Alright, let’s talk about this LVL stuff and them solid timber, you know, for buildin’ and such. Folks keep askin’ me, “What’s better? Which one should I use?” Well, hold your horses, it ain’t that simple. It’s like askin’ if a hen or a rooster is better, depends on what you need, right?

Now, this LVL, they call it “Laminated Veneer Lumber.” Sounds fancy, but it’s just wood, glued together real tight-like. They take thin pieces, like them pancakes you make, and stick ’em together. Makes it strong, real strong. They say it’s, like, five times stronger than regular wood. That’s a whole lotta strong, ain’t it?

Solid timber, that’s just wood, you know, straight from the tree. Good ol’ wood, like we used to build everything with. Been around forever, and folks still use it. It’s got that… that… what do you call it… character. Yeah, character. Knots and all, you know?

• Strength: Now, if you want somethin’ that can hold up a whole heap of weight, LVL is your fella. It’s like them bodybuilders, strong as an ox. Good for beams and such, where you need somethin’ that won’t bend or break.
• Looks: If you want pretty, solid timber is where it’s at. Got them knots and grains, looks real nice. For furniture and stuff, where you wanna see the wood, solid timber is the way to go. LVL, well, it looks kinda… plain. Like a wall, you know?
• Price: This here’s where it gets tricky. Sometimes LVL is cheaper, sometimes it ain’t. Depends on where you get it, and how much you need. Solid timber can be pricey, especially if you want the good stuff, the one without too many knots.
• Long-lasting: They say both of ’em last a long time, if you take care of ’em. You gotta keep ’em dry, and away from them bugs that like to eat wood. They say buildin’s should last 50 years, and bridges 100. That’s a long time, longer than I’ll be around, that’s for sure. So, either way, you’re lookin’ at somethin’ that’ll stick around.

So, when do you use which? Well, if you’re buildin’ a house, you might use LVL for the beams, where you need the strength. And for the floors, maybe? Folks use it for bed slats too. They say it’s strong and don’t bend too much. Then, you might use solid timber for the doors and windows, where you want it to look nice. Or for furniture, like tables and chairs. You gotta think about what you need. Strong? Pretty? Cheap?

It ain’t just about the wood, it’s about how you use it too. You gotta design it right. That’s what them smart fellas do, the engineers. They figure out how much weight it needs to hold, and how to make it strong enough. They make sure the whole thing don’t come crumblin’ down on your head.

Think about them beds, for example. You got them fellas that like the solid timber slats, says it feels more natural, more real. Then you got them that go for the LVL ones, says they’re stronger and last longer. Me? I just sleep on whatever’s there, long as it don’t break.

And then there’s them bridges. Now, you don’t want no bridge fallin’ down on you, do you? So, they use strong stuff, either LVL or real good solid timber, or maybe even both. They make sure it’s strong enough to hold all them cars and trucks, and they make sure it’ll last a long, long time.

So, there you have it. LVL and solid timber, both good, just depends on what you need ’em for. It ain’t a one-size-fits-all kinda thing. You gotta use your head and figure out what’s best for you. Just like pickin’ between a hoe and a shovel, right? Both dig holes, but you use ’em different.

And remember, talk to someone who knows what they’re doin’. Don’t go buildin’ somethin’ big without gettin’ some advice. You don’t want your house fallin’ down, do ya?

Anyways, that’s just my two cents. Take it or leave it. I’m just an old woman, what do I know?