An exciting new advancement in building panels is underfoot, care of the University of Arkansas’ research department. With a recent $100,000 grant, the team has begun experiments with a new cross-laminated type of timber to see how well it repels water and moisture.
While cross-laminated panels aren’t new exactly, having been integrated into the International Building Code (IBC) in 2015, there has been some confusion in the industry as to the exact benefits or drawbacks of the material since its inception.
In that regard, the University of Arkansas study is useful because it will create objective, third party assessments to address these questions.
Some of these questions, however, already have answers.
You don’t need a specialized crew to install cross-laminated timber.
Essentially, CLT is just wood. It’s another form of glue laminated timber (BDC Network).
Any construction crew that is familiar with conventional wood installations can work with CLT panels in a straightforward way.
CLT also features reduced installation costs — sometimes as much as 50% less than other plate materials. This can also mean faster completion times, which is useful for staying ahead of deadlines.
