C
Clarity News Hub

How much can you cut out of an LVL?

Author

William Rodriguez

Published Jan 24, 2026

Where LVL beams are notched at the ends for bearing over a support, the notch depth is recommended to not exceed 1/10 of the beam depth (Figure 1(e)).

How much can you cut off of a LVL beam?

LVL is made in billets up to 48 inches wide that are ripped to commercially available standard depths. It's okay to rip LVL beams to a smaller depth, too, though you'll have to recalculate the beam capacity.

Can you cut down an LVL?

Occasionally, it is necessary to rip down Murphy Company LVL (laminated veneer lumber) to a shallower depth that is not one of our standard manufactured depths. A “ripped” cut is one that occurs along the length of the beam parallel to the grain. There is no structural penalty for ripping down Murphy Company LVL.

How far can a LVL beam span without support?

Some manufacturers limit their beams to 60' due to transportation issues, while others have the capability to manufacture beams up to 80' long. So, the longest unsupported span possible using LVL would be 80-feet. Typically, though, it is common for a continuous LVL span to be between 20' and 30'.

What size does LVL come in?

Sizes may vary according to manufacturer but Georgia Pacific says LVL standard thicknesses are 1 3/4 inches and 3 1/2 inches. Lengths are generally available in 24, 28, 32, 36, 40 and 44 feet with special orders of up to 60 feet.

41 related questions found

What size LVL Do I need to span 30 feet?

What size lvl beam for a 30 foot span:- as per general thumb rule, for a 30 foot span, size of LVL beam or GLULAM should be 16-18 inches deep and 4 inches wide, thus you need something like a 16-18″ GLULAM or LVL to span upto 30 feet used for residential building or projects.

Is LVL stronger than dimensional lumber?

Laminated veneer lumber (LVL) studs can be two times stronger in compression and tension than standard framing lumber of the same dimension.

What size LVL Do I need to span 24 feet?

LVL beam size for a 24 foot span:- as per general thumb rule, for a 24 foot span, size of LVL beam or GLULAM should be 12-14 inches deep and 4 inches wide, thus you need something like a 12-14″ GLULAM or LVL to span upto 24 feet used for residential building or projects.

What size LVL Do I need to span 18 feet?

For span upto 18 feet, generally you need 3 × 9 1/4 standard size of LVL beam or 2×12 dimensional lumber at 16″ apart from centre on normal weight condition which providing great stability for your projects.

What size LVL Do I need to span 20 feet?

What size lvl beam for a 20 foot span:- as per general thumb rule, for a 20 foot span, size of LVL beam or GLULAM should be 10 to 12 inches deep and 3-1/2 inches or 2ply wide, thus you need something like a 10-12″ GLULAM or LVL to span upto 20 feet and can use simple 2×14 dimensional lumber at 16″ apart from centre as ...

How do you cut level?

Although they are a manufactured product, cutting an LVL is no different from cutting a regular piece of lumber.

  1. Measure from the end of the beam to the place you want to make your cut and mark it with the carpenter's pencil. ...
  2. Lay the beam across the sawhorses so that the cut line is just past one of the sawhorses.

Can you paint an LVL?

NelsonPine LVL billets in standard thicknesses come with an industrial type finish that can have normal timber paint and stain systems satisfactorily applied to them. Enhancement of the visual appearance and coating adhesion can be achieved by relatively coarse sanding the surface prior to the first coat.

What size laminated beam do I need?

Design a beam width based on the fact that the typical width of an LVL beam is 1 3/4 inches. The width can be increased by laminating in multiples of 1 3/4 inches. Beam width should be 1/4 to 1/3 beam depth.

What size LVL do I need for a 12 foot span?

What size LVL header for 12 foot span:- as per general thumb rule, for a 12 foot span, size of LVL header or GLULAM should be 10 to 12 inches deep and 3.5 inches wide, thus you need something like 2- 1.75″×14″ GLULAM or LVL header to span upto 12 feet.

Can I cut holes in LVL beams?

Whenever possible, avoid drilling vertical holes through LVL beams unless the beam width is at least 3-1/2 inches. Prior to drilling any vertical holes, an engineer or architect qualified in wood design should be consulted.

How far can a 14 LVL span?

As per general thumb rule and guidelines, a double 14″ lvl beam can allow span upto 23 feet far distance used for residential building or projects.

How far can a 16 LVL span?

Due to its strength, an LVL beam can span up to 60 feet and is much stronger than traditional lumber.

What size LVL Do I need to span 16 feet?

What size LVL header size for 16 foot span:- as per general thumb rule and guidelines for a 16 foot span, size of LVL header or GLULAM should be 14 to 16 inches deep and 3.5 inches wide, thus you need something like 2- 1.75″× 16″ (2- 1 3/4″× 16″) GLULAM or LVL header to span upto 16 feet.

How much does LVL weight per foot?

Laminated veneer lumber or a LVL beam can weigh about 41 pounds per cubic foot or 3.42 pounds per board foot and their weight per linear foot are different for different size of LVL beam.

Is GLULAM the same as LVL?

A glulam beam looks like a stack of 2 x 4s (or larger lumber) glued together on their broadsides. This is in contrast to other engineered members, such as LVL (laminated veneer lumber) and Microlam beams, which look like very thick plywood, with very thin layers of wood glued together to form a thicker mass.

What is the maximum span for engineered floor joists?

Joists are available in several depths and lengths and superior strength allows them to span up to 30 feet (TRIFORCE span tables).

What are the disadvantages of LVL?

Although its dimensional stability is better than solid wood, the product may result in some defect, such as warping, if it is not properly stored in the warehouse. Also, LVL requires high capital investment to have relatively low production cost.

Can you nail into a LVL beam?

Drilling holes in IB (International Beams) LVL (laminated veneer lumber) is generally discouraged. However, small diameter round holes, appropriately located in the wide face of the LVL, are permitted as indicated in the table and notes below. These apply to all grades of IB LVL.

What is stronger LSL or LVL?

Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL)

Its shear strength is superior to LSL but doesn't quite match PSL's ability to withstand bending stress. LVL is more expensive than LSL but is affordable compared to PSL and glulam.

How far can you cantilever LVL?

Many building departments limit joist cantilevers to 24" maximum. Generally, you should use at least five framing nails to attach the rim joist to the ends of your joists.