Laminated posts questions and concerns

[lakeroadster]

.... I really hope there is at least glue in there. I am pretty sure, and this is judging by the level of carpentry here, that there is also no glue.

Also, notice the first picture. See how the middle board doesn't have nails going through it at the bottom edge (maybe from the other side, but I have a feeling they built them out right to left). So that right board is technically holding the middle board, and the left board above gaps.

Doesn't have to have glue, nails don't have to go all the way through...

As linked to previously: http://www.stepbystep.com/Nailing-Together-a-Built-Up-Lumber-Column-122827/

The National Design Specification for Wood Construction (NDS), Section 15.3.3,provides the prescription for nailing the pieces together. This prescription (set of rules) is summarized below.

1. Adjacent nails are to be driven from opposite sides.

2. All nails must penetrate all the pieces (plies, or laminations) and at least three-fourths into the outermost lamination.

3. The top and bottom (end) nails must be between 15 and 18 nail diameters from the top and bottom.

4. Nails in a row must be spaced not closer than 20 nail diameters apart and not farther than six times the thickness of the thinnest of the plies.

5. Rows of nails must be spaced between 10 and 20 diameters apart.

6. Nails must be located between 5 and 20 diameters from the edges of the column.

7. Two more rows must be provided where the wide face dimension of the `lams’ exceeds three times the thickness of the thinnest piece.

 

[finn]

Doesn't have to have glue, nails don't have to go all the way through...

As linked to previously: http://www.stepbystep.com/Nailing-Together-a-Built-Up-Lumber-Column-122827/

The National Design Specification for Wood Construction (NDS), Section 15.3.3,provides the prescription for nailing the pieces together. This prescription (set of rules) is summarized below.

1. Adjacent nails are to be driven from opposite sides.

2. All nails must penetrate all the pieces (plies, or laminations) and at least three-fourths into the outermost lamination.

3. The top and bottom (end) nails must be between 15 and 18 nail diameters from the top and bottom.

4. Nails in a row must be spaced not closer than 20 nail diameters apart and not farther than six times the thickness of the thinnest of the plies.

5. Rows of nails must be spaced between 10 and 20 diameters apart.

6. Nails must be located between 5 and 20 diameters from the edges of the column.

7. Two more rows must be provided where the wide face dimension of the `lams’ exceeds three times the thickness of the thinnest piece.

Good post.

Maybe this will calm down the alarmists among us

 

[slickgt1]

I have to say I never knew it could be so "flimsy". I have clearly overbuilt all this time.

 

[rburke65]

finn....how am I confused? That's exactly what I said.....they are laminated....... Never said they were glu Lams.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I don't care what you call them but there shouldn't be gaps between the ends. Looking at that first picture, the gap appears to be just as big as the head of the nail.


OP, did you talk to your builder today ?

 

[chaosracing]

That is not a laminated pole. Around me they primarily use laminated poles. Laminated poles are never site built, they are all factory built using the same specs and procedures as glu lam beams. You will never find a space between boards.

I have NEVER seen onsite built posts, ever. For what someone would spend on lumber and time to build one, its way cheaper to buy posts. Even the crappiest pole building contractor around here uses factory built laminated poles.

Fire him now because I would question his integrity on the rest of the build even if you had him swap those out.