Does anybody have a ballpark price (or website where I can get one)for a 6″x18″x24′ glulam beam? I’ve looked all over the net but can’t find any current prices, and need to price one for my house plan.
Thanks,
FK
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i paid about 9.00 lf for one of that size recently, call a local guy who sells them and ask.
Don't know how you could have possibly paid $9 per foot for one that big. Did you look at the size he mentioned?
I'd think it would be more like $50 a foot. But a lot depends on where your supplier is, where they're made, shipping costs, etc. That isn't something anyone would normally stock, so you're looking at special ordering it and will probably have a long lead time.
A 4 ply 18" LVL beam would probably be cheaper - Maybe about $35 a foot for four plies.
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Thanks for your suggestion, I'm going to look into the LVL. Terry Lumber quoted me today $540 for a 6-3/4' x 18" x 24' glulam, which is about $24 per ft including sales tax, not too bad I guess.
Are there other considerations (like installation ease) to keep in mind when considering the LVL vs. the glulam? For a beam that long, I can imagine either will be a handfull for the framers to install.
Well, I guess I was off a bit on my prices. Been a while since I ordered one that big. I'm surprised it's as cheap as you mentioned, though. Maybe you're just closer to a stocking dealer or something.
A 4 ply LVL might be easier to hoist up in place, rather than one big beam. If you get the glulam you'll need lots of help or maybe a crane.
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LVLs are definitely easier installation. Put in as separate pieces and stitch together once they're in place. Lightens the load. The glulam is decent looking for some applications though so if it is for an exposed location, the glulam is the ticket.Excellence is its own reward!
Since this beam is going to be buried in the front entry soffit, I'm going to look into the LVL. Unfortunately, the GP spec sheets say that for 4 layers side loaded, the beam has to be loaded equally on the sides to prevent rotating. I want to hang trusses off it so 4 layers seems out.
You're right though, there's no sense in making the installation harder than it has to be and the beam will not be seen.
Regarding the rotation potential when side loading the multiple layer beam.
Check with GP and/or your engineer about steel strapping around the beam and back along the bottom chord of the trusses.
Have you talked to the truss manufacturer about it? They might be able to do something with the trusses so you don't need such a big beam.
If it's buried in the front entry soffit, why can't the trusses cantilever off the front wall?
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I have a 5.25"x15x44' Glulam (architectural grade) in my house...it was just about $900 if I recall.
It is heavy...about 700-800 pounds I think. Set it in place using a cherry picker arm from a log truck.
My 32' LVL's on the other hand were set in place by 3 people, me, mom, and dad! Now, that was quite a heavy load (especially for me!) but obviously doable.
The glulam is exposed and looks very nice. The LVLs, for me, are not something you want exposed.
Exposed work...go glulam. Hidden...go LVL.
your right that was for a 6x12 glue lam, just checked the drawings but i do rember paying about 9$ a foot, but i bought several from them ( 2@25' 3@16' and them some 6x10's dont ask that job was a nightmare) .
Your local yard estimator should be able to quote a price; they're most always a special order item so he should have a hotline to his supplier, or a price book.
that might be a stock size for lumber yards that carry manufactured beams, call around. $9 per foot does seem a little light, if I were to speculate I would say you are looking at closer to $20 lf, I just paid $7.50 lf for a 3 1/2 x 11 7/8 Parallam.
If you are looking for a specific beam size most of the beam manufacturers will produce one (or more) for you. Typically no order is too small. Transport costs typically mitigate against looking too far afield. Locally we like Structurlam (http://www.structurlam.com/)
the 9$/LF beams were for Anthony power beams ( a glue lam) but they were not architectural grade ( ie rough sanded). I pay around 17 - 25/LF for the Georgia Pacific glue lams in arc grade ( the purdy ones). I do buy a lot of stuff from these guys and they stock most of the sizes etc.