Re: are 4 boards creating a post as strong as a 4x4?

Arthur Shapiro <art.shapiro@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
In article <4sbpc3138eh6h47d7vuso17be7jv6hv8s7@xxxxxxx>, KLS <xymergy@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
I'm having a debate with a relative about whether the posts on my 1930
house, constructed with 4 boards, are unsafe

I cannot cite the source, but I'm under the impression that laminated beams
are stronger than one-piece beams of the same dimensionality. Surely this
would be the same for posts.

I was about to bring up that very same point. However, laminated beams are
glued together under controlled conditions. We do not know how these four
boards are attached to each other. Nails, screws, glue, nothing? We also
don't know the type of wood, plain/flat/quarter sawn, for either the boards
or the proposed 4X4. Since this is a "post" I am assuming compression load
on the ends, so it may not make much difference since I think the advantages
of laminated lumber is seen in beams with loading across a long face.

My guess is that wood species and condition will be the determining factor.

Bill Ranck
Blacksburg, Va.
.