Why Glu-Lam-Logs?
Laminated Logs The Way They Were Meant To Be

The Original Laminated Log

We’ve come a long way since our first experimental laminated log was built in co-owner Bob Smith’s back yard in 1984.

As far as we know, Glu-Lam-Log was the first to market laminated logs on a national basis. Since we shipped our first laminated log in 1984, homes numbering into the thousands have been built with them. The one overriding thing we’ve learned in the process is that it takes just the right blend of art and technology to build logs that look like Nature’s Own while retaining the attributes of engineered timbers.

The Hand Crafted Approach

We’ve found that doing the best possible job requires a combination of instrumentation and the human touch. On the one hand we must adhere to exacting laminated beam specifications; On the other hand we’re determined to avoid producing logs that look manufactured. That’s why we custom craft logs to order, rather than pulling stock from aging inventory. It’s why every stick of wood that goes into our logs is individually graded and why we hand pick only the most aesthetically pleasing material for the visible interior and exterior surfaces of our logs.

	Assuring that logs stack properly at the job site starts in our plant, where our laminated logs are milled to exacting tolerances. You can count on our laminated log staying stable and true.

Superior Milling

At Glu-Lam-Log, we measure our performance by how good our logs look and how precisely they are milled rather than by how many feet per hour we can pump through the milling equipment. We only use carbide knives, multiple winged cutters, and we feed wood through our milling equipment very slowly. Since the focus is on quality, not on breaking speed records, we don’t hesitate to turn off equipment to resharpen knives as they dull or get knicked. As a result we get cleaner cuts and more cuts per inch. That translates into precision milling and consistency you can count on.

We precision mill lam stock on our own premises. Each stick is inspected to assure that it meets third party grade requirements and our own rigid internal appearance standards.

Careful Trimming

More than one person has told us that our cut-offs are better than what some other manufacturers sell. In fact, we work under the assumption that visibly defective material should never make it out of our yard. So, we’re ruthless trimmers. We sell all of our logs in random lengths after removing any sign of visibly defective material.

Honest Dimensions

Our most popular laminated logs are the true dimensional equivalent of 6x8 and 8x8 traditional milled logs, which means they stack approximately 7 1/2” tall. Other manufacturers of laminated logs represent their logs as having a nominal 8” stack height, but your tape measure will usually confirm that the stack height is only 6”. That means you need fifteen courses of logs to stack an eight foot tall wall instead of the thirteen courses you’d need with Glu-Lam-Logs, which translates into more linear feet of logs and more time to stack them.

	Careful record keeping is a critical part of our process. Constantly comparing current performance against historical norms is one more way to monitor quality.

No Finger Joints

We’ve made a conscious decision to only use continuous lengths of quality wood in our logs. Finger joints that abruptly change grain in the middle of a log are unsightly and unnatural looking.

People Who Care

Ultimately, it all boils down to people. We measure ourselves by customer satisfaction, not by how much product we pump through the system. At Glu-Lam-Log, every single person, from the owners to shop workers treat every stick of wood as if it was going to be used in our own homes.