Glulam Building: Start to Finish – Part Ten B
Welcome to our “Glulam Building: Start to Finish” series. Our goal is to provide an overview – from idea to completion – of a glulam building, from the perspective of a glulam manufacturer and designer.
Part 10B: Shipping
During the actual trucking of a glulam project to the jobsite, there are a few important items to consider. One is the protection of the parts, particularly if they have been finished to architectural or better grade. most jobs will ship with every wood member individually covered with a water resistant wrap. This definitely helps to protect the parts from road dirt and grime. It also gives you some protection from water, but if downpours are expected, it can be better to delay the shipment. (Parts also shouldn’t be stored out in the rain on the jobsite with only the wrap as protection.)
 |
| A full glulam circle on custom transportation rack – to limit the maximum height and width on the road. |
A second consideration is the balance of the load. Particularly with large, heavy, awkwardly shaped components, like long span Tudor arches, it’s not immediately evident how to center their weight on the trailer – which is important for safety during transport. Our engineering and drafting department will help our loading department determine how to place these parts.
 |
| Long span glulam arches- shipped over tractor racks to limit the overall shipping length. |
Finally, there are legal load limits to consider – specifically the size and weight of a load. The approximate weight of each glulam and steel component is listed and marked, so we can plan each delivery to stay within allowable weight limits. For height, width, and length, the limits can vary by location and type of road, typically requiring different levels of “wide load’ signage, lead and/or tail cars during transport, or even police escorts. Width is the most common limit we run into, and is commonly a consideration all the way back in Design.
 |
| One of the longest glulam beams ever shipped leaving our plant – 175 feet long! |