Technology Roadmap: Lumber and Value-Added Wood Products
7.3.7 Other Engineered Wood Products

Edge- and Face-glued Dimension Lumber

In the same vein of adding value to small diameter lumber, a variety of products have recently been developed which are produced by edge- or face-gluing smaller pieces into larger sections. Such products are being put on the market to replace 2 by 10, 2 by 12 or larger sections of solid lumber. Species commonly used are spruce and pine in Eastern Canada, Douglas-fir and larch in the west.

Manufacturing techniques are similar to those used in appearance products, except that adhesives must satisfy the requirements of appropriate standards for structural products. Lumber pieces making up the product may be laid up in such a way as to maximise performance, i.e., with higher grades on the outside. Because of the way the products are assembled, the components must be fabricated to close tolerances. As with glulam and most glued products, moisture content also needs to be within a relatively narrow range (7 to 15 percent) to ensure end-product stability.

Engineered Studs

Another upcoming trend in engineered wood products is the development of engineered wood studs. This is also motivated by a desire to process small wood, add value to the products and provide materials that are easier to install. The development of engineered wood studs makes it possible to produce a 30 mm (6 inch) wall thickness (for insulation purposes) with less wood while maintaining the required design values.

A variety of these products have recently been introduced on the market. Among them are profiled finger-jointed studs with openings; these studs are profiled for ease of installation and premanufactured openings allow contractors to run cables and plumbing more rapidly during construction. They can also be notched and pre-drilled.