Glulam and cross-laminated timber (CLT) offer two complementary ways to build a feature stair.
Glulam layers timber with the grain running parallel, producing long, strong members. Its strength-to-weight ratio allows long unsupported spans, which makes it the natural choice for stringers: sweeping curves or long straight runs with few posts.
CLT stacks layers at right angles and bonds them under pressure, giving load capacity in both directions. That suits solid, monolithic treads, risers, and landings. Cutting stair components off-site means faster installation, less on-site labor, and less noise in a house that may already be occupied.
Both carry the qualities that make mass timber worth choosing: predictable fire performance, warmth, and a lower carbon footprint than concrete or steel.
That completes the shell. The last two series look at the buildings themselves, starting with the small ones.
Adapted with permission from a note by our colleagues at Red Falls Timber Co.
