How Long Will A Glulam Structure Last?

Occasionally, we get questions about how long a typical glulam structure will last. While there are many examples of wooden structures that are hundreds of years old, we now have data on the longevity of glulam from a recently published study.


In 1934, the second oldest glulam structure in the US was constructed at the USDA Forest Products Laboratory (FPL.) At the time of its construction, the arches were loaded and data was collected on the structural performance of the new glulam arches. In 2010, after 75 years of use by the FPL, the building was decommissioned and its arches were tested again. This testing showed minimal change in their structural performance since installation in 1934.


While we’re not surprised that the glulam lasted so long, we are happy to have some solid proof to share with customers.


An abstract on the study is available on the Forest Service Website and the full report is also available there as a .pdf.