We’ve recently upgraded our wall construction from 92mm timber to 88mm glulam at Summerhouse24 to keep offering our customers unparalleled quality with every purchase. In this blog, we’ll explain what glulam is, how it’s made, why we started using it and why it’s the best choice for our customers. Let’s dive right in.

What is glulam?

Glued laminated timber or glulam is a building material made of wood that is known to be extremely strong. How strong? It’s considered to be an alternative to concrete and steel! This incredible strength is achieved by joining several pieces of timber together using glue, heat and pressure.

The man who invented glulam was Otto Karl Freidrich Hetzer. This German inventor and carpenter patented a straight beam made of several layers of laminated timber, connected with an adhesive in 1901. This process created a material that was much more durable and dense compared to solid wood beams. Over the years glulam gained popularity and started to be widely used during WWII.

In the photo above: 88mm glulam summer house in the installation process

Why Summerhouse24 is replacing 92mm solid timber with 88mm glulam?

Summerhouse24 has strong relationships with some of the finest timber suppliers in the Nordic region. Since our manufacturing happens in-house, it allows us to closely monitor and maintain the quality of the timber used in our wooden buildings. 

Over time we have observed that it has become increasingly challenging to source high-quality 92mm timber that would meet our quality requirements. Since our aim is to provide wooden buildings to the highest standard, we looked for other alternatives. Enter 88mm glulam logs! Glulam is a fantastic alternative to solid wood thanks to its many remarkable properties.

In the photo above: Glulam timber at Summerhouse 24 factory

Benefits of using glulam

There are many advantages to using glulam. Here are some reasons why it is a superb choice of material for building summer houses, garden rooms, log cabins and other wooden structures.

High performance and quality

When glulam is manufactured, each piece of laminated lumber is checked individually. This means that the material gets looked over several times more during manufacturing compared to solid wood. This way there’s a lesser chance of lower-quality timber ending up in production.

3x strength of steel

Glulam is an extremely strong material. How strong exactly? Believe it or not, but glulam is three times stronger compared to steel! Needless to say, this makes it a top choice when it comes to building materials.

Reduced cracks and warping

With glulam, there’s less of a chance for cracks and bending to appear in the material over time. While cracks are natural and characteristic of timber buildings, adding wonderful rustic charm that many people love, it can be more challenging to find thicker lumber (92mm thickness) that meets our quality requirements. When choosing our material, we make sure cracks do not exceed certain dimensions. By choosing glulam you will receive a product with a beautiful uniform surface without cracks that will not warp in time.

High-quality source material

Summerhouse24 glulam is made of high-quality Nordic Spruce, a dense and durable timber harvested from sustainably managed forests. Using Nordic Spruce enhances the properties of glulam even further.

Certified quality

Our glulam products are certified to meet specific standards for quality and performance and are tested by the Materials Testing Institute’s (MPA) Testing Laboratory in Stuttgart.

Aesthetically pleasing even surface

Glulam has a harmonious even look thanks to the careful selection of the lamellae, making for a beautiful canvas of wood grain. The warmth of the wood enhances the beauty of both traditional and modern architectural designs.

Easy insulation and installation

Another great perk is that there’s minimal shrinkage. The moisture content in glulam is lower compared to traditional wood – about 12-14%. When using solid wood there is a waiting period (up to one year), before permanent fixtures and insulation can be installed, due to the higher moisture content. Thanks to the absence of shrinkage in glulam, it’s easy to insulate or carry out other work in the house immediately.

Better thermal insulation

Glulam is a dense material and has higher thermal insulation qualities. This means a log cabin or summer house with glulam walls will be cooler in the summer and warmer during winter time compared to a solid wood structure with the same wall thickness.

Increased fire resistance

Thanks to the charring-resistant properties of the adhesive that is used in the making of glulam, it has increased fire resistance. 

Glulam is a greener choice

All our wood, including the timber for glulam, comes from sustainably managed forests, ensuring a lower environmental footprint. Sustainably managed forests have a rolling replanting schedule. As trees are felled for use, new trees are planted.

Since glulam is made of timber that is smaller in size compared to large logs, the material can be made from younger trees. Wood can be harvested from second and third-growth forests, which makes glulam a sustainable choice. Any harvested timber will be easier to replace compared to using larger, older trees.

In addition, manufacturing glulam is an extremely efficient process with minimal waste. This is because even smaller pieces can be effectively used. At the end of its lifecycle, glulam is easy to recycle as biofuel.

Glulam Building Maintenance

Are you wondering if there are any differences in maintenance with traditional wooden buildings? Glulam is made from timber and should be maintained similarly to solid wood when exposed to the elements. Use a suitable wood preservative – like the ‘Protek’ system we recommend – to keep your log cabin, wooden chalet or other wooden building safe from moisture and pests. Treat or paint the wood periodically according to the instructions.

How is glulam made?

If you’re curious about the process of making glulam, here is a short overview.

1. Selection: High-quality timber is selected, graded, and planned. Planning is a process where the wood is shaved down with a machine to achieve a uniform thickness and even surface.
2. Drying: The wood is dried to a specific moisture content – about 12% – to ensure stability.
3. Lamellae Preparation: The timber is cut into 50mm layers, called lamellae.
4. Bonding: Lamellae are coated with a thin layer of adhesive and bonded together into long lengths known as members.
5. Pressing: The assembly is pressed to ensure proper bonding and curing of the adhesive.
6. Finishing: The finished glulam members are planed and cut to the required dimensions and specifications.

By choosing glulam, you make a cost-effective and aesthetically appealing choice for your log cabin, summer house or other wooden structure. Should you have any other questions about glulam or our manufacturing process, you’re always welcome to call us at 020 3807 0368 or email us at info@summerhouse24.co.uk.