YZY Granny flats are made of glued laminated timber (LGL), also called Glulam. LGL timber has many advantages over the solid lumber and can also be more expensive than traditional timber. While smaller timber cabins would not justify the cost of laminated timber, larger buildings are worth considering the benefits of LGL. After all, the inside is what matters most in quality of the building.
What Is LGL Timber?
LGL timber is a solid wood alternative to traditional timber. It’s a solid wood layers that’s been bonded together with high-quality, moisture-resistant structural adhesive. The grains run in opposite directions in every layer to increase strength. The natural timber imperfections will be lessened by layers nearby and act as stabilizers for one another.
What Is Solid Timber?
Solid timber is milled wood straight from a tree with all it’s natural knots and imperfections. Natural timber boards will be affected more by fluctuating climatic conditions and moisture content in the air.
Benefits of Laminated Timber Homes
Minimal Shrinkage Reduces Cracks and Gaps
Solid timber logs differ in their moisture content. After the building made of solid timber is completed, it will settle by about 10 percent as logs dry out. In the following few years, it can produce one percent of additional shrinkage. Excessive shrinkage naturally creates cracks and gaps in a structure. LGL lumber is more flexible than solid wood, so it resists stress-related cracking. Laminated logs are shrunk during production, so shrinkage is minimal at about one percent.
The building built form LGL timber settles less because its boards are straight and stable. Traditional solid timber boards naturally bend and twist and therefore they need more time to straighten. During the straightening period building settles.
Minimal Maintenance
Laminated timber will develop minimal warping because it’s made of layered grains running in opposite directions. High-quality glue strengthens the timber so it can better withstand the natural warping process. Because individual layers are kiln-dried, laminated logs don’t change form. Solid logs on the other hand will crack and warp while the building settles. It will not affect the structural integrity of the building as engineers account for that. However, patching cracks and repainting could be a problem for some. This requires extra time and money for maintenance. Also, solid timber logs lose their thermal advantage through the cracks and gaps.
Benefits of Solid Timber Homes
Initial Cost
The initial cost of solid timber homes is less expensive than LGL timber. This is to do with shorter manufacturing process which consists of less operations with much simpler machinery.
Rustic look for log cabin lovers
Solid timber building will have the more rustic look from its natural imperfections for those who’re after a log cabin feel. It is a matter of taste and more knots and some may like it better.