Engineered Wood:

Steel Beams

Engineered Wood Design

The advantage of steel beams over any wood beam product is that steel can span further, with more load and with less depth.

Generally, the driving factor in the use of steel beams is the reduced depth when compared to wood. A wood beam that is 25' long might require a depth of 18” or more. When used in a floor or roof system this often results in the unsatisfactory loss of head room. A steel beam might be as shallow as 10".

The disadvantage with steel is that it's heavier and thus harder to handle. Its length is very hard to change in the field, it difficult to fasten wood products to it and most contractors aren't equipped to deal with steel.

We can calculate the size of steel beams and steel columns needed, based on the load they carry. Our ability to do that has generally taken several days out of the process.

We can also supply the beam, including delivery to the job site.