Why I prefer a 6x6 glulam post for weighty projects
I recently started using a 6x6 glulam post intended for my outdoor plots, and honestly, it's hard to imagine going back to standard solid-sawn timber for anything that needs to remain straight and strong. If you've actually spent an mid-day at the lumber backyard digging through a pile of treated 6x6s only to find that every single you are either twisted, cracked, or destined to become banana in six months, you know specifically what I'm speaking about. There is something incredibly annoying about finishing the deck or even a porch only to have the posts start "checking"—those long vertical cracks—as soon as the sun hits them.
That's where glulam comes in. For those who haven't worked with it much, "glulam" is just short for glued-laminated timber. It's essentially lots of smaller wood laminations bonded together with high-strength moisture-resistant adhesives. It might sound such as it's just fancy plywood for content, but in practice, it's an overall game changer with regard to structural integrity plus aesthetics.
Exactly why the 6x6 dimension is the lovely spot
When you're looking at the 6x6 glulam post , you're taking a look at a piece of wood that's been built to behave. The standard 4x4 often feels a little flimsy for a huge patio cover, whilst an 8x8 can look way too bulky and industrial for a residential garden. The 6x6 will be that "Goldilocks" size—it has enough visual weight to appear premium and enough structural "oomph" to support significant loads without needing a forest of supports.
Because these content are engineered, they will don't possess the exact same limitations being an organic tree trunk. In a regular strong post, the center of the shrub (the pith) is usually often where all the tension lives. Since the wood dries, that tension releases, evoking the wood to warp or split. Using a glulam, those strains are basically cancelled out because the particular grain of every layer is smartly placed. It remains straight, which makes your own life a great deal easier when you're trying to levels a beam across three or 4 of them.
Strength that in fact is practical
One particular thing people constantly ask me is definitely if a 6x6 glulam post is actually stronger than the usual solid 1. The short response is yes, but it's not simply about how much weight it may hold before it snaps. It's about "predictability. "
Engineered wooden products are graded for specific challenges. Whenever you buy the glulam post, you know exactly exactly what its load-bearing capacity is. Solid wooden can have hidden knots or internal defects that you can't see from the outside, which might weaken it. With glulam, those knots are either taken out or spread away across different layers, so one poor spot doesn't spoil the entire post.
If you're building something such as a heavy-duty pergola with a louvered roof or a second-story deck, that will extra peace associated with mind is well worth the investment. A person aren't guessing if the wood will be going to keep up; the anatomist team at the manufacturing plant has already completed the math to suit your needs.
Let's discuss the "checking" concern
If you've spent any time around pressure-treated articles, you've seen checking out. It's those deep cracks that open up up because the wooden dries out. While most of the time these aren't structural, they appear terrible. Earning a brand-new project look twenty years aged in just one particular summer.
A 6x6 glulam post is definitely much more steady in this division. Since the wood is kiln-dried before it's glued together, most of the shrinking has already occurred. The moisture articles is consistent throughout the entire item. You might observe some tiny surface cracks over the particular years, but you won't get those large gaps that you may virtually stick a coin into. For anybody who else cares about the completed look of the task, this is generally the largest selling stage.
Coping with the elements
Right now, a common problem is how these things handle the particular rain. Since the 6x6 glulam post is constructed of layers and glue, individuals worry it'll simply delaminate just like a cheap piece of furnishings left out in the rain. Luckily, that's not how modern glulams work.
If you're using them outside, you need in order to make sure you're getting the "exterior rated" or "treated" version. They use specific resins that are waterproof. Some are even pressure-treated after they are glued together, or even these are made through naturally rot-resistant varieties like Alaskan Yellow Cedar.
A fast suggestion from my experience: Usually, always seal the end grain. The bottom of the post is like a lot of tiny straws sucking up water from the floor or the concrete pier. Even though it's a high-quality 6x6 glulam post , use a good sealer and a proper post base that keeps the wood a few inches off the particular concrete. If a person take care involving the "feet" associated with the post, the rest of this will last the lifetime.
Installation: The good plus the bad
Working with a 6x6 glulam post is the bit different than working with standard lumber. For one, they are heavy. I mean, really heavy. Because they are denser compared to standard wood, you'll probably need buddy to help a person set them within place. Looking to muscle tissue one of these types of into a post base solo is the great way to end up at the chiropractor.
Cutting them can be quite simple, though. You don't need any strange tools, simply a great circular saw or even a miter noticed. However, since they are so heavy, I'd recommend making use of a high-quality carbide-tipped blade. A inexpensive, dull blade will just burn the wood and keep you having a smokey mess.
The aesthetic advantage
I believe the best part regarding a 6x6 glulam post is usually how it will take a finish. Because the surface is therefore smooth and uniform, stain goes on attractively. If you're heading for a contemporary, architectural look, a person can leave all of them clear-coated to show away from the laminations. It has this cool, layered look on the sides that actually highlights the workmanship of the build.
However, if you want it to look such as a solid bit of wood, you may buy "architectural grade" glulams. These are sanded down so smoothly that when you put a coat of solid stain or paint with them, you'd never know they were made of layers. They just look like the most perfect, straightest piece of wood ever grown.
Is the price worth it?
I'll become the first to admit that the 6x6 glulam post will probably cost more than the standard 6x6 through the big-box store. Sometimes it's twin the price, or even more depending on the wood species. Yet you have to go through the "total cost" of the project.
Think about it this method: if a cheap post warps and includes your entire railing out of alignment, how much time and money are you going to spend fixing that? If a post splits and the house owner (or your spouse) hates the way it looks, what's the cost of replacing it afterwards?
I've found that regarding high-end decks, front porch entries, or any structure where the posts really are a focal point, the extra bit of money upfront saves therefore much headache within the back end. You're paying for the reality that you won't have to come back in two years to fix a "wonky" post.
A even more sustainable choice?
Surprisingly, selecting a 6x6 glulam post can actually be the greener move. To get a solid 6x6, you will need a tree that is usually old enough plus large enough to yield that heartwood. Those bigger, older trees are more difficult to change.
Glulams are produced from smaller, faster-growing trees from maintained forests. Since you may use smaller parts of wood in order to create a substantial beam or post, there's much less waste. You're generally taking "okay" wooden and making it "amazing" wood through executive. It's a method to obtain high-performance structural people without needing to harvest old-growth timber.
Final ideas on the 6x6 glulam post
At the end of the time, your choice of materials depends on what you're developing. If you're just putting up a fast fence in the particular backyard where nobody's going to see the posts, then yeah, a 6x6 glulam post might be overkill.
But in case you might be building the space where you're going to spend your summer evenings—a place where a person want straight ranges, smooth surfaces, plus a structure that feels solid as a rock—then it's a no-brainer. It's one of all those upgrades that you simply don't really appreciate until you see the finished product standing perfectly plumb and beautiful years right after you built it.
Don't let the "engineered" label scare you off. It's still real wood, this just has the particular benefit of some contemporary science to keep it from acting badly. Next period you're planning the project, price out a few glulams. Your future personal, who won't end up being looking at a turned porch post for the next 10 years, will definitely thanks a lot.