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Custom Glue Laminated Timber

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Absolutely! Our team is skilled to create all sorts of timber projects from curved to straight, and depending on your requirements and desired outcomes we may not employ glulam as a solution.

No matter what timber design or project you have in mind, we want to hear from you!  Contact us today.

Glulam, or glue laminated timber, is an engineered wood product made by cutting, shaping, joining and finishing thin layers of timber to form straight or curved wood beams and structures. Glulam fabrication gives you incredible versatility to create high quality and aesthetically stunning curved wood structures.

Please take a look at our glulam fabrication page for more details.

Where do we start? Glulam beams are typically stronger and more resilient than steel and much longer than standard timber lengths. Glulam is a high-performance and aesthetic engineered wood product that also has environmental benefits. Find out more on our glulam information page.

Glued laminated timber is a high-performance timber product that’s also remarkably flexible. It’s used for exposed structural applications such as vaulted ceilings in churches or public buildings, in art installations, outdoor furniture and playground equipment.

There’s nothing typical about glulam! One of the best things about glulam is that we can fabricate it in a wide range of sizes and shapes to suit various construction projects. We can use it for outdoor furniture and playground equipment, or in huge construction projects such as vaulted ceilings in churches, or striking, expansive hotel foyers.

Glulam, or glued laminated timber, is an engineered product with amazing features, one of which is its strength. It has incredible stability and longevity, and it’s been shown to be much lighter – and stronger – than steel. Its strength makes it a great option for structures of any size.

At Curvwood, we use a number of timbers for glulam beams, that each bring their own characteristics. They include Spotted Gum, Blackbutt and Jarrah. We also frequently work with Accoya, which is an engineered timber that’s light, durable and very versatile.

The choice comes down to construction type, location, environment and budget. We’re happy to talk through all of your options when we sit down with you to discuss your project. Contact us at any stage to find out more.

With glulam, anything is possible. We can stain and coat blonder timbers, which can provide the benefits of certain light timbers, with the aesthetics of heavier hardwoods.

Yes, we use a mix of local and imported timbers, and we always source from local timber suppliers. We commit to local supply chains to minimise the environmental impact of every Curvwood project and ensure effective and sustainable glulam fabrication.

Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) is an engineered wood product similar to structural plywood, that is frequently used for prefabricated structural work. Please contact us if you’re interested in CLT, and we’ll be happy to discuss your project.

Hardwoods such as Ironbark are beautiful and can be aesthetically striking in construction. Hardwoods are generally long lasting, easy maintenance, fire-resistant and incredibly strong.

The downside is that they are very dense woods, which means they’re also very heavy so not always ideal for glulam fabrication. Builders and designers often opt for hardwoods for aesthetic reasons. If you are interested in hardwood for curved glulam projects, we will be happy to take a detailed look at your project and recommend the best options.

Cypress Pine is an Australian softwood with a wonderful grain, distinguished by dark knots. It can vary in colour from yellows through to dark browns, and it’s suitable for internal and external applications. It may be suitable for glulam beams, depending on the size and nature of your project.

Softwoods are versatile timbers that are well suited to glue laminated timber projects. Softwoods such as Cedar, Pine and Hemlock often have a smooth, seamless finish. They are generally easy to bend for glulam fabrication, and because they are less dense than hardwoods, they are also much lighter.

There are several types of softwoods that we can use for glulam construction, and we’re happy to recommend the best options when we take a look at your project.

Western Red and other Cedars are light and highly workable, so are generally a good option for glued laminated timber projects. We can use Cedars for both internal and external glulam fabrication. As with all of our glulam projects, we’ll work through your project design with you to make sure you have full details on all of your timber options.

Accoya is a modified wood with unprecedented levels of stability, durability and versatility. It also has great environmental credentials.

It has a low carbon footprint, is non-toxic and is the only construction material in the world to achieve C2C Platinum Certification™ for Material Health. The certification is from the Cradle to Cradle Institute, which sets global standards for products that are safe, circular and responsibly created. Accoya is a great looking blonde wood, but we can stain or finish it if desired.

Blackbutt is an Australian hardwood that’s a good plantation timber, due to its quick growth. It’s highly versatile and mostly used for structural and exterior applications.

We could potentially use it for glulam beams depending on the structure, use and location. As it’s a blonde timber, we can also stain it to achieve a whole range of looks.

If you have any other questions about glulam fabrication and our custom curved wood solutions, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Spotted Gum is a wonderful timber, native to Eastern Australia, that comes in a rainbow of colours, including blondes, reds and light and dark browns. It’s great for external applications and we could potentially use it for glulam beams, depending on the project specifics.

The Curvwood team loves recycled timber, but its suitability will depend on the type of project. As reclaimed wood has often been used in previous structures, it is likely to have bolt or fixture holes. The holes may weaken the timber, which might be an issue when curving wood, and aesthetically, it may not give you the smooth finish that you’re after.

At Curvwood, we are very committed to sustainable solutions however, and we can recommend a range of timbers that are ethically sourced and sustainably sound. If you are set on recycled timber, we would be happy to take a look at your project to see just what’s possible, so do get in touch.

Jarrah is a lovely reddish timber from Western Australia, that’s great for outdoor applications. If you’re interested in a Jarrah glulam project, get in touch with us and we’ll give you full details on the suitability for your project.

The name ‘Victorian Ash’ is used for two Victorian hardwood species: Alpine Ash and Mountain Ash. They are beautiful, blonde coloured hardwoods with a coarse texture and visible veins, which are generally used for internal applications and furniture.

Victorian Ash is similar to Tasmanian Oak, a premium hardwood that’s suitable for construction and interior applications. Both have glulam potential, depending on the nature and location of your structure.

Merbau is a hardwood timber grown in Southeast Asia, the Pacific and North Queensland, that is readily available locally. It’s a lovely light red colour, and it can be suitable for both internal and external glulam fabrication.