Manufacturing and Use of Structural Lumber Substitutes: Final Report

Abstract

Minnesota does not have the necessary timber resource to provide the quality and quantity of softwood lumber used in building construction in the State. If an appropriate composite lumber substitute (CLS) can be identified and developed using Minnesota species, job creation and decreased use of imported lumber could be realized. This project endeavored to identify potential lumber substitutes and evaluate the economic feasibility of manufacturing various substitutes in Minnesota. Some product development work was initiated. Parallel laminated veneer lumber (PLVL) displayed excellent potential based on an economic evaluation. Some preliminary laboratory studies of this material were established. PLVL was manufactured with aspen and birch used singly or in combination. These boards were tested to establish preliminary strength information. This report includes a detailed economic analysis for the construction of a PLVL plant in Minnesota, with a sensitivity analysis. Less detailed numbers were available for the other CLS options resulting in less detailed analysis, but allowing for some comparisons. This study shows the excellent potential for the development of a CLS plant in Minnesota and work will be continued and expanded in a related project involving a major Minnesota utility company. The planned future experiments will primarily involve the preservative treatment aspects of PLVL.