Structural Wood Corporation: Glulam Appearance Upgrades


4000 LABORE ROAD ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA 55110 PHONE (651) 426-8111
FAX (651) 426-6859	(800) 652-9058

Glulam Appearance Upgrades

Structural Wood Corporation offers a variety of appearance options ranging from Industrial to Premium with optional stain and varnish protection. First, let us explain the different appearance grades. The grades specified below apply only to appearance, not to strength.

Industrial As Is

Application:
This use should be considered where appearance is not an issue such as in industrial buildings, storage buildings, or where they are strictly for framing and may be hidden.

Description:
While the sides are planed to specified dimensions, occasional misses and rough spots are allowed. They may have broken knots, knot holes, torn grain and other irregularities on the surface.

Industrial Clean

Application:
Industrial appearance grade is ordinarily suitable for construction in industrial plants, warehouses, garages, and for other uses where appearance is not of primary concern.

Description:
Laminations may possess the natural growth characteristics of the lumber grade.

Voids appearing on the edge of laminations need not be filled.

Edge joints appearing on the wide face of laminations exposed to view need not be filled.

Members are required to be surfaced on two sides only. Occasional misses, low laminations, or wane (limited to a maximum of 1/4" measured across the width) are permitted on a cumulative basis.

Architectural Grade

Application:
Architectural appearance grade is ordinarily suitable for construction where appearance is an important requirement.

Any voids under 3/4" in diameter shall be filled by other than the fabricator if the final decorative finish so requires.

Description:
Laminations may possess the natural growth characteristics of the lumber grade.

In exposed surfaces, knot holes and other voids measuring over 3/4" shall be filled by the fabricator with a wood-tone colored filler which reasonably blends with the final product or with clear wood inserts. When inserts are used, they shall be selected with reasonable care for similarity of the grain and color of the wood insert to the adjacent wood.

The wide face of laminations exposed to view shall be free of loose knots. Open knot holes shall be filled. Voids greater than 1/16" wide in edge joints appearing on the wide face of laminations exposed to view shall be filled.

Exposed faces shall be surfaced smooth. Misses are not permitted.

The corners of the wide face of laminations exposed to view in the final structure shall be eased. Current industry practice for eased edges is for a radius between 1/8" and 1/2" Other radii for eased edges may be agreed upon between buyer and seller.

Premium Grade

Application:
Premium appearance grade is the highest standard appearance grade.

Description:
Laminations may possess the natural growth characteristics of the lumber grade.

In exposed surfaces, knot holes and other voids shall be filled by the fabricator with a wood-tone colored filler which reasonably blends with the final product or with clear wood inserts. When inserts are used, they shall be selected with reasonable care for similarity of the grain and color of the wood to the adjacent wood.

The wide face of laminations exposed to view shall be selected for appearance and shall be free of loose knots. Voids shall be filled. Knot size shall be limited to 20% of the net face width of the lamination. Not over two maximum size knots or their equivalent shall occur in a 6 ft length. Voids greater than 1/16" wide in edge joints appearing on the wide face of laminations exposed to view shall be filled.

Exposed faces shall be surfaced smooth. Misses are not permitted.

To find out more about these appearance grades, feel free to contact us at your convenience. You can learn more about pre-finishing your engineered wood products, protective treatments , or treated glulam and timber by clicking on these links.