A Glulam Beam (glued laminated timber) is an engineered wood member made by face-bonding individual lumber laminations, typically 1-1/2 inches thick, into one structural unit. Unlike solid sawn timber, which is limited by the size of the tree, glulam can be manufactured in almost any depth, width, and length a design requires.
The lamination process spreads natural defects (knots, grain deviation) across many layers, producing more consistent and predictable structural properties than any solid-wood alternative. Higher-grade laminations go on the outer faces, where bending stress is greatest; lower-grade material fills the less-stressed core, an efficient use of the log that maximizes performance per board foot.
Glulam is one of the oldest and most proven engineered wood products, in structural use for more than a century. Today it serves as beams, columns, arches, trusses, and framework in buildings, bridges, and structures of every scale.
Glulam is manufactured to the ANSI A190.1 standard through a controlled, engineered process:
Dimension lumber is graded for strength and stiffness; the strongest material is placed in the high-stress tension and compression zones.
Laminations are dried to a controlled moisture content (typically 16% or less) for dimensional stability and bond quality.
Boards are end-joined with structural finger joints to create continuous laminations of any length.
Waterproof, non-toxic structural adhesives bond the lamination faces — a bond stronger than the wood itself.
Laminations are stacked in the engineered layup and clamped under pressure until cured into a single monolithic member.
Cured beams are planed to final dimensions; appearance-grade beams receive additional surface finishing for exposed use.
Glulam gives design teams a structural material that spans farther, weighs less, performs predictably in fire, and is aesthetically pleasing when left exposed — all from a renewable resource. RedBuilt adds the design, fabrication, and local support that turn the material into a delivered structure.
Balanced and unbalanced configurations matched to your exact loading conditions.
Glulam coordinates with RedBuilt open-web trusses, Red-I™ joists, RedLam™ LVL, and wall panels for a complete engineered-wood structure.
Straight, curved, arched, tapered, and custom-shaped members built to your specifications.
A local representative provides design support, budget pricing, and coordination from spec through installation.
From concealed framing grade to premium grade for exposed features and species.
Glulam delivers performance that makes it a direct alternative to steel and concrete in many commercial applications:
Pound-for-pound stronger than steel, reducing foundation loads and simplifying handling and installation.
Straight beams commonly span 40 to 100+ feet; arched and curved members reach hundreds of feet for arena and bridge work.
Large timber chars at a known rate (~1.5 in./hr) instead of losing strength suddenly like steel — enabling fire-rated designs without spray-on fireproofing.
Controlled moisture content and lamination minimize warping, twisting, and shrinkage after installation.
Curved, tapered, pitched, and custom shapes are fabricated from the same structural-grade material.
Glulam beams are specified against steel because they combine structural capacity with lower weight, predictable fire behavior, simpler installation, and a finished appearance.
This comparison serves the comparative search intent behind “glulam vs steel beam”.
Strength-to-weight
Stronger per pound than steel; lighter members reduce foundation loads.
Fire performance
Chars predictably (~1.5 in./hr); retains capacity during fire exposure.
Spans
Straight to 100+ ft; arches to 500+ ft.
Shapes
Curved, arched, tapered, custom — from standard material.
Appearance
Natural wood warmth for exposed use; multiple appearance grades.
Sustainability
Renewable; sequesters carbon; lower embodied energy.
Installation
Standard wood connections; field-drilled with conventional tools.
Steel
Strength-to-weight
Higher absolute strength but heavier per linear foot.
Fire performance
Loses strength rapidly above ~1,000°F; needs spray-on fireproofing for rated assemblies.
Spans
Long spans possible but at higher cost and weight.
Shapes
Custom shapes need expensive forming, welding, fabrication.
Appearance
Industrial look; requires cladding or paint to finish.
Sustainability
High embodied energy; recyclable but energy-intensive to produce.
Installation
Welding, crane lifts, specialized ironworker labor.
Strength-to-weight
Stronger per pound than steel; lighter members reduce foundation loads.
Fire performance
Chars predictably (~1.5 in./hr); retains capacity during fire exposure.
Spans
Straight to 100+ ft; arches to 500+ ft.
Shapes
Curved, arched, tapered, custom — from standard material.
Appearance
Natural wood warmth for exposed use; multiple appearance grades.
Sustainability
Renewable; sequesters carbon; lower embodied energy.
Installation
Standard wood connections; field-drilled with conventional tools.
Strength-to-weight
Higher absolute strength but heavier per linear foot.
Fire performance
Loses strength rapidly above ~1,000°F; needs spray-on fireproofing for rated assemblies.
Spans
Long spans possible but at higher cost and weight.
Shapes
Custom shapes need expensive forming, welding, fabrication.
Appearance
Industrial look; requires cladding or paint to finish.
Sustainability
High embodied energy; recyclable but energy-intensive to produce.
Installation
Welding, crane lifts, specialized ironworker labor.
Glulam is available in four standard appearance classifications (ANSI A190.1). Appearance grade affects visual quality only — not structural performance:
Highest classification for high-visibility features; selected-grain faces, minimal visible defects (usually custom order).
Exposed applications needing a clean, consistent look; filled knot holes, smooth surface.
Beams that may be visible but don’t need a refined finish; moderate surface quality.
Concealed applications where only structural performance matters; surface imperfections acceptable.
Glulam is manufactured in two fundamental layup configurations, each engineered for a different structural condition:
Identical high-strength laminations top and bottom give equal bending capacity in both directions. Specified for columns and members with axial loads, reverse bending (wind uplift, cantilevers), or continuous spans where the tension zone alternates.
Higher-grade laminations on the bottom (tension) face optimize the beam for simple-span, one-direction bending. More material-efficient, with the best strength-to-cost ratio for standard beam application.
Glulam is manufactured in standard and custom sizes to meet virtually any structural requirement.
Glulam’s biggest advantage over other structural materials is the ability to fabricate curved, arched, and custom shapes that would be prohibitively expensive or impossible in steel or concrete:
Standard floor, roof, and post applications.
Classic pointed-arch profiles for worship spaces and assembly halls.
Curved members for domed and barrel-vault structures.
Varying depth for drainage slope or architectural expression.
Long-span systems for gymnasiums, arenas, and bridges.
Any radius within the minimum bending limits for the lamination thickness.
Glulam is specified across the widest range of building types of any engineered wood product:
Glulam offers measurable environmental advantages over steel and concrete:
Wood stores the carbon absorbed during tree growth; a glulam beam keeps sequestering it for the life of the building.
Manufacturing glulam takes significantly less energy than equivalent steel or concrete members.
Wood is the only major structural material that is grown, not mined; responsible forestry sustains long-term supply.
The layup process puts lower-grade lumber in less-stressed zones, maximizing the value of each beam.
Glulam supports LEED®, Green Globes®, and similar systems through biobased-material credits.
Everything your team needs to specify, design, and install Glulam Beams — from product guides to our safety data sheets.
RedBuilt supplies and supports glulam from locations across the U.S., with technical representatives in your market.
Our technical sales team are in your market, ready to assist with beam design, BIM
coordination, budget pricing, and support from design to installation.
Tell us about your project and a RedBuilt team member will follow up to help you plan your next build.
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