LVL Beams: Laminated Veneer Lumber for Structural Framing
RedLam™ LVL beams deliver the strength and span capability of steel with the workability and cost efficiency of wood.
Laminated veneer lumber is made by bonding thin wood veneers under heat and pressure into a solid, dimensionally stable beam — one that resists the warping, splitting, and shrinking that limit traditional sawn lumber.
RedBuilt manufactures RedLam LVL in multiple product lines — beams, headers, columns, and I-joist flange stock — each engineered for commercial and multi-story construction. Every order is built to spec in our U.S. manufacturing facility.
An LVL beam (laminated veneer lumber beam) is an engineered wood product made by layering thin sheets of rotary-peeled wood veneer with structural adhesive, then curing them under heat and pressure.
Every veneer's grain runs the same direction — parallel to the beam's length — producing consistent, predictable strength that exceeds solid sawn lumber of equivalent size.
The lamination process spreads natural defects like knots across multiple thin layers instead of concentrating them in one cross-section. Controlled moisture content during manufacturing also prevents the warping, crowning, and splitting that affect conventional lumber after installation.
LVL is one of the core engineered wood products (EWP) used in modern commercial construction, alongside I-joists, glulam beams, and open-web trusses. It's used as structural beams, headers, load-bearing columns, rim board, and flange material for engineered I-joists.
With decades of engineered wood expertise, RedBuilt manufactures RedLam™ LVL beams, headers, and columns that outperform conventional lumber, delivering the strength, consistency, and stability that commercial projects demand.
See full specs, load tables, and sizing in the RedLam™ LVL Specifier's Guide. Download it to spec your next project.
rEDLAM™ LVL
Four reasons specifiers choose RedLam™ LVL over other engineered wood and steel options.
Every RedLam™ LVL is produced to exacting engineering specifications at our Stayton, Oregon facility, where veneers are ultrasonically graded for strength and stiffness to deliver consistent structural performance.
RedLam™ LVL coordinates with Red-I™ Joists, open-web trusses, and wall panels for a complete engineered wood structural package from a single manufacturer.
Your local representative is available to provide assistance with beam selection, span calculations, multi-ply configurations, and support from specification through installation.
Non-toxic, low-VOC adhesives and an efficient veneer process that maximizes structural value from every log.
Benefits
RedLam™ LVL is engineered for consistent, predictable performance, delivering longer spans and greater dimensional stability than solid sawn lumber, without the variability of natural wood.
Strength
Engineered for consistent, predictable strength — exceeds equivalent lumber sizes.
Dimensional Stability
Controlled moisture content resists warping, splitting, shrinking, crowning.
Span Capability
Longer spans than lumber at equal depths; multi-ply for heavy loads.
Weight / Handling
Lightweight — installs with standard wood framing crews and tools.
Jobsite Workability
Cuts, drills, and fastens with standard wood tools.
Waste
Minimal precision manufactured to spec, no culling.
Cost
Lower installed costs; competitive with lumber once waste/callbacks are factored in.
Solid Sawn Lumber
Strength
Variable; depends on species, grade, and natural defects.
Dimensional Stability
Shrinks, warps, crowns as moisture changes; requires on-site sorting.
Span Capability
Limited by grade, species, and natural defects.
Weight / Handling
Moderate; heavier in large dimensions but still hand-installable.
Jobsite Workability
Cuts and fastens with standard tools, but inconsistent dimensions.
Waste
High — defects, warping, and inconsistencies generate waste.
Cost
Lowest material cost per board foot, but hidden waste and rework costs.
Strength
Engineered for consistent, predictable strength — exceeds equivalent lumber sizes.
Dimensional Stability
Controlled moisture content resists warping, splitting, shrinking, crowning.
Span Capability
Longer spans than lumber at equal depths; multi-ply for heavy loads.
Weight / Handling
Lightweight — installs with standard wood framing crews and tools.
Jobsite Workability
Cuts, drills, and fastens with standard wood tools.
Waste
Minimal precision manufactured to spec, no culling.
Cost
Lower installed costs; competitive with lumber once waste/callbacks are factored in.
Strength
Variable; depends on species, grade, and natural defects.
Dimensional Stability
Shrinks, warps, crowns as moisture changes; requires on-site sorting.
Span Capability
Limited by grade, species, and natural defects.
Weight / Handling
Moderate; heavier in large dimensions but still hand-installable.
Jobsite Workability
Cuts and fastens with standard tools, but inconsistent dimensions.
Waste
High — defects, warping, and inconsistencies generate waste.
Cost
Lowest material cost per board foot, but hidden waste and rework costs.
RedLam™ LVL is manufactured in a range of standard thicknesses, depths, and lengths to match virtually any structural requirement. Multiple plies can be fastened together on site to build up wider beams for heavier load conditions.
Dimension
Widths
Depths
Lengths
Grade
Custom Sizes
Available Sizes
1½", 1¾", 2½", 3½", 5¼", and 7"
3½" – 24"
Custom lengths available
2.0E product grade
Available — contact your RedBuilt representative
For project-specific sizing, including multi-ply configurations and non-standard dimensions, contact your RedBuilt technical representative.
Dimension
Widths
Depths
Lengths
Grade
Custom Sizes
Available Sizes
1½", 1¾", and 2½"
5½" – 11¼"
Available in long lengths; custom lengths available
2.0E product grade
Available — contact your RedBuilt representative
LVL beams provide longer clear spans than solid sawn lumber at equivalent depths, making them the preferred choice for open floor plans, large window and door headers, and long-span roof structures where intermediate supports are undesirable.
RedLam™ LVL is manufactured with non-toxic, low-VOC adhesives, and an efficient veneer peeling process that maximizes structural value from every log — reducing fiber waste compared to solid-sawn lumber production.
RedLam™ LVL is supported by a third-party-verified Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) from SCS Global Services, helping specifiers meet LEED® documentation and green building requirements.
RedBuilt's RedLam™ LVL manufacturing process follows a precise five-step sequence, producing a material with higher strength and stiffness per unit of wood fiber than solid lumber — and significantly less jobsite waste from defects, warping, or inconsistent dimensions.
Logs are rotary-peeled into thin sheets of wood veneer, maximizing fiber yield from each log.
Veneers are dried to controlled moisture content, then graded for strength.
Graded veneers are coated with low-VOC adhesive and layered with grain running parallel to the beam length.
The layered assembly is subjected to heat and pressure to achieve a permanent structural bond.
Cured billets are cut to specified dimensions, producing beams, headers, and columns ready for your project.
RedLam™ LVL beams are specified across a wide range of commercial construction applications where consistent strength, long spans, and dimensional stability are required.
Primary structural members supporting floor systems in multi-story commercial buildings.
Long-span roof framing for warehouses, retail, and institutional buildings.
Load-bearing members over large commercial window walls, storefronts, and overhead doors.
Vertical compression members in post-and-beam construction and bearing wall systems.
Perimeter framing for engineered floor systems.
RedBuilt also manufactures LVL for RedForm concrete forming.
LVL beams install using standard wood framing tools and fasteners, making them a practical alternative to steel beams that require welding, crane lifts, and specialized connections.
Store beams flat, off the ground, and protected from direct weather exposure until installation.
Field-cut with standard circular saws.
Follow the specified nailing or bolting pattern to achieve composite action.
Ensure adequate bearing length at supports per the engineering design; use bearing plates or post caps where specified.
Brace the compression flange of deep beams against lateral buckling per the structural drawings.
RedBuilt helps teams execute non-residential projects at scale.
From early feasibility through construction coordination, RedBuilt helps teams execute mass timber projects at scale.
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.
Project Questions? Ask Us.