Conserving Natural Resources Engineered Wood There is a large family of engineered structural products, including laminated veneer lumber (LVL), wood I-beams and I-joists, and wood roof and floor trusses. These products combine efficient raw material use with improved strength and performance capabilities to produce a superior option to traditional materials. Engineered lumber manufacturers use fast-growing, small-diameter trees efficiently. Combining wood veneer and fiber with adhesives produces laminated veneer lumber. The LVL manufacturing process allows more of the log (up to 80%) to end up as product. LVL lumber is very consistent and stable. Wood I-beams and I-joists also combine veneer and adhesives. LVL headers and I-beams are accepted by all major building codes. They provide more load-bearing capacity than solid sawn lumber, and resist shrinking, twisting, splitting, warping, and crowning. They are capable of long spans, thereby increasing design flexibility. They can cost more than dimensional lumber, but in general are considered better products. The American Plywood Association estimated that in 1998 I-joists alone accounted for over a third of all residential floor joists installed in the U.S.
Wood roof and floor trusses are commonly used instead of cut rafters because they save both time and materials. They can also reduce wood waste because, ideally, you order only what you need, and because of efficiencies in the production process.
Brick The process of extracting clay for brick production is fairly benign, and results in very little wasted material. Brick is often used close to its manufacturing site. It has an almost limitless life-span and can be recycled or salvaged for use after demolition. Brick is also a recyclable material that can be crushed and either returned to the manufacturing process, or used as a landscaping material in its crushed form. |
