Recently i started using a 6x6 glulam post intended for my outdoor forms, and honestly, it's hard to envision going back to standard solid-sawn wood for anything that will needs to stay straight and strong. If you've ever spent an afternoon on the lumber yard digging through a pile of dealt with 6x6s learn that will every single you are either twisted, cracked, or destined to become banana in six months, you know specifically what I'm talking about. There is usually something incredibly frustrating about finishing the deck or a patio only to possess the posts start "checking"—those long vertical cracks—as soon as the particular sun hits them.
That's exactly where glulam comes within. For those that haven't worked along with it much, "glulam" is just brief for glued-laminated timber. It's essentially lots of smaller wood laminations bonded together with high-strength moisture-resistant adhesives. It may sound like it's just extravagant plywood for content, but in exercise, it's a complete game changer intended for structural integrity plus aesthetics.
The reason why the 6x6 size is the lovely spot
When you're looking at the 6x6 glulam post , you're looking at a piece of wood that's been built to behave. A standard 4x4 usually feels a bit cheap for a huge patio cover, whilst an 8x8 can look way as well bulky and commercial to get a residential backyard. The 6x6 will be that "Goldilocks" size—it has enough visual weight to appear premium and enough structural "oomph" to support substantial loads without the need for the forest of supports.
Because these articles are engineered, they don't have the exact same limitations as an organic tree trunk. Within a regular solid post, the center of the forest (the pith) is definitely often where all the tension lives. Since the wood dries, that will tension releases, evoking the wood to warp or split. Using a glulam, those strains are basically terminated out because the particular grain of every layer is smartly placed. It stays straight, which makes your life a great deal easier when you're trying to stage a beam throughout three or 4 of them.
Strength that in fact is sensible
One thing people usually ask me is definitely if a 6x6 glulam post is actually stronger than a solid a single. The short response is yes, but it's not just about how very much weight it can hold before it snaps. It's about "predictability. "
Engineered wooden products are rated for specific challenges. Once you buy a glulam post, you know exactly what its load-bearing capacity is. Solid wood can have concealed knots or internal defects that a person can't see from the outside, that might weaken it. Along with glulam, those knot are either taken out or spread out there across different levels, so one bad spot doesn't ruin the entire post.
If you're building something such as a heavy-duty pergola with an angle-slotted roof or the second-story deck, that extra peace associated with mind is worthy of the investment. A person aren't guessing when the wood is going to hold up; the executive team at the stock has already carried out the math for you.
Let's talk about the "checking" concern
If you've spent any period around pressure-treated content, you've seen examining. It's those strong cracks that open up up because the wood dries out. While most of the particular time these aren't structural, they look terrible. Earning a brand-new project look twenty years old in just one summer.
A 6x6 glulam post is much more stable in this division. Because the wood is definitely kiln-dried before it's glued together, many of the downsizing has already occurred. The moisture articles is consistent all through the entire piece. You might see some tiny surface area cracks over the years, but you won't get those giant gaps that you might virtually stick a coin into. For anyone who else cares concerning the completed look of their project, this is usually the greatest selling point.
Dealing with the elements
Now, a common concern is how these things handle the rain. Since the 6x6 glulam post is made of layers and glue, individuals worry it'll just delaminate just like an inexpensive piece of home furniture omitted in the rain. Luckily, that's not how modern glulams work.
If you're using them outdoors, you need in order to make sure you're getting the "exterior rated" or "treated" version. They use specific resins that will are waterproof. A few are even pressure-treated after they are usually glued together, or even they may be made through naturally rot-resistant varieties like Alaskan Yellowish Cedar.
A quick tip from my experience: Constantly, always seal the particular end grain. The bottom of the post is like a number of tiny straws sucking up drinking water from the floor or maybe the concrete pier. Even if it's the high-quality 6x6 glulam post , use a good sealer and a proper post base that will keep the wood a couple of inches off the particular concrete. If you take care associated with the "feet" associated with the post, the rest of it will last a lifetime.
Installation: The good plus the bad
Working with a 6x6 glulam post is a bit distinct from working with standard lumber. For one, they will are heavy. We mean, really heavy. Because these people are denser compared to standard wood, you'll probably need pal to help you set them within place. Looking to muscle one of these in to a post foundation solo is a great way to end up at the chiropractor.
Slicing them is incredibly simple, though. You don't need any odd tools, just a great circular saw or a miter noticed. However, since these people are so dense, I'd recommend making use of a high-quality carbide-tipped blade. A inexpensive, dull blade will certainly just burn the wood and depart you using a smokey mess.
The aesthetic advantage
I believe the particular best part about a 6x6 glulam post is how it requires the finish. Because the surface is so smooth and uniform, stain continues on attractively. If you're going for a modern, architectural look, a person can leave them clear-coated to show away the laminations. It offers this cool, layered look on the particular sides that actually highlights the workmanship of the construct.
On the other hand, if you need it to appear like a solid piece of wood, you may buy "architectural grade" glulams. They are sanded down so smoothly that once you place a coat associated with solid stain or even paint with them, you'd never know these were made of levels. They just look like the perfect, straightest piece of timber ever grown.
Is the price worth it?
I'll become the first in order to admit that the 6x6 glulam post will probably cost more than a standard 6x6 through the big-box store. Sometimes it's increase the price, or even more depending on the particular wood species. Yet you have to consider the "total cost" from the project.
Think regarding it this way: if a cheap post warps and tosses your whole railing away of alignment, how much time and money will you invest fixing that? In the event that a post cracks and the home owner (or your spouse) hates the method it looks, what's the cost of replacing it later?
I've found that intended for high-end decks, top porch entries, or any structure where the posts are a focal point, the particular extra bit of cash upfront saves therefore much headache within the back end. You're paying for the fact that you won't have to arrive back in two years to repair a "wonky" post.
A more sustainable choice?
Surprisingly, choosing a 6x6 glulam post can actually be the greener move. To obtain a solid 6x6, you will need a tree that is old enough plus large enough to yield that heartwood. Those bigger, older trees are more difficult to replace.
Glulams are made from smaller, faster-growing trees from managed forests. Since a person may use smaller items of wood to create a substantial beam or post, there's much much less waste. You're essentially taking "okay" wood and turning it into "amazing" wood through engineering. It's a method to get high-performance structural associates without needing in order to harvest old-growth wood.
Final ideas on the 6x6 glulam post
At the end of the day, your choice of materials depends on what you're developing. If you're simply putting up a quick fence in the particular backyard where nobody's likely to see the particular posts, then yes, a 6x6 glulam post might be overkill.
But in the event that you are building a space where you're going to invest your summer evenings—a place where you want straight ranges, smooth surfaces, plus a structure that will feels solid because a rock—then it's a no-brainer. It's one of these upgrades that you don't really appreciate until you see the finished product standing up perfectly plumb and beautiful years after you built it.
Don't let the "engineered" label scare a person off. It's nevertheless real wood, this just has the particular benefit of some modern science to keep it from behaving badly. Next time you're planning a project, price out a few glulams. Your future self, who won't be staring at a twisted porch post regarding the next decade, will definitely thanks.