For B2B timber dealers, recommending the correct glulam wall thickness is one of the most consequential decisions in any project. Too thin and the structure underperforms thermally. Too thick and the customer overpays for performance they do not need. The right specification matches the building’s intended use, the local climate, and the regulatory environment of the target market.
Eurodita manufactures five distinct glulam profiles, each engineered for specific applications. This guide explains every option from 70mm to 220mm, helping partners recommend with confidence and position their product range for maximum margin across market segments.
All profiles are manufactured from Nordic spruce at Eurodita’s Kaunas production facility, CNC-machined to ±2mm tolerance using Hundegger (DE) and Auer (AT) equipment, and kiln-dried to 16–18% moisture content in Nardi (IT) kilns. Production lead time for glulam structures is 8–12 weeks.
Understanding Glulam Profiles
A glulam profile is expressed as thickness × width — for example, 134mm × 260mm means a 134mm wall thickness with a 260mm log width (the visible face height of each laminated log in the wall). The thickness determines thermal performance, structural capacity, and acoustic insulation. The width determines wall appearance, joint frequency, and aesthetic character.
Thicker walls deliver better U-values (lower thermal transmittance), meaning less heat loss in winter and less heat gain in summer. For every additional centimetre of solid timber, thermal resistance increases proportionally — making thickness the single most important variable in energy performance.
Structurally, glulam enables longer spans without intermediate columns compared to solid log construction. The lamination process eliminates the natural defects (knots, shakes, warping) that limit solid timber, producing walls that are dimensionally stable over decades. This stability is why glulam is specified for permanent residential construction across Northern Europe.
Eurodita produces approximately 1,800–2,000 bespoke and glulam houses annually, with around 50 large glulam projects exceeding 100m² per year. Partners across 38+ countries rely on these five profiles to cover every market segment from garden offices to luxury residential.
70mm × 130mm — Entry-Level Glulam
The 70mm × 130mm profile represents the entry point into glulam construction, offering a significant performance upgrade over solid log walls at a comparable price point. The 130mm width produces a compact, modern aesthetic well-suited to contemporary garden architecture.
Recommended applications: garden offices, compact studios, workshops, home offices, retail display buildings, and ancillary commercial structures. These are typically structures under 30m² where three-season or lightly insulated year-round use is the primary requirement.
Thermal performance: the 70mm profile provides good thermal mass for three-season use in temperate climates. For year-round occupancy in colder regions, external insulation can be added to achieve the required U-values without increasing wall thickness. This makes the 70mm profile highly versatile — dealers can offer it as a standalone product or as the core of an insulated wall system.
Market positioning: this profile is particularly popular in the UK market, where garden rooms and home offices represent a high-volume, high-margin segment. The 70mm glulam wall is perceived as a premium product compared to standard 44mm or 58mm solid log, justifying a meaningful price uplift while keeping the total project cost accessible for end customers.
88mm × 260mm — Residential Standard
The 88mm × 260mm profile is the first in Eurodita’s range to feature the full 260mm width, producing a substantial wall presence that communicates quality and permanence. This is the threshold where glulam construction transitions from ancillary buildings to residential-grade structures.
Recommended applications: holiday homes, smaller permanent residences, granny annexes, mobile homes, holiday letting properties, and commercial hospitality cabins. Structures typically range from 25m² to 70m².
Thermal performance: the 88mm wall thickness delivers year-round capability in moderate climates (Western Europe, UK, Ireland, parts of France and the Netherlands). For colder markets, a vapour-permeable insulation layer can supplement the solid timber to meet local building regulations.
Market positioning: this profile occupies a strategic position for dealers — it is affordable enough for holiday home buyers while robust enough for permanent residential planning applications. In the UK, the 88mm profile is widely specified for granny annexes (where building regulations require habitable-room thermal standards) and for holiday lets where year-round rental income depends on winter comfort. Partners report that the 260mm width is a key selling feature: customers perceive a visible difference between 130mm and 260mm log faces, and that perception directly supports premium pricing.
134mm × 260mm — Premium Residential
The 134mm × 260mm profile is Eurodita’s most specified residential configuration. It represents the optimal balance between thermal performance, structural capability, and cost efficiency for permanent family homes across the majority of European markets.
Recommended applications: full-time family homes, large residential projects, multi-room holiday homes, boutique hotel units, and any project where meeting national energy standards without additional insulation is a priority.
Thermal performance: at 134mm of solid glulam, the wall achieves excellent thermal resistance that meets or exceeds the energy performance requirements in most EU member states for residential construction. This means partners can offer a “solid timber wall — no added insulation needed” proposition, which is a powerful differentiator against competitors who require composite wall build-ups to pass energy assessments.
Market positioning: this is the recommended starting point for any partner entering the permanent residential market. It is the most popular profile across Eurodita’s European dealer network for good reason — it covers the widest range of applications at a price point that supports healthy dealer margins. Partners targeting the mid-market residential segment (family homes from 80m² to 200m²) should stock or promote this specification as their standard offering.
180mm × 260mm — High-Performance
The 180mm × 260mm profile is engineered for markets and projects where energy performance is not merely a regulatory requirement but a primary purchasing criterion. This is the specification for dealers operating in energy-conscious markets where thermal performance drives buying decisions.
Recommended applications: Passivhaus-adjacent projects, low-energy residential developments, projects in cold climates, eco-village housing, and any specification where the client’s energy consultant or architect demands exceptional U-values from the wall structure alone.
Thermal performance: the 180mm solid glulam wall delivers superior insulation values that position the structure well within the most demanding European energy frameworks. In practical terms, heating costs for a 180mm glulam home are substantially lower than conventional construction — a compelling sales argument for energy-aware end customers.
Market positioning: Germany, Austria, and Scandinavia are the primary markets for this profile, where building energy codes are among the strictest globally. Dealers in these regions report that the 180mm specification commands the highest margins in their portfolio — customers who prioritise energy performance are less price-sensitive and more focused on lifetime value. This profile is also gaining traction in the UK as energy regulations tighten under the Future Homes Standard.
220mm × 260mm — Maximum Specification
The 220mm × 260mm profile is the pinnacle of Eurodita’s glulam range — the thickest, most thermally efficient wall system available. This specification exists for projects where absolute performance is the requirement and budget is secondary to quality.
Recommended applications: extreme-climate residential (Nordic, Alpine, Canadian markets), ultra-premium architectural homes, showcase and demonstration buildings, and any project where the client or architect specifies maximum possible thermal mass.
Thermal performance: at 220mm of solid laminated timber, the wall approaches passive house standards for thermal transmittance. The thermal mass effect — timber’s ability to absorb, store, and slowly release heat — is maximised at this thickness, creating exceptionally stable indoor temperatures regardless of external conditions.
Market positioning: this is Eurodita’s most exclusive specification. Production capacity for 220mm glulam is limited — partners targeting this segment should plan orders well in advance and communicate lead times clearly to their customers. The 220mm profile is the ultimate specification for dealers targeting the luxury timber home market, where customers expect the best available technology and are prepared to invest accordingly. Early ordering is recommended to secure production slots.
Choosing the Right Thickness for Your Market
Market conditions, climate zones, and regulatory frameworks vary significantly across Eurodita’s partner territories. The following recommendations provide a starting point for specification decisions:
- United Kingdom: 88–134mm covers the majority of residential and garden building applications. The 70mm profile serves the high-volume garden office segment.
- Germany and Austria: 135–180mm is the standard range for residential projects. The 220mm profile serves the growing Passivhaus market.
- Scandinavia: 180–220mm is preferred for the climate. Even garden buildings tend toward thicker specifications than in milder markets.
- Southern Europe: 70–88mm is often sufficient for the thermal requirements. The primary consideration shifts from insulation to solar heat gain management.
- North America and Australia: specification depends heavily on the specific climate zone. Eurodita engineering team provides market-specific recommendations on request.
Eurodita’s engineering team is available to advise on optimal specification for any market or project. Partners can submit project briefs for detailed technical recommendations, ensuring every quotation matches the end customer’s requirements precisely.
Explore the full glulam timber homes range, discuss a bespoke project, or contact the partnership team to begin.
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