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Quick answer
An engineered wood beam is a horizontal structural member made in a factory by gluing wood veneers, strands or boards together under heat and pressure, so it is stronger, straighter and more uniform than a sawn lumber beam of the same size.
The common types are LVL, glulam and PSL. In remodels they carry loads over wide openings, such as where a wall comes out between a kitchen and a living room.
Quick facts
The key facts about Engineered Wood Beam, with sources:
- Glulam standard
- ANSI A190.1-2022 1
- SCL standard
- ASTM D5456 (D5456-18 recognized by the 2021 IRC) 4
- 2021 IRC sections
- R502.1.5, R602.1.5 and R802.1.4 (structural composite lumber) 4
- Typical SCL size
- Depths about 3½ to 18 in; thicknesses up to 7 in 3
- Moisture limit (one product report)
- Dry service, equivalent moisture content under 16% 4
- Who sizes it
- Maker’s span tables or a design professional; the building department checks it 4
Key takeaways
- Engineered wood beams are glued-up products made to carry loads that sawn lumber of the same size often cannot.
- LVL, PSL and glulam are the three types most often used as beams and headers in homes.
- Each product carries a grade stamp, such as 2.0E or 24F-1.8E, that tells a designer its stiffness and bending strength.
- Sizing comes from the maker’s tables or an engineer, never from guessing by eye.
- Taking out a load-bearing wall to install one is structural work that usually needs a permit and a design.
Engineered wood beams in plain English
A sawn lumber beam is cut from one tree. Its strength depends on the knots, grain and checks in that one piece. An engineered wood beam starts the other way around.
The factory takes logs apart into thin veneers, long strands or boards, sorts them, glues them and presses them back together.
The American Wood Council explains that this spreads natural defects out and gives a uniform product, and that it allows long lengths and large sizes made consistently 3.
The result is a beam with known strength. Every piece of a given grade from a given maker behaves the same, within tight limits. That predictability is why designers specify engineered beams for long spans and heavy loads.
The family has two branches. Structural composite lumber (SCL) includes laminated veneer lumber (LVL), parallel strand lumber (PSL), laminated strand lumber (LSL) and oriented strand lumber (OSL) 32.
Glued laminated timber (glulam) is made by gluing layers of sawn lumber, called lams, into large timbers 1. The U.S. Forest Products Laboratory covers both groups in its Wood Handbook chapter on wood-based composites 5.
In a remodel you meet them as the header over a new wide opening, the beam that replaces a load-bearing wall, or the ridge beam in a vaulted ceiling.
How an engineered beam carries load
A beam turns weight pressing down along its length into force at its two ends. The steps below follow that load path.
- Load arrives from above. Floor joists, roof rafters or a wall above rest on the beam. The AWC calls the route these loads follow to the footings the "load path" 3.
- The beam bends. Its top edge is squeezed and its bottom edge is stretched. Glulam puts higher-grade lumber in those outer lams, which carry much of the bending load 3.
- The core resists shear. Inside the beam, layers try to slide past each other. The AWC notes the core lams of glulam resist those horizontal shear stresses 3.
- Stiffness limits sag. The "E" in a grade, the modulus of elasticity, sets how much the beam deflects. A higher E sags less under the same load 4.
- Ends bear on supports. Posts, columns or jack studs carry the beam’s reactions down. The bearing area must be large enough that the wood is not crushed.
- Supports carry load to the foundation. A new beam may need new posts and footings below, which is a common surprise in wall-removal projects.
- Joists or raftersLoad lands on the beam
- BeamBends and resists shear
- Bearing pointsEnds rest on posts or jack studs
- Posts or columnsCarry the load straight down
- Footing and foundationSpread the load into the soil
The beam is one link. The posts, connections and footing below it are designed with it. Source: [3]
Every one of these steps is part of the design. A beam that is strong enough in bending can still fail if its posts are undersized or its footing is missing.
Types of engineered wood beams
| Type | How it is made | Typical home use |
|---|---|---|
| Laminated veneer lumber (LVL) | Thin veneers, about one-tenth to one-sixth of an inch, glued with grain running along the length 32 | Headers and beams, often as two or three plies fastened together |
| Parallel strand lumber (PSL) | Long, narrow veneer strands too small for LVL, glued and pressed 3 | Heavier beams and columns |
| Laminated strand lumber (LSL) | Flaked strands with a length-to-thickness ratio about 150 2 | Headers, rim board and studs in light framing |
| Oriented strand lumber (OSL) | Shorter strands, length-to-thickness ratio about 75 2 | Lumber substitute and I-joist flanges |
| Glulam | Layers of kiln-dried lumber, nominally 1 to 2 in thick, glued into large sections 3 | Exposed beams, ridge beams, garage door headers 1 |
Glulam appearance grades do not change strength
APA lists four glulam appearance grades: Framing, Industrial, Architectural and Premium. They describe the look of the surface. APA states they do not change the structural design values 1.
Example: reading an engineered beam label
Engineered beams carry grade marks that pack a lot into a few characters. The rows below decode real grade formats from APA’s glulam page and one APA product report for LVL and LSL 14. This is a reading exercise, not a sizing exercise.
| Mark you may see | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 24F-1.8E (glulam) | 24F = allowable bending stress of 2,400 psi; 1.8E = modulus of elasticity class 1.8 million psi | APA 1 |
| 1.8E-2750Fb (LVL) | Modulus of elasticity 1.8 million psi; allowable bending stress 2,750 psi on edge | APA report PR-L284, Table 1 4 |
| 2.1E-2950Fb (LVL) | Stiffer and stronger grade: 2.1 million psi and 2,950 psi | PR-L284, Table 1 4 |
| Stock glulam widths | 3⅛, 3½, 5⅛, 5½ and 6¾ in; depths 6 to 36 in | APA 1 |
| Stock glulam camber | About a 5,000-ft radius, or zero camber, suits most homes | APA 1 |
| Code basis listed | 2021 IRC R502.1.5, R602.1.5, R802.1.4; ASTM D5456-18 | PR-L284 4 |
What the label does not tell you is the size you need. That depends on the span, the loads above and the bearing below. APA’s product report says allowable loads for these beams and headers follow the maker’s recommendations 4, and the maker’s tables or an engineer turn those into a size.
Where engineered beams show up on plans, quotes and inspections
On the plans. A structural drawing names the product, grade, size and number of plies, for example "(2) 1¾ × 11⅞ LVL." The AWC notes layout drawings show the minimum grade of each member, points of bearing and connector information 3.
On the quote. A wall-removal or addition bid should name the beam, the posts, any new footing and whether an engineer’s letter is included. If a bid says only "install beam," ask for the specification. The quote comparison tool helps line bids up.
On the permit and inspection. Most building departments want the beam design on the permit drawings and inspect the framing before drywall. Our permits and approvals guide explains that sequence.
On the beam itself. Engineered beams carry stamps showing the maker, grade and quality mark. Leave them visible until the framing inspection.
Photograph the stamp
Before drywall or trim covers the beam, take a clear photo of the grade stamp and the bearing posts. It is useful proof if a future buyer, inspector or engineer asks what was installed.
Benefits and drawbacks of engineered beams
Why designers choose them
What to watch for
- Many products are rated for dry service only; one APA report limits LVL and LSL to moisture content under 16% 4.
- Holes and notches follow the maker’s rules, not the rules for sawn lumber 4.
- Multi-ply beams need the maker’s fastening pattern to act as one member 2.
- Large beams are heavy and may need a lift or extra crew to set.
Limits of engineered wood beams
Moisture. Most LVL and LSL are made for dry, protected locations. The APA product report we read limits its LVL and LSL to dry service with equivalent moisture content under 16% 4.
Exposed exterior beams need a product made for that exposure, such as treated or exterior-rated glulam, and should be detailed to shed water.
Cutting. The same report says free-standing columns of these products must not be drilled or notched without approval of a professional engineer or the maker, and beam hole sizes follow the maker’s rules 4. Plumbers and electricians used to sawn joists can damage an engineered beam with one hole in the wrong place.
Design dependence. An engineered beam is only as good as the design behind it. It does not excuse missing posts, bad bearing or a footing that cannot carry the new point load.
What drives the cost of an engineered beam, and how long it lasts
We do not publish beam prices. The beam itself is often a smaller part of the bill than the work around it. These are the usual drivers.
Span and load. Longer openings and heavier loads need deeper, wider or stiffer beams. The remodeling cost guide explains how structural work moves a budget.
Flush vs dropped. A dropped beam sits below the ceiling and is simpler. A flush beam sits in the ceiling plane, so joists hang from it on metal hangers, which adds labor and temporary shoring.
Posts and footings. New point loads may need new posts and footings, sometimes cutting into a slab.
Engineering and permits. A design letter or stamped drawing and permit fees are part of the job. Our permit fee research shows how fees vary.
Finish. Exposed glulam in an architectural or premium appearance grade costs more than a framing-grade beam hidden in drywall 1.
Lifespan depends on staying dry. Kept within its rated service condition, an engineered beam is meant to last as long as the house framing. Leaks, trapped moisture and insects are what shorten that.
How an engineered beam goes into a remodel
This is the usual sequence for replacing a bearing wall with a beam. It is a guide to what professionals do, not a set of DIY steps.
- A contractor or engineer confirms whether the wall is load-bearing and what it carries.
- A design professional, or the beam maker’s software and tables where the building department accepts them, sizes the beam, posts and bearing 4.
- The contractor pulls a permit with the design attached. The permit checker gives a first read on what your town expects.
- The crew builds temporary walls to hold up the structure before any load-bearing framing is touched.
- The beam, posts and any new footing are installed with the specified connectors, hangers and fasteners 3.
- The building inspector checks the framing before it is covered.
- Temporary supports come out only after the beam and posts are fully installed and inspected.
Our whole-home renovation guide covers how structural changes fit into a larger project.
Looking after an engineered beam
A beam inside a finished wall or ceiling needs little care. These habits protect it.
- Keep it dry during construction. Store beams off the ground and covered, and close in the building quickly.
- Fix leaks above it fast. A roof or plumbing leak that soaks a beam can push it past its rated moisture condition.
- Do not let trades cut it. Holes and notches need the maker’s or an engineer’s approval 4.
- Protect exposed exterior ends. Keep flashing and finishes intact on beams that run outside.
- Keep the drawings. Future remodels need to know what the beam carries.
Warning signs and when to call an engineer
- New cracks in drywall running from the corners of the opening, or along the ceiling at the beam.
- A visible sag in the beam or in the floor above it.
- Doors above or near the beam that start to stick.
- Water stains, swelling or delamination on the beam surface.
- Holes or notches cut by a later trade.
- Crushing or gaps where the beam sits on its posts.
Structural work: do not cut, notch or remove
Never remove a wall, post or beam, or cut into an engineered beam, without a design from a licensed engineer or the beam maker and a building permit. Failure can be sudden. Temporary shoring must hold the structure before any load-bearing member is touched.
Any of these signs calls for a licensed structural engineer, not a patch. Keep loads off the area until it is checked.
Codes and standards for engineered wood beams
Model code for new work. The 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) recognizes structural composite lumber in Sections R502.1.5 (floors), R602.1.5 (walls) and R802.1.4 (roofs).
APA product report PR-L284 lists these sections, with ASTM D5456-18 as the product standard recognized by the 2021 IRC, and the 2024 IRC adds ASTM D5456-21e1 4.
Products also rely on the alternative-materials section, R104.11 in the 2021 IRC 4.
Glulam. APA-trademarked glulam is made to ANSI A190.1, currently the 2022 edition 1.
Design. Engineered design of wood members uses the ANSI/AWC National Design Specification (NDS). The product report ties allowable loads for beams and headers to the maker’s published recommendations 4.
Existing homes. When the work is an alteration to an existing house, many states use the International Existing Building Code (IEBC) to classify the work and decide which new-construction rules apply. Ask your building department which edition of the IRC and IEBC it enforces and whether it wants an engineer’s stamp.
Adoption varies. States and cities adopt code editions on their own schedules and may amend them. This page summarizes model codes and product reports; it is not a substitute for a design. The page is held for review by a licensed structural engineer before it is indexed.
Engineered wood beam vs other beam options
| Option | What it is | Main difference |
|---|---|---|
| LVL beam | Veneers glued with grain along the length 3 | Most common replacement-wall beam; usually hidden in framing |
| Glulam beam | Lumber layers glued into a timber 1 | Can be exposed, cambered or curved; appearance grades available |
| PSL beam | Long veneer strands glued and pressed 3 | Often used for heavier loads and columns |
| Built-up sawn lumber | Several 2× boards nailed together | Uses code span tables for sawn lumber; more variable strength |
| Steel beam | Rolled steel section | Shallower for the same load; different connections and trades |
| Structural header | The beam over a door or window opening | A header is a job; an engineered beam is one material for it |
Structural composite lumber
- LVL, PSL, LSL, OSL
- Veneers or strands glued and pressed
- ASTM D5456 product standard
- Usually hidden in framing
Glulam
- Sawn lumber lams glued together
- Can be curved or cambered
- ANSI A190.1 product standard
- Appearance grades for exposed use
Both families are engineered and graded. The choice depends on span, load, look and exposure. Source: [3] [1] [4]
Myths about engineered wood beams
- Myth A bigger beam is always safer, so you can size it by eye.
- Reality Sizing depends on span, loads and bearing, and follows the maker’s tables or an engineer’s design 4.
- Myth You can drill an LVL the same way as a joist.
- Reality Hole and notch rules come from the maker; columns must not be drilled or notched without engineer or maker approval 4.
- Myth Glulam’s nicer grades are stronger.
- Reality Appearance grades describe the look only; they do not change design values 1.
- Myth Engineered beams can go anywhere outdoors.
- Reality Many SCL products are limited to dry service; one report sets moisture content under 16% 4.
- Myth Only the beam matters.
- Reality The load path includes posts, connections and footings below 3.
Regional loads that change beam design
Beam sizes are not national. Snow load on a roof, which varies widely by region, changes what a ridge beam or roof-bearing header must carry.
Wind and seismic design categories change the connections and hold-downs at posts.
The AWC lists snow among the gravity loads and wind and earthquakes among the lateral loads that a load path must carry 3.
Your building department sets the design snow load, wind speed and seismic category for your address, and your engineer or the maker’s tables use them.
When an engineered beam belongs in your plan
If your project opens a wall that carries load, widens a doorway or adds a large window or patio door, an engineered beam is likely on the drawings. The same is true for vaulted ceilings with a ridge beam and many additions.
Start by asking a contractor whether the wall is load-bearing, then budget for design, posts, possible footings and a permit, not only the beam. Our kitchen remodeling guide covers the common open-concept project, and the contractor selection guide covers who should do the work.
- If Removing or opening a load-bearing wall
- Then Get a design from an engineer or the beam maker and a permit
- If Beam will be exposed as a feature
- Then Ask about glulam in an architectural or premium grade
- If Beam will be outdoors or in a damp space
- Then Confirm the product is rated for that exposure
- If A trade wants to drill the beam
- Then Check the maker’s hole chart or ask the engineer first
Questions about Engineered Wood Beam
What is an engineered wood beam?
An engineered wood beam is a factory-made beam built by gluing wood veneers, strands or boards together under heat and pressure. Common types are LVL, PSL and glulam. Because defects are spread out and products are tested, each grade has predictable strength and stiffness, which makes them common for long spans and wall removals.
Is LVL stronger than regular lumber?
Grade for grade, LVL usually has higher and more consistent design values than sawn lumber of the same size, because its veneers are sorted and glued so defects are spread out.
One APA product report lists LVL grades with allowable bending stress from 2,250 to 2,950 psi. The right size still comes from the maker’s tables or an engineer.
What is the difference between LVL and glulam?
LVL is made from thin wood veneers glued with the grain running lengthwise, and is usually hidden inside framing. Glulam is made by gluing layers of sawn lumber into a timber, can be curved or cambered, and comes in appearance grades for exposed use. LVL follows ASTM D5456; glulam follows ANSI A190.1.
Can I use an LVL beam outside?
Usually not without the right product. Many LVL and LSL products are rated for dry service only; one APA product report limits them to moisture content under 16%. For exposed exterior beams, ask for a product rated for that exposure, such as treated or exterior glulam, and detail it to shed water.
Do I need an engineer to size an engineered beam?
Often yes. Simple cases may be sized from the beam maker’s published tables or software if your building department accepts them. Wall removals with concentrated loads, new footings or unusual spans usually need a design professional. Your building department decides what it needs on the permit drawings.
Can you drill holes in an LVL beam?
Only where the maker’s instructions or an engineer allow. Hole size and location rules for engineered beams come from the maker, not from sawn-lumber rules. One APA product report says free-standing columns of these products must not be drilled or notched without approval from a professional engineer or the maker.
What does 2.0E mean on an LVL?
The number before E is the modulus of elasticity in millions of psi, a measure of stiffness. A 2.0E product has a modulus of 2.0 million psi. Higher numbers sag less under the same load. The grade usually also names the allowable bending stress, as in 1.8E-2750Fb.
How long do engineered wood beams last?
Kept dry and within their rated service conditions, engineered beams are meant to last as long as the house framing around them. Moisture, leaks, insects and unapproved cuts are what shorten their life. Fix leaks above a beam quickly and keep trades from drilling it without approval.
Do I need a permit to install an engineered beam?
In most places, yes, when the beam is part of a structural change such as removing a load-bearing wall. The building department usually wants the beam design on the drawings and inspects the framing before drywall. Rules vary by jurisdiction, so check with your local office first.
Sources
- APA – The Engineered Wood Association, Glulam, retrieved .
- APA – The Engineered Wood Association, Structural Composite Lumber, retrieved .
- American Wood Council, Structural Composite Lumber & Glued Laminated Timber Awareness Guide, retrieved .
- APA Product Report PR-L284, Tolko Laminated Strand Lumber and Laminated Veneer Lumber (revised July 6, 2026), retrieved .
- USDA Forest Products Laboratory, Wood Handbook (FPL-GTR-190) Chapter 11: Wood-Based Composite Materials (Stark, Cai, Carll, 2010), retrieved .
Expert review
Written by the HyreRemodel Research team. Not yet reviewed by an outside expert. We say so rather than imply a review that has not happened; see our editorial policy.
How the numbers were checked: Product definitions come from APA and the American Wood Council; grade values and IRC/ASTM references come from APA product report PR-L284, Table 1 and Section 1. Glulam stress class, sizes, camber and appearance grades come from APA’s glulam page.
ICC Digital Codes blocked automated access on the retrieval date, so IRC sections are cited as listed in the APA report. No sizes are recommended and no prices are given. Held under G-REV until a licensed structural engineer reviews it.
Suggest a correction. We fix errors and say what changed.