layers of dimensional lumber that are bonded together using durable, water-resistant adhesives. The grain of the laminations runs parallel to the dimensional lumber grains, creating a material that is stronger than steel. Glulam is available in both custom and standard sizes and one of four appearance classifications: premium, architectural, industrial or framing. Standard dimensions of Glulam beams range from 3 1/8” to 6 ¾” in width, with varied lengths.
Glue-Laminated Timber (Glulam) is a stress-rated engineered wood product that consists of individual layers of dimensional lumber that are bonded together using durable, water-resistant adhesives. The grain of the laminations runs parallel to the dimensional lumber grains, creating a material that is stronger than steel. Glulam is available in both custom and standard sizes and one of four appearance classifications: premium, architectural, industrial or framing. Standard dimensions of Glulam beams range from 3 1/8” to 6 ¾” in width, with varied lengths.
Glulam offers a highly versatile product with high structural capacity. It is known to be an attractive building material used commonly in architectural features as a result of its ability to be curved or shaped to meet design objectives. In addition to the aesthetically pleasing design features, Glulam can also be utilized in a simple, straight beam application. The versatility of availability in standard and custom sizes and the ability to be milled from many species of wood makes Glulam an attractive mass timber product for both residential and commercial applications.
Nail Laminated Timber, commonly known as NLT, is a fabricated mass timber product which is created by stacking dimensional lumber on edge and mechanically nailing or screwing the laminations together in an engineered pattern to create panels. When manufacturing NLT, plywood sheathing is commonly added to the top side of the panel to support structural strength.
Originating as a common element used in various construction applications dating back to the turn of the century, NLT was historically laminated in place by hand. With the advancement of mechanical technology, NLT has found a resurgence in its ability to be fabricated in large quantities, utilizing an environmentally-friendly, renewable resource.
NLT is available in thicknesses which vary from 3.5” to 11.25”, and upwards of 48’ in length and can be fabricated from various species including spruce and douglas fir. Lumber grades become important when considering the design element of the NLT. When left exposed as a design feature lumber grading becomes an important consideration. NLT’s are available in Select Structural, No.1 and No.2 grades, with the higher appearance grade offering the most aesthetically pleasing element.
Traditionally, NLT was used in the construction of timber bridges, as well as the floor element of industrial and commercial settings. In recent years, designers have opted to specify NLT as an option for executing complicated architectural features and designs. Generally used as a panel product for walls, roofs or floors, NLT can also be extended to provide aesthetically pleasing design features in both residential and commercial applications.
The vertical alignment of the lamina produces an unmatched efficient panel, which can be used to create slab panels that support a range of design and structural needs based on design specifications.
The more cost-effective option over CLT, NLT offers both exposed or concealed applications as well as overall greater acoustic performance. Compared to CLT, NLT is a superior product which provides structural advantages, lower costs and quicker procurement times. When combined with Glulam, NLT panels are more structurally efficient than CLT panels due to the strength of the wood fibres being laid in the same direction. NLT is does not require additional fire-proofing and in the event of a fire the timbers and panels would char, forming a protective layer and allowing the wood to remain structurally viable.
Additionally, NLT offers a more sustainable option to the widely used steel and concrete construction, while providing a more cost-effective, structurally sound product that limits the carbon footprint.
Dowel Laminated Timber, commonly referred to as DLT, is the only all-wood panel product created by stacking dimension lumber together on its edge which is then fit together with hardwood dowels. The product is pre-fabricated into panels using a hydraulic press within a factory setting.
DLT offers similar applications as NLT and CLT, with the difference being that DLT is made 100% of wood.
Generally used for floor slabs, wall panels and roof/ceiling panel applications, DLT is also applicable in elements with horizontal span features. The versatility of the product provides the ability to integrate acoustical strips into bottom surface of the panels to help mitigate sound while remaining an aesthetically pleasing application. Shortcomings of DLT applications include challenges from the dimensional changes of hardwood dowels due to the relative moisture and temperature differences between the dowels and the lamina. Additionally, over time the dowels will undergo stress relaxation which leads to required maintenance to maintain structural viability.
Similarly to NLT, DLT allows for architectural flexibility as well as visual and acoustic appeal. DLT offers a sustainable, fire-resistant and aesthetically pleasing option in construction. The dowels used to hold the board together provides additional dimensional stability, while dowels can also be inserted diagonally, offering additional resistance.
LVL or Laminated Veneer Lumber is a veneer-based engineered wood product, which commonly uses wood species such as Douglas Fir, Larch, Southern Yellow Pine and Poplar. Originally used to make airplane propellers, LVL’s have found their footing as a main construction material in the 1970’s. LVL’s are coated with a waterproof resin adhesive, assembled in an arranged pattern and formed into billets by curing in a heated press. The billet is then sawn to the desired dimensions depending on anticipated end use. The most common thickness of LVL is 1 ¾” but can be manufactured in thicknesses ranging from ¾” to 7”. Widths and depths are available based on specific manufacturing requirements.
LVL’s are used primarily as a structural framing product for headers and beams, hip and valley rafters, scaffold planking and the flange material for prefabricated wood l-joists. The structural element is most often employed in concealed spaces where appearance is not important, however, architectural grade LVL’s are available from some manufacturers. In a finished appearance, LVL’s resemble plywood or lumber on the wide face.
LVL’s are the most widely used structural composite lumber providing strength, stiffness and dimensional stability in construction. The manufacturing process provides efficient utilization of forest resources as they can be made from relatively small trees. LVL’s are a solid, highly predictable, uniform lumber product that is available in a variety of thicknesses and strength grades making them a well used, desirable material.
Among architects, manufacturers, and environmentalists, many want nothing less than to turn the coming decades of global commercial construction from a giant source of carbon emissions into a giant carbon sink by replacing concrete and steel construction with mass timber.”
