Engineered lumber

[DanielP]

Does anyone know if any of the local building suppliers stock engineered lumber; Like Versalams or LVLs (laminated venier lumber) for headers, beams, etc?

Thanks, Dan

[Rob Tucker]

Local building suppliers do not stock these items, but then, local building suppliers on the mainland usually don't either.

These are engineered items and the specifications will often require that they be ordered in advance and, most often, produced to order.

The primary difference will be that on the mainland the lead time might be 2-3 weeks. Here it might be 6-8.

If you want it it can be acquired but when living in the middle of the ocean these types of things must be planned ahead of time. We quickly get used to the fact that most special parts and things take time to be shipped in from Oahu or the west coast.

[DanielP]

Rob,

Thanks for your reply.

Most suppliers here in N. California, where I live part of the time, do stock many of the more common LVL's and special orders are generally available within 24 hours. There are local wholesalers in most large to mid-sized cities (smaller than Hilo).

It took awhile for many builders to start using these, but now they are used often as a matter of course, due to their ability to carry heavier loads than dimensional lumber.

I suppose that there is not enough demand in Hawaii to warrant wholesale availability.

Dan

[Rob Tucker]

I have seen some engineered lumber in place but not much. It seems to not be a residential material currently. Most likely this is because the house designs here are quite modest and small and well within simple truss capacity and roof loads are nominal.

You might also consider tube steel which is stocked in the islands. Steel is very competitive with wood and is smaller, lighter and stronger than wood on a load to load basis. Galvanized steel beams can be painted nicely and lack the termite problem. I don't find wood very cost effective generally and the few pieces I do have in my property are each and all a maintenance headache.

[DanielP]

The main problem with steel is the connections and how those transfer loads to the rest of the structure.

Also Carpenters tend to burn down houses if given a welding torch.

What? a lead carpenter doesn't carry a welder in his toolbox? No toolbox either?

Oh My!
Dan

[Hotzcatz]

That's okay, if the carpenters don't burn it down the plumbers will! They've generally got a blowtorch somewhere around.

I've drawn a few glu-lam beams here and there and one or two houses using them for floor joists but that's been about it in several decades of house plans. Most houses here are much smaller than mainland houses since who wants to be inside all the time anyway?