The G.R. Plume Company often answers questions from clients regarding costs, structural requirements, and appearance between green (fresh sawn) timbers, reclaimed (recycled) timbers, composites, and veneered timbers. Here are some clarifications on the differences between these wood materials and how they are employed in structural designs:
Green (Fresh-Sawn) Timbers
Despite dwindling natural forest resources, green-sawn wood continues to provide a reasonable and viable option for architectural timbers. Even in the face of increasing environmental issues, the major obstacle to the use of green-sawn timbers is its instability. The high moisture content of fresh wood causes extensive twisting and checking as it dries. However, advanced microwave dry kiln procedures are beginning to minimize these drying problems, and various grade standards now allow for numerous structural and visual parameters.
Reclaimed (Recycled) Timbers
Applications that employ reclaimed timbers dictate a wide range of results, based on project specifications. Generally, reclaimed timbers are a viable choice when required sizes for the project are close to the actual size of the reclaimed wood. However, in our many years in timber construction, we have found that re-sawing dimensional lumber from reclaimed timbers is usually unsuccessful. Further, reclaimed timbers cannot be individually grade-stamped at the present time; they can, however, be given grade certificates (provided the certificates remain with each load). These critical factors continue to limit the marketability of reclaimed timbers in the wholesale environment.
The impact of the visual characteristics and attributes of reclaimed timbers varies from client to client. Often, bolt and nail holes can be considered defects that lessen structural and aesthetic value. The obvious environmental benefit to using reclaimed timbers must be weighed against two key factors, 1) industry-wide resistance to grade stamp reclaimed timbers; and 2) the shrinking availability of large, sound reclaimed timbers. Unfortunately, the current cost of fabricating architectural timbers from reclaimed wood is over twice that of green-sawn timber.
Manufactured Products
To
meet the ever-changing needs of the construction
industry, The G. R. Plume Company has developed unique
product lines for the architectural timber
market—composite heavy timber and veneered heavy
timbers.
Composite Heavy Timber
The G.R. Plume Company specializes in composite
timbers. Typically, two to four timbers are joined
together using an industrial adhesive. The grain of
each section is carefully matched so that the finished
product appears as a solid-sawn heavy timber.
Composite timbers
provide solutions for design with no limitations to
size and shape. Large dimensions up to 16"x30" can be
manufactured. Its major benefit is that timbers can be
transformed into shapes limited only by the
imagination and physics.
Composite timbers manufactured by G.R. Plume are certified with the APA-EWS trademark.
The mark signifies that G.R. Plume is committed to a rigorous program of quality verification and testing and that products are manufactured in conformance with ANSI A190.1-2002, American National Standard for Structural Glued Laminated Timber. The APA-EWS trademark is recognized by all major model building codes for the certification of glued laminated timber produced by G.R. Plume.
 Veneered
Heavy Timbers
Environmentally responsible, veneered architectural timbers offer both sound structure and aesthetically pleasing appearance as an alternative to either reclaimed or green-sawn timbers. Core material can range from recycled wood products to Glu-lam, depending on structural constraints.
Glu-lams
are commonly specified for their economic structural
design flexibility due to size and length. Because
they can span long distances and carry virtually any
design load, glu-lams are the perfect choice for
applications such as roof trusses, arches, beam runs
and columns. They do not warp, twist or crack, making
them the ideal product to which veneer can be applied.
The result is a very strong, very beautiful member
that appears to be a solid-sawn "clear" heavy timber.
Our
veneered heavy timbers are manufactured under an APA/EWS
approved standard.
 Project Approach
At the G.R. Plume Company, we first begin as a consultant to the project architect.
We continue to work alongside the contractor as timber
fabricator until the project is complete. Honoring the
beauty of the wood with a strong sense of vocation, we
carefully select each timber according to project
specification and position. Timbers are graded by our
on-site WCLIB-certified timber grader, then milled to
meet specific project requirements. Our products are
guaranteed to fit. We build in a controlled shop
environment with precision skill, ensuring project
tolerances and accuracy at the job site. Finished packages
can be shipped complete with all joinery and brackets, ready for erection. Typical packages include cutting, drilling, mortising, bracket fabrication, sanding and finish. Common projects are truss assemblies, columns, beams, arches, turned columns and complete timber frame packages. |
