Features & Benefits

Lead times for Prolam engineered timber products vary depending on the product type and current manufacturing schedules.

For the most up-to-date information, refer to the lead times page on the Prolam website.
For urgent orders, contact the Prolam team directly. 

PL8 glulam is manufactured from SG8 timber, while PL12 glulam is manufactured from SG12 timber, giving it higher structural strength and stiffness.

As a result, PL12 engineered timber beams can achieve longer spans and carry greater loads than PL8. For the same span and loading conditions, a PL12 beam can often be specified in a smaller section, making it a good choice where space is limited or exposed timber aesthetics are important.

Yes. Prolam’s streamlined process from design to manufacture and supply makes integrating Exposed Trusses into residential and commercial building designs simple, fast and cost-effective. Our exposed truss design service gives architects, engineers and builders access to Prolam's expertise in designing robust and compliant structural timber elements. 

Available for Custom Designs requiring Specific Engineering Design as well as Standard Designs, and delivered by Prolam’s in-house structural engineers, it’s a complete solution.

Simply submit a Exposed Truss Design Request via the Prolam Specifier, provide a copy of your building plan, confirm dimensions and finishes, and Prolam’s engineers produce the detailed drawings and documentation for building consent. 

Once approved, the Exposed Truss beams, plates, and bolts are manufactured and delivered as a kit and supplied to your preferred timber merchant – ready for onsite assembly and installation.

The information we need to support exposed truss or portal design through our structural timber design service includes your plans, elevations, dimensions, spans, support conditions, loading information, and details of any exposed timber requirements.

Yes. Prolam engineered timber posts and beams can be manufactured to custom sizes or lengths.
For manufacturing efficiency, custom orders are typically available for quantities of five or more.

Please contact the Prolam team to check if we can do your requested dimensions. 

Prolam engineered glulam timber beams and trusses are suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications. Indoors, exposed timber beams and trusses add warmth and visual appeal. Outdoors, H3.2 treated glulam is designed for durability in exposed conditions and is well suited to pergolas, façades, and alfresco areas.

Check out our Projects page for examples of where Prolam has been used both indoors and outdoors.

The main difference between visual and non-visual grade glulam timber is the appearance finish.

Visual grade glulam timber is intended for exposed applications where the look of the timber matters and a paint or stain finish is required. Non-visual grade glulam timber is stress graded for structural use but not selected for appearance, making it best suited to concealed structural applications. 

Prolam visual grade glulam timber products are manufactured using timber selected to achieve higher-quality visual finish, then finger-jointed and laminated into glulam. It is designed for exposed timber applications where timber appearance is important, such as visible beams, rafters and trusses for interior and exterior architectural structural features. Visual grade glulam provides a high-quality machined finish suitable for painting, oiling or staining. 

Prolam non-visual grade glulam timber is graded for structural performance but is not selected or finished for appearance. It may include natural timber and manufacturing features such as knots, wane, pith, open knot holes, machining marks or unrepaired blemishes. For this reason, non-visual glulam is best suited to concealed structural applications where the timber will not be seen. 

Learn more about our finishes here.

Prolam visual-grade glulam products are available in four finishes: machined uncoated finish, pre-primed finish, sanded and sealed finish and bandsawn finish.

Learn more about our finishes here. 

Any Prolam glulam product that is exposed to the weather at any time should be coated (even if it is inside the building envelope) to prevent timber from absorbing moisture. Prolam glulam products should be kept dry with wrapping and/or cover before installed, and sealed before and during installation.

Refer to the Prolam coating requirements for further details. 

Yes, it is important to coat Prolam exposed timber before installation to prevent moisture ingress and preserve aesthetics and durability. This also applies to any cut ends or joins.

Prolam glulam can be stained using an oil or painted using an enamel paint. These products must have an LRV rating over 45%.

You can view our coating requirements and recommendations here.

Yes. Prolam glue laminated timber can be painted or stained to match the aesthetic. In fact, any exposed timber must be painted or stained with an oil based coating to preserve aesthetics and durability. This is optional for Prolam glulam timber used in internal applications.

View coating requirements here.

Prolam glulam beams and posts should not be painted with colours below a 45% LRV rating, as darker coatings can increase the risk of cracking or distortion in structural timber.

Refer to page 3 of the Prolam Coating Requirements for further information.

To maintain Prolam glulam posts, beams, and other exposed structural timber products, refer to the Prolam Coating Guidelines for full instructions on preparation, application, and recoating intervals. For additional guidance, refer to the manufacturer's coating instructions on the product packaging. 

It is important to only use fixings for Prolam glulam timber that have been specified by the engineer's specification or PS1. Ensure galvanised or stainless options are selected depending on indoor/outdoor use and timber treatment. Don't fasten too close to edges or ends.

Common suppliers we recommend are MiTek, Pryda, Simpson Strong-Tie or SPAX.

View our fixing details here.

For MCA H3.2–H5 treated glulam timber, Prolam recommends a minimum of 304 stainless steel fasteners, nails, and screws for all exterior or exposed structural timber applications. This is because MCA treatment can accelerate corrosion in standard steel fixings, and stainless steel provides the durability needed to maintain structural integrity over the long term.

Learn more about fixing to MCA treated timber here. 

Apart from our glulam exposed truss, pergola and PLX bracing solutions which include fixings and connections, Prolam does not sell fixings. However, you can find our fixing recommendations for use with our products here.

You can purchase these at your local trade store, e.g. PlaceMakers, Carters, Mitre 10, ITM, Bunnings, BuildLink etc.

Yes, you can drill or notch a Prolam glue laminated beam but only if it has been specifically detailed by the engineer or using the Prolam Specifier. Unapproved holes and notches can void compliance and compromise structural performance of engineered timber.

Ensure holes are small and drilled in the middle third of the span, centred vertically and never at the beam ends or where supports or fixings are required

View our design and install guide here.

Yes, Prolam can design exposed timber trusses to support a glulam ridge beam where required.

Simply let us know when submitting your design request so this can be incorporated into the structural design.

No. While many standard structural timber designs can be completed using the Prolam Specifier, Prolam can also assist with projects that require more specific engineering input.

When a project falls outside standard calculations, or you require a specific engineering design (SED), you can access Prolam’s Design Service. This provides engineering support for custom glulam solutions, exposed timber applications, large openings, bracing requirements, complex spans and other project-specific structural timber design needs.

Our in-house engineering team can help review the requirements and provide practical guidance to support the right Prolam timber solution for your project.