Deconstructing Engineered Wood

Even more important than these environmental benefits, however, is the fact that engineered wood is strong and durable, and can provide greater protection from the effects of natural disasters. It exceeds the performance ratings of its raw-wood counterparts. For example, cross-laminated plywood and OSB distribute along-the-grain strength in two directions, making it stronger overall. Wood I-joists and glulam beams carry greater loads over longer spans than are possible with solid sawn lumber of the same size.

The sales growth of engineered wood products is testimony to the technological adaptability of the wood products industry in the face of a changing wood fiber resource base. “With less traditional and public forest timber available for wood product manufacturing, producers are improving on existing methods and inventing new ways to make more with less, and with alternative wood fiber resources,” he says.