Are you building or upgrading your home and looking to minimise your impact on the environment? Consider glued laminated wood – or glulam. Here’s what you need to know about this sustainable and eco-friendly product.

What’s glulam?

Valued for its structural strength, versatility and sustainability, glulam is made by bonding together layers of timber with strong adhesives. It’s often used in construction for beams, columns and other load-bearing elements.

An eco-friendly option

Here are a few ways glulam is an environmentally responsible choice:

• Sustainable sourcing. Glued laminated wood is made from sustainably sourced timber. The timber used for glulam beams and columns often comes from forests managed with responsible forestry practices. By choosing glulam, you contribute to the preservation of forests and reduce the demand for non-renewable construction materials.

• Reduced carbon footprint. Manufacturing glulam consumes less energy and emits fewer greenhouse gases than concrete or steel production. Additionally, wood stores carbon dioxide from the atmosphere for the life of the structure, making glulam an effective way to sequester carbon and combat climate change.

• Energy efficiency. Glulam has excellent insulation properties. Its natural thermal resistance helps regulate indoor temperatures, reducing the need for energy-burning heating and cooling.

Ask your local contractor about glulam for your next construction project.