← Glossary
Materials

Glulam

Glulam (glued laminated timber) is a structural timber product made by gluing layers of timber together with the grain running in the same direction.

Also known as glued laminated timber, glue-laminated timber, glulam beam, GLT

Kiln-dried lamellae, typically 30 to 45 mm thick, are graded, finger-jointed end to end and glued face to face under pressure. The result can be made far longer, deeper and stronger than any single sawn log, and it can be curved.

Glulam is used for beams and columns in everything from houses to halls, bridges and multi-storey timber buildings. Because defects are spread out across many layers, it is more predictable in strength than solid timber of the same size.

Related terms
Cross-laminated timber (CLT)Cross-laminated timber (CLT) is a solid wood panel made from layers of boards glued crosswise, each layer at right angles to the one below. Structural timberStructural timber is sawn wood that has been strength graded so it can be used in load-bearing construction with known properties. Floor joistA floor joist is one of the parallel horizontal beams that carry a floor and span between walls or beams.
From term to production line

Talk to Randek

Building this at scale? Tell us what you produce and we’ll point you to the right system.

Talk to your team Back to the glossary
Talk to your team