Engineered Wood Products, (or EWP’s as they are commonly referred to) are manufactured by binding or fixing the strands, particles, fibers, or boards of wood together with adhesives, or other methods of fixation to form composite materials. These products are engineered to precise design specifications which are tested to meet national or international standards. They are used in a variety of applications, from home construction to commercial buildings. These products can be used for joists and beams and in some cases, replace steel in many building projects for a fraction of the cost.

SCI is a retailer for several types and brands of EWP’s. Below is a list and brief explanation of each one. Each EWP comes in many different sizes and lengths. For pricing and availability, please call our sales staff.

Glue Laminated Timber (glulam): is composed of several layers of dimensional timber glued together with moisture-resistant adhesives, creating a large, strong, structural member that can be used as vertical columns or horizontal beams. Glulam can also be produced in curved shapes, offering extensive design flexibility.

Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL): is produced by bonding thin wood veneers together in a large billet. The grain of all veneers in the LVL billet is parallel to the long direction. The resulting product features enhanced mechanical properties and dimensional stability that offer a broader range in product width, depth and length than conventional lumber. LVL is a member of the structural composite lumber (SCL) family of engineered wood products that are commonly used in the same structural applications as conventional sawn lumber and timber, including rafters, headers, beams, joists, rim boards, studs and columns.

Parallel Strand Lumber (PSL): consists of long veneer strands laid in parallel formation and bonded together with an adhesive to form the finished structural section. A strong, consistent material, it has a high load carrying ability and is resistant to seasoning stresses so it is well suited for use as beams and columns for post and beam construction, and for beams, headers, and lintels for light framing construction.^[6] PSL is a member of the structural composite lumber (SCL) family of engineered wood products.

I Joists and Wood I Beams: are “I”-shaped structural members designed for use in floor and roof construction. An I-joist consists of top and bottom flanges of various widths united with webs of various depths. The flanges resist common bending stresses, and the web provides shear performance.