Glulam Building: Start to Finish – Part One A

Part 1 A: Choosing Glulam


In Part 1 we mentioned that the primary building material is an early decision for a project. Today we’ll briefly cover some of the main reasons why an owner chooses to build with glulam.


Aesthetics – A large part of why people choose glulam for their building is how it looks. Glulam framing is typically left exposed and used as a major design component of the building. Glulam performs a dual purpose with being the structure and the main aesthetic element.


Environmental – Building green and environmentally conscious is becoming a major consideration of owners and designers. Glulam is one of the greenest building materials available. It requires far less energy to produce than concrete or steel and it actually sequesters carbon within itself. When the wood is harvested it makes room for new growth that consumes more carbon than the older growth. The carbon that has been consumed by the older trees is sequestered within the wood where it will remain for the life of the building. 

Construction – Some structural shapes are easier to make in glulam than with other materials. Here at Unalam we manufacture a lot of projects with unique, custom profiles. 
     Glulam installation can be much simpler than other materials as every member typically comes prefabricated. This means there should be little to no fabrication of the beams in the field in order to erect the building, saving time on site. In some cases components will be prefit or partially assembled for ease of installation.

    Another, often overlooked, benefit to a wood structure is the ease of attaching other components and trades to the material. Both during construction and over the lifetime of a building you can attach various systems for changing mechanical, electrical and plumbing needs. It is much simpler to screw a new electric run to wood framing than to attach it to steel or concrete.


Resistance – Glulam’s corrosion resistance makes it a smart choice for salt storage buildings, pool enclosures, indoor waterparks,  hockey arenas or other harsh environments. It can reach a homeostasis with an environment unlike steel or concrete. 

Camelback Lodge Indoor Waterpark, Tannersville, PA

Next week we’ll begin covering the design process for a glulam building.