How far can a double 10″, 12″, 14″, 16″ & 18″ lvl beam span depends on construction requirements, loads and building code.
Laminated veneer lumber or LVL is much look like plywood, generally made of thin sheets of wood which are sandwiched and bound with super stronger glue. It is a high-strength structural engineered wood product of recent innovation and one of the most widely used kinds of lumber in construction projects in. It is typically used for boards of all kinds, for headers, beam rim boards, skateboards, as well as beams, trusses, edge forming materials and more. It is available in a wide range of lengths, widths and thicknesses.
The American wood Council National design specification for wood, lvl is type of structural composite lumber comparable to glued laminated timber (glulam). LVL is product of recent innovation they are result of new technology and economic pressure to make use of new wood species and smaller trees that cannot be used to make solid Lumber.
LVL is a straight, enough strong wood that fights warping and shrinking, providing great stability for your projects. Use an LVL beam to eliminate twisting and splitting for quiet floors. Because of the wood’s dimensional stability, inspection times are often reduced, too. LVL has a “maximum allowable bending stress” of 2,800 or 3,000 psi. LVL offer several advantages over technical milled lumber, it is made in factory under control specification and it is more stronger straighter and more uniform in size.
Lvl sizes may vary according to manufacturer but lvl standard thickness of 1 3/4 inches (one ply), 3 1/2 inches (2 ply), 5 1/4″ (3 ply) and 7 inches (4ply). It is available in thickness from 19mm (3/4 inches) to 178mm (7 inches). LVL length are generally available in 24, 28, 32, 36, 40 and 44 feet with special order upto 60 Feet. It can be customised according to your requirement. More than 60 Feet there is difficulty in transportation and handling. Common depth of LVL beam are 5 1/2″, 7 1/4″, 9 1/4″, 9 1/2″, 11 1/2″, 11 7/8″, 12″, 14″ 16″ & 18″ deep.
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LVL beam (Laminated veneer lumber)
LVL beam (Laminated veneer lumber) is an engineered wood product that uses multiple layers of thin wood assembled with adhesives. It is typically used for headers, beams, rim board, and edge-forming material.
Lvl sizes may vary according to manufacturer but lvl standard thickness of 1 3/4 inches (one ply), 3 1/2 inches (2 ply), 5 1/4″ (3 ply) and 7 inches (4ply).
Width of lvl beam
The 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 or 40mm. Beam width should be 1/4 to 1/3 beam depth.
Depth of lvl beam
LVL beam depth are typically 5 1/2 inches (140mm), 7 1/4 inches (184mm), 9 1/4 inches (235mm), 9 1/2 inches (241mm), 11 1/4 inches (286mm), 11 7/8 inches (302mm), 14 inches (356mm), 16 inches (406mm), 18 inches (457mm), 18 3/4 inches (476mm), 20 inches (508mm) and 23 7/8 inches (606mm).
Design a beam depth based on the rule of thumb for estimating the depth of manufactured beams which is to divide the span by 20. Beam depths are typically 5 1/2 inches, 7 1/4 inches, 9 1/4 inches, 11 1/4 inches, 11 7/8 inches, 14 inches, 16 inches, 18 inches, and 20 inches.
How far can a double 10″, 12″, 14″, 16″ & 18″ lvl beam span
In general, a double ply 10″ LVL beam can allow to span maximum distance of 16 feet, while a double ply 12″ LVL beam can allow to span maximum distance of 20 feet. Moreover, a double ply 14″ LVL beam can allow to span maximum distance of 23 feet, a double ply 16″ LVL beam can allow to span maximum distance of 26 feet. In addition, a double ply 18″ LVL beam can allow to span maximum distance of 30 feet.
In general, the maximum span for a double 5 1/2″ LVL need to be 10 feet, while the the maximum span for a double 7 1/4″ LVL need to be 13 feet. Moreover, the maximum span for a double 9 1/4″ LVL need to be 15 feet, while the maximum span for a double 9 1/2″ LVL need to be 17 feet. In addition, the maximum span for a double 11 1/2″ LVL need to be 18 feet, while the maximum span for a double 11 7/8″ LVL need to be 20 feet.
How far can a double 10″ lvl span
A 10″ double LVL is made by laminating two LVLs 1 3/4″ or 40mm thick and 9 1/2″ deep. A double 10″ LVL means double 2×10 or 4×10.
Typically a double 10″ (or 2×10) LVL (Laminated veneer lumber) beam can allow to span up to 16 feet far distance used for residential building or projects.
Typically a 10″ LVL (laminated veneer lumber) double ply (3-1/2 inch) beam can be span to a distance of 16 feet when used in residential homes or projects.
How far can a double 12″ lvl span
A 12″ double LVL is made by laminating two LVLs 1 3/4″ or 40mm thick and 12“ deep. A double 12″ LVL means double 2×12 or 4×12.
As per general thumb rule and guidelines, a double 12″ LVL (Laminated veneer lumber) beam can allow to span up to 20 feet far distance used for residential building or projects.
Typically a 12″ LVL (laminated veneer lumber) double ply (3-1/2 inch) beam can be span to a distance of 20 feet when used in residential homes or projects.
How far can a double 14″ lvl span
A 14″ double LVL is made by laminating two LVLs 1 3/4″ or 40mm thick and 14“ deep. A double 14″ LVL means double 2×14 or 4×14.
As per general thumb rule and guidelines, a double 14″ lvl (Laminated veneer lumber) beam can allow to span up to 23 feet far distance used for residential building or projects.
Typically a 14″ LVL (laminated veneer lumber) double ply (3-1/2 inch) beam can be span to a distance of 23 feet when used in residential homes or projects.
How far can a double 16″ lvl span
A 16″ double LVL is made by laminating two LVLs 1 3/4″ or 40mm thick and 16“ deep. A double 14″ LVL means double 2×14 or 4×14.
Typically a double ply 16″ LVL (laminated veneer lumber) beam can allow to span a maximum distance of 26 feet when used in residential homes or projects.
How far can a double 18″ lvl span
A 18″ double LVL is made by laminating two LVLs 1 3/4″ or 40mm thick and 18“ deep. A double 18″ LVL means double 2×18 or 4×18.
Typically a double ply 18″ LVL (laminated veneer lumber) beam can allow to span a maximum distance of 30 feet when used in residential homes or projects.
How far can a double 5 1/2″ lvl span
A double 5 1/2″ LVL is made by laminating of two 1 3/4 inches or 40mm thick and 5 1/2″ deep LVL. A double 3 1/2″ × 5 1/2″ lvl beam can allow span up to 10 feet far distance used for residential building or projects.
Typically a 5-1/2″ LVL (laminated veneer lumber) double ply (3-1/2 inch) beam can be span to a distance of 10 feet when used in residential homes or projects.
How far can a double 7 1/4″ lvl span
A double 7 1/4″ LVL is made by laminating of two 1 3/4 inches or 40mm thick and 7 1/4″ deep LVL. Typically a double 3 1/2″ × 7 1/4″ lvl beam can allow span up to 13 feet far distance used for residential building or projects.
Typically a 7-1/4″ LVL (laminated veneer lumber) double ply (3-1/2 inch) beam can be span to a distance of 13 feet when used in residential homes or projects.
How far can a double 9 1/4″ lvl span
A double 9 1/4″ lvl is made by laminating of two 1 3/4 inches or 40mm thick and 9 1/4″ deep LVL. Typically a double 3 1/2″ × 9 1/4″ lvl beam can allow span up to 15 feet far distance used for residential building or projects.
Typically a 9-1/4″ LVL (laminated veneer lumber) double ply (3-1/2 inch) beam can be span to a distance of 15 feet when used in residential homes or projects.
How far can a double 9 1/2″ lvl span
A double 9 1/2″ LVL is made by laminating of two 1 3/4 inches or 40mm thick and 9 1/2″ deep LVL. Typically a double 3 1/2″ × 9 1/2″ lvl beam can allow span up to 17 feet far distance used for residential building or projects.
Typically a 9-1/2″ LVL (laminated veneer lumber) double ply (3-1/2 inch) beam can be span to a distance of 17 feet when used in residential homes or projects.
How far can a double 11 1/2″ lvl span
A double 11 1/2″ lvl is made by laminating of two 1 3/4 inches or 40mm thick and 11 1/2″ deep LVL. Typically a double 3 1/2″ × 11 1/2″ lvl beam can allow span up to 18 feet far distance used for residential building or projects.
Typically a 11-1/2″ LVL (laminated veneer lumber) double ply (3-1/2 inch) beam can be span to a distance of 18 feet when used in residential homes or projects.
How far can a double 11 7/8″ lvl span
A double 11 7/8″ lvl is made by laminating of two 1 3/4 inches or 40mm thick and 11 7/8″ deep LVL. Typically a double 3 1/2″ × 11 7/8″ lvl beam can allow span up to 20 feet far distance used for residential building or projects.
Typically a 11-7/8″ LVL (laminated veneer lumber) double ply (3-1/2 inch) beam can be span to a distance of 20 feet when used in residential homes or projects.
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Conclusions:-
Typically a double 10″ (or 3 1/2″ × 9 1/2″) LVL beam can span up to 16 feet, a (2) 12″ can span 20 feet, a (2) 3 1/2 × 11 7/8 can span 20 feet and (2) 16″ can span 26 feet.