LVL — Laminated Veneer Lumber Structural Guidebook

LVL is an engineered structural lumber product made from thin wood veneers laminated together to form strong, dimensionally consistent members.

What It Is

Laminated veneer lumber is manufactured by bonding wood veneers with the grain oriented primarily in the same direction. That process creates beams, headers, and framing members with predictable strength and stiffness compared with ordinary sawn lumber.

Types

LVL is sold as beams, headers, rim board, scaffold planks, and other structural members in various thicknesses and depths. Design values vary by manufacturer and product line, so spans and loads must come from the correct engineering data.

Where It Is Used

It is used over windows and doors, in floor beams, ridge beams, stair openings, garage door headers, and other structural framing locations. Builders rely on LVL where long spans or high loads make conventional lumber impractical.

How to Identify One

LVL usually shows many thin veneer layers along the edge, giving it a laminated striped appearance. Product stamps on the face typically identify the manufacturer, grade, and structural rating.

Replacement

Replacement is structural work that should match the engineered role of the original member. Excessive notching, water damage, rot, fire damage, or improper field modifications can all require professional evaluation and repair.