Structural

LVL (Laminated Veneer Lumber)

Structural · definition

A strong engineered beam of glued wood veneers used for headers and beams where solid lumber can't span. Common when opening up a floor plan.

Source: APA — Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL)

Where this comes up

  • Beam

    A primary horizontal member that carries loads from joists or framing across a span to posts or walls. Opening up a floor plan usually me…

  • Floor Plan

    A scaled overhead view of a level showing walls, rooms, openings, and fixture locations. The primary drawing for understanding layout and…

  • Header

    A horizontal structural member spanning the top of an opening (door, window, cased opening) that transfers the load above around the open…

  • Span

    The clear distance a member bridges between supports. Span tables (or an engineer) set the size and spacing required for a given load.

  • Veneer

    A thin layer of a finish material bonded to a cheaper substrate — wood veneer on cabinet panels, stone or brick veneer on walls — deliver…

  • Moment Frame

    A rigid steel or engineered frame that resists lateral load without bracing — used to keep a wide opening (e.g., a removed wall or garage…

  • Load Path

    The continuous route loads follow from roof to footing. Any remodel that interrupts the path (removing a wall/post) needs an engineered r…

  • Parging

    A thin cement coat troweled over a foundation or block wall for a finished, more weather-resistant surface.

Where this term fits in a remodel

The pillar guides set terms like this one in context — what the work involves, what drives its cost, and where it sits in the sequence of a project. Pricing a specific house takes a defined scope and an on-site assessment.

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