Glulam Columns

[Day_Reddy]

Hello,
I designing a post in a 4" wall and I am unable to make any 3.5" Sawn lumber post work, I was going to try a Glulam Column. I am trying to understand how the layup in the column works, I did some research and I got a lot of info about the Glulam Beams, it is very well explain in a lot of posts about the balanced and unbalanced layups but not a whole lot about Glulam Columns. One thing I did find in a couple of catalogues is they give Glulam Column Capacities and the wood species is either L2-DF or N2M-SP but no further explanation unlike for the beams. Can anybody point me towards a good reference material for Glulam Columns or explain how the layups of Glulam Column work. Any information regarding Glulam Columns you guys can give me would be really helpful.
Thank you

 

[North2South]

I am not familiar with glulam but have you considered using a Parallam post?

 

[KootK]

That is harder information to come by. Try this: Link

 

[dhengr]

Day_Reddy:
GluLam beams are made up with the outer couple plys being graded for, and particularly good for tension and normal stress and/or compression, and in the latter case they will have a top and bottom surface/edge. So, they must be fabed and installed with the proper orientation up. The inner plys primarily have to be adequate for the horiz. shear stresses, and much lower bending stresses. Columns are generally made up with all plys particularly good for, and graded for, compression. There are a few GluLam manufacturers whole make column sections, primarily for post framed farm buildings and the like. They have an option of pressure treating the bot. 4’ to 6’ of the posts to be set in drilled found. holes. Most good wood design textbooks will cover some of this in some detail. The Timber Design and Construction Handbook, by The Timber Engineering Co., pub. by McGraw_Hill, and The Timber Construction Manual, by AITC, and Douglas Fir Use Book, pub. by Western Wood Products Assoc. are good ref. books.

 

[Day_Reddy]

Fletch10, I am not familiar with Parallam post. I will look into that one too, thanks.
KootK, yes, it is hard information to come by, thanks for the link. dhengr, thanks for the providing the names of the ref books, I will read up and see what info I can get from them.