- Q.Can I use laminated veneer
lumber for stair carriage material? Since it
doesn’t shrink, it seems it would solve many
of the problems associated with the shrinkage of sawn
lumber stringers.
A.Curtis Eck,
P.E., responds: LVL should work fine for stair
carriages in most cases, but you should check with
the manufacturer before cutting. Because LVL is
intended primarily for use as a beam, manufacturers
often warn against notching. Otherwise, it has not
only the advantage you mention, but also superior
strength. And because LVL is available in wider
sizes than dimensional lumber, it may be useful, if
sized correctly, for longer stair spans than sawn
stringers can safely handle.
The engineered lumber manufacturer can help you
select the best product for a stair application.
For example, in addition to Microllam LVL, my
company, Trus Joist MacMillan, also makes
Timberstrand LSL (laminated strand lumber). LSL is
less expensive than LVL, is easy to cut, and has
great resistance to nail splitting. To assist
builders, Trus Joist MacMillan has just introduced
a stringer sizing chart that specifies minimum
throat depths and allowable stair spans for
Timberstrand stringers. For a copy, call
800/628-3997.
Curtis Eck is a Seattle-based
technical representative for Trus Joist
MacMillan.