Construction and Materials
BlueLinx offers a comprehensive range of lumber and engineered wood products designed for framing and flooring applications. Their product catalog includes Oriented Strand Board (OSB), Plywood, Engineered Wood Rimboard, Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL), and I-Joists.
Oriented Strand Board (OSB)
OSB is a versatile engineered wood panel manufactured from cross-oriented wood strands, flakes, or wafers compressed and bonded with adhesives under heat and pressure. The strands are oriented in specific directions to enhance the panel's strength and stiffness. This construction provides superior structural performance, making it ideal for subflooring, wall sheathing, and roof decking. Key benefits include its consistent quality, dimensional stability, and resistance to warping and splitting.
Plywood
Plywood is a wood panel product consisting of thin layers or "plies" of wood veneer that are glued together with adjacent layers having their wood grain rotated up to 90 degrees to one another. This cross-graining construction provides superior strength, stiffness, and dimensional stability compared to solid lumber of the same thickness. Plywood is commonly used in various construction applications, including subflooring, wall sheathing, roof decking, and concrete formwork.
Engineered Wood Rimboard
Engineered Wood Rimboard is a structural component typically used around the perimeter of floor joists. It provides edge support for joists, ties them together, and helps distribute loads across the floor system. Manufactured from engineered wood materials, it offers enhanced strength, consistency, and stability compared to traditional solid lumber rim boards. This product contributes to the overall integrity and performance of the floor structure.
Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL)
Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) is an engineered wood product that uses multiple layers of thin wood veneer glued together with durable adhesives. The wood grain in all veneers runs parallel to the length of the piece. This consistent, high-strength structural lumber is used for beams, headers, and other load-bearing applications where superior strength and stability are required. LVL offers a predictable performance and is often used as a substitute for solid lumber in demanding structural roles.
I-Joists
I-Joists are engineered wood structural members used as an alternative to traditional solid lumber joists. They are characterized by their "I" shape, consisting of a solid wood or engineered lumber flange at the top and bottom, connected by a vertical web made of OSB or plywood. This design provides exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, allowing for longer spans and greater design flexibility. I-Joists are known for their consistency, stability, and reduced tendency to warp, twist, or shrink, making them a popular choice for floor and roof framing.