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Adhesives

This section describes the use of fixing timber using timber adhesives or glues.

An adhesive is a compound that bonds two items together. Many modern adhesives are extremely strong, and are increasingly being used in the construction of timber structures.

Adhesives are used in the timber industry for the factory production of glue-laminated timber (glulam), laminated veneer lumber (LVL), plywood, finger jointed timber and composite timber I beams.

They are also used to bond wood onto a variety of panel products such as particleboard, plywood and fibreboard.

Adhesives are also used for non-structural applications such as furniture, doors and fixing veneers.

Adhesives may come from either natural or synthetic sources. Traditionally adhesives were from animal sources (blood, casein) and vegetable sources (starch, soyabeans).

Although these glues were useful they were susceptible to high humidity. Synthetic resins were developed to be more structurally reliable and durable and are the most commonly used adhesive for timber.

 

Automated LVL manufacture showing veneers being coated with adhesives.

Source: Courtesy Timber Design Guide, 2007

 

Availability

There  are a wide range of different adhesives available from competing companies.

Typically they are available from Building Supply companies or direct from the manufacturer for large quanities of specialist adhesives.

Key points

  • adhesives or glues bond items together
  • used for glulam, LVL, plywood, finger joints, I beams and fixing panel products
  • natural adhesives are susceptible to moisture so synthetic adhesives are more commonly used now.