About Mass Framing – Woodpecker

Mass Timber construction uses large prefabricated structural wood members for wall, floor and roof construction. This construction technique allows the structural components to be revealed, exposing the beauty of the material. Some of these products include glue-laminated timber (glulam), cross-laminated timber (CLT), dowel-laminated timber (DLT), and nail-laminated lumber (NLT). Mass Timber is on its way to becoming one of the most desired building products. This is because of its sustainable character (carbon neutral and even carbon positive), its quick and efficient on site installation time and last but not least its aesthetic and unique appearance; which can be beautifully combined with other building products such as steel, concrete and more.

We are a design manufacturer of all types of Mass Timber structures and products.
Mass Timber offers high-performance and dimensionally stable options for constructing any structure out of wood, whether large or small, residential, commercial or institutional. Mass Timber offers incredible design versatility for architects, engineers and interior designers.
Mass Timber developments are also bringing mid-rise wood buildings to a new level of affordability, construction efficiency, maintenance, durability and quality, transforming our understanding of what is achievable with wood construction.

Wood also plays a key role in reducing a project’s environmental footprint. Wood products have less embodied energy, are responsible for lower air and water pollution, and have a significantly lighter carbon footprint than other commonly used building materials.

Other benefits include:

Mass Timber is fast and easy to install
Very high seismic strength
Lightweight
Superior fire resistance
Superior acoustic performance
Superior thermal performance
Limitless design options, unlike conventional construction
Improved indoor air quality
Generates almost no waste onsite
Precision construction
More efficient building envelope
Highly sustainable construction method
Reduces Carbon Footprint compared to concrete or steel (Up to 99%)

Below are a variety of Mass Timber Products that WoodPecker commonly uses.
Everyone has their own product and application preferences, which we’ll gladly discuss with you to help find the best solution for your project. That solution might also include a combination of different products and applications too.

Engineered wood products such as Glulam are extremely strong and have become a viable option in Commercial and Industrial construction. Glulam (glued-laminated timber) is a structural wood product consisting of multiple layers of dimensional lumber that are bonded together using waterproof, non-toxic, clear adhesives. Glulam is commonly used as beams or posts and can span large distances and therefore eliminate the use of steel. They can be curved to create unique structures.

They have a naturally higher fire rating than steel which allows them to remain exposed in commercial, industrial and residential applications.
As Timber Framers we understand the importance of how these products are handled and installed. Each connection is pre-fabricated in our shop with precision and care. We understand the need for an exact fit, using traditional methods like Mortise and Tenons as well as engineered special connectors.

CLT
Similar to Gulam, CLT (Cross Laminated Timber) consists of several layers of dimensional lumber. These layers are oriented crosswise, in a 90 degree angle to each other, just like they are in a sheet of Plywood. This gives the product incredible strength, dimensional stability and allows for spanning in multiple directions. The sheets are available up to 10’ wide and over 50’ long. They’re pre-cut, drilled, milled and finished in our shop to dramatically speed up the time spent on-site. CLT is most often used for walls, floors, ceilings and roof structures.

DLT
Dowel Laminated Timber is built similarly to NLT. The laminations are held together with friction fit dowels instead of nails. DLT does not use any glues and is therefore the right product for customers that want to avoid any sort of chemicals in their project. DLT has no nails and therefore is easy to cut on our CNC machine. DLT is typically applied flat as a ceiling, floor or roof structure.

Nail Laminated Timber consists of dimensional lumber, usually 2×4 or 2×6, that is vertically oriented (“on edge”), nailed together in a certain pattern. NLT panels are often designed in smaller sizes so they are easy to man-handle. The advantage is that we can laminate those panels in our own shop, keeping lead times down. Just like DLT, NLT is typically applied flat as a ceiling, floor or roof structure.

Mass Timber is used in all sizes and scales of commercial buildings as well as multi-family complexes and large industrial buildings. Glulam beams are now being used to create vast spans in the largest coliseums, atrium styles vaults and curvy, wavy structures. CLT, NLT and DLT are used for shear walls, partition walls, floors, ceilings and roofs.

Mass Timber is becoming more commonly seen in residential construction as well. WoodPecker has completed all types of Mass Timber projects, where we control all aspects of the design, engineering, manufacturing and installation. We understand the capabilities of engineered wood components through our experience with solid timber structures, in addition to having worked for many decades with Mass Timber in both Canada and overseas.

Unlike steel buildings, the Mass Timber structure is not hidden. Often the design will be shown because it is aesthetically pleasing. The product has a naturally higher fire rating than does steel, which allows it to remain exposed in commercial, industrial and residential applications.
As Timber Framers we understand the importance of how these products are handled and installed. Each connection is made with precision and care. We understand the need for an exact fit, using traditional methods like Mortise and Tenons as well as contemporary special connectors.

WHY MASS TIMBER: