The roof of part of my house is supported by three long glulam beams, approximately 300x700 mm, 12 meters long, roughly measured by eye from the ground, 4-6 meters down. Now I'm considering putting up some lights on them.
Then an acquaintance chimes in and worries that you might cause cracks and weaken the beams if you screw into them. Sure, I've seen wood crack when you screw into it, but those are longitudinal cracks that shouldn't matter in this context (especially when the beams are of these dimensions).
Is there anything to what he's saying, or is it just fine to hang up the lights?
Then an acquaintance chimes in and worries that you might cause cracks and weaken the beams if you screw into them. Sure, I've seen wood crack when you screw into it, but those are longitudinal cracks that shouldn't matter in this context (especially when the beams are of these dimensions).
Is there anything to what he's saying, or is it just fine to hang up the lights?
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· Västerbottens län
· 18 058 posts
If it's wood screws you're driving with a screwdriver, I wouldn't worry.
If you're using 12 mm French screws, you should pre-drill, but you probably don't have lamps that heavy.
Protte
If you're using 12 mm French screws, you should pre-drill, but you probably don't have lamps that heavy.
Protte
Hang them up! As long as you're not using any massive screws/bolts, there's absolutely nothing to worry about. When designing with wood, a factor for drying cracks is considered, so unless you're planning to hang an extremely heavy crystal chandelier, I see no reason to worry.