Undoubtedly you’ve seen many articles talking about mass timber, but you may not be very familiar with what products are included and some of their applications. In speaking with some light-frame component manufacturers over recent years, I have heard many of them mention that they are, or have considered, pursuing entry into the mass timber market, or that they have been approached to provide mass timber components to their existing clients.
First, it might be worthwhile to discuss what products are included within the mass timber world:
- Glulam, the granddaddy of mass timber products, has been in widespread use for approximately 100 years. Glulam beams and columns are made by stacking and gluing laminations of 2x_ lumber to produce member sections up to 7’ deep, and in excess of 130’ long. They have been commonly used in concealed, purely structural applications as well as more frequently exposed to show off the beauty of the wood. Exposed uses continue to be one of the most attractive (no pun intended) reasons for the use of all mass timber products, but there are compelling reasons for using mass timber as a purely structural product.
- Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) is relatively new, first being used in Europe in the early 1990s, and in North America in the early 2000s. CLT is made by stacking layers of lumber, generally 2x4, in alternating directions to create panels from 4 ½” to 12” thick, with widths of around 10’ and lengths up to 50’ or more. These panels can be used for walls, floors, or roofs. It might be easiest to think of them as being the wood version of tilt-up concrete or core slab.
- Nail Laminated Timber (NLT) and Dowel Laminated Timber (DLT) are similar products made up of dimensional lumber stacked side by side on edge and fastened with either nails or hardwood dowels. Either can be used for walls or roofs.
At first glance, producing mass timber might seem like a natural and attractive extension to a component manufacturers business:
- It is still wood, right? Just generally larger pieces going to site.
- Individual projects can often be well into the 8-figure range for supply and install contracts.
- The mass timber industry is poised for tremendous growth with many sources suggesting growth to well more than $3BN in North America by 2030, triple the current market of approximately $1BN.
- Projects either recently completed or on the books range from 250,000+ square foot office spaces to 20+ story residential buildings.
So, why wouldn’t you want to jump into what looks to be a lucrative, growing market?
Cost of entry is likely the biggest reason. Producing glulam and CLT requires specialized and incredibly expensive equipment. Picture the size of press required to produce a CLT panel 10’ wide and 50’ long. Think about the computerized milling equipment required to shape the raw blanks into ready-to-install panels with 1/16” tolerances, complete with precision cuts, slots, predrilled holes for connections, etc. And then think about the size of the building required to house this equipment. Then you are going to need the ability to sand and finish those panels, especially for exposed applications.
Do you think that fancy inline saw you’ve been considering buying has a hefty price tag? Or maybe you’ve been thinking about a new truss table with automated pucks to speed up your fabrication. Add the cost of the two of those together and multiply that by twenty or more and you might be in the ballpark of getting a modest mass timber operation underway.
The other significant consideration is the need for specialized designers. All that fancy equipment needed to precision machine your mass timber is driven by 3D CAD models. Think about the level of sophistication that would be required if you had to detail where every nail was going to be placed in a house and you will have some idea of the level of detail required.
It may be that the mass timber business is right for your company, but never think that it could be an extension to your existing light-frame wood business. I believe that mass timber is an exciting product, with great environmental benefits, and I’m excited to watch as it continues to evolve. But remember, it is a world of its own, and must be thought of as such.
Do you agree? Please share your thoughts with me by contacting me at secord@thejobline.com.