The Pros and Cons of Different Beam Types: A Comprehensive Comparison
I've installed all of these. I have opinions. Here's the real comparison — not the one that's designed to make every option sound equally perfect, but the one that tells you which situation calls for which beam.
Steel W-Beams (Wide Flange)
Best for: Longer spans, higher loads, situations where you want to bury the beam in the ceiling and forget about it.
Pros: Strongest per inch of depth. Dimensionally stable — no shrinkage, no creep, no warping. Available in a huge range of sizes. Fast to install. Holds connections well. Our W12x30 handles most single-story residential spans in one shot.
Cons: Heavy — a W12x30 at 20 feet is 600 pounds of steel. Requires equipment to move in many cases. Doesn't look like wood (obviously), so if you're exposing it for aesthetics you're working with an industrial look. Higher embodied carbon in manufacturing. Requires hot-dip galvanizing or paint to resist rust in exposed or wet environments.
Cost: Generally most economical on a structural performance per dollar basis for longer spans.
LVL (Laminated Veneer Lumber)
Best for: Moderate spans (up to 14–16 feet typical residential), when you want the beam buried or when a wood look is preferred.
Pros: Lighter than steel (easier to handle on site without equipment). Looks like wood. Good sustainability profile. Doesn't corrode. Dimensionally stable (more so than solid lumber). Can be ripped to custom depths. Takes fasteners well.
Cons: Lower structural capacity than steel for the same depth — you need more depth or multiple plies to match steel performance on longer spans. Susceptible to moisture if not protected (not ideal for exposed outdoor applications). Can swell if wet during construction — protect it on the job site.
Cost: Competitive with steel for shorter spans. Can get expensive in multi-ply configurations for larger loads.
Glulam (Glued Laminated Timber)
Best for: Exposed beam applications where appearance matters. Long spans in commercial applications. Projects where the beam IS the design feature.
Pros: Beautiful. Seriously — a finished glulam beam is a design statement. Available in very large sections. Good strength-to-weight ratio. Can be curved (cambered beams look incredible). From certified forests, excellent sustainability story.
Cons: Most expensive of the three options per linear foot. Lead times can be longer (manufactured to order for large sections). Heavier than LVL. Surface quality matters — a glulam that gets wet during construction can be discolored or damaged before you install it.
Cost: Premium. Worth it when the application justifies it.
PSL (Parallel Strand Lumber)
Best for: Posts and columns more than beams, though used as beams too. Dense, heavy, very strong.
Pros: Extremely strong and stiff. Good appearance for exposed applications. Consistent material properties.
Cons: Very heavy — denser than LVL. Expensive. Less common than LVL, so sourcing can be a factor. Not as visually distinctive as glulam for exposed beam applications.
The Bottom Line
For most residential load bearing wall removals: steel W-beam or LVL depending on span and preference. For exposed beam aesthetics: glulam if budget allows, LVL if not. For two-story or commercial: usually steel, sized by our PE. Never guess on beam selection — let the engineering drive it.
DFW: 214.624.5200 | Houston: 713.322.3908 | Austin: 512.641.9555. We'll help you pick the right beam for your specific project.