Glulam Beam - Checking Problem

[Pettrix]

I had some glulam beams installed on my new house build. I am in Arizona so it was hot & dry and the beams were installed in less than 1 week after being delivered. The roof was put on and now I am noticing some checking in that glulam beam. I was told that checking is normal, especially in a hot climate but I feel uneasy about it so I contacted the glulam manufacturer and they are looking into it.

Can a glulam beam be fixed on site/installed? I've seen some online photos of them using epoxy and lag bolts to shore up the beam.
On mine, it's the bottom board that has checking in it. I know that board is under tension since it is the bottom board.

Any help would be appreciated...

 

[Pettrix]

1. Most of the checking is 1/8" but there is one spot that it split to almost 1/4"
2. The longest length of checking on the 31' long beam is 17' at the bottom board and it stops just were the finger joints meet on the bottom glulam. The remaining 14' length of that beam appear to be okay for now.
3. I used a feeler gauge to see how far it would enter the 6.50 wide beam. So on the one glulam, the checking was present on BOTH SIDES of the bottom board and so I was able to put the feeler gauge in about 2.00" on one side and then immediately on the other side, I was able to put the feeler gauge in about 1.50. So a total of 3.50" on that 6.50 wide board in that one spot.

 

[Pettrix]

 

[mrmikey]

I definitely would be concerned. Without each individual board being glued together, it'd be the same as having separate boards stacked on top one another. Least ways that's my unprofessional thoughts. Hopefully someone more professional will come by.

 

[oosik]

I have the same concerns as mrmikey.

Keep us posted on what you find out.

 

[Mike sandor]

i wouldn’t let it go. That beam should not have left the manufacturing plant. By your picture, it appears you have separation in more than a few joints. I would contact the material supplier. Your building inspector will have comments. Removal looks to be a real *****. Possibly add plate steel on each side and bolt thru. A structural eng. would confirm.
Interested in the outcome.

 

[scootr]

AZ weather can be dryer than the kiln the wood was cured in. Most likely the wood did not have the cracks shown when it left the plant.
In hindsight. They could all have been sealed upon arrival before installation.
I doubt the checking will cause failure. Some kind of epoxy fill and sealing can still be done on 3 out 4 sides.

 

[Rustyiron]

What's the load on this beam?
I wouldn't be to alarmed at all and the bottom 2 ply's could easily be *lagged up into the rest of the stack so it all works together if it helps you sleep.
Have you bothered to string line this to observe any deflection?
Chances are that this "crack" is not more than an inch- inch and a half deep.
* modern GRK or Simpson structural screws. Available to 12"+.

 

[groundcover]

I second the opinion to check in with building inspector. A structural engineer could offer thoughts as well. Better to check before you modify anything, then you'll own the issues.

 

[workinonit]

He showed what the depth was. It's way more than an inch and on both sides. In my world that called a split. It's almost all the way through.