Our research team at Virginia Tech is investigating the importance of cost estimation and Cross Laminated Timbers (CLTs), which are a new structural building material being researched by our Department of Sustainable Biomaterials. Cross laminated timbers are “a prefabricated engineered wood product made of at least three orthogonal layers of graded sawn lumber or structural composite lumber that are laminated by gluing with structural adhesives.” (ANSI/APA PRG 320-2018) They are meant to be used as the primary load-bearing material in floors, walls, and roof systems that has been used for structures as tall as 18 stories.
As this material is a relatively recent development, there does not exist a simple method of estimating the cost of its use nor comparing it to the cost of other structural materials. This survey is meant to discover if this is a significant barrier to the use of cross laminated timbers in the building construction industry. We would like to understand your perceptions of cost estimation and this new material. No previous experience or knowledge of either cost estimation or cross laminated timbers is necessary to respond. Our hope is to develop tools to assist the building construction industry and provide a new option for professionals like yourself.
Below you will find the link to the survey. The survey contains 26 questions and should take approximately 5 minutes. Note, no personally identifying information will be requested and all responses will be confidential. All participants must be over the age of 18.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at dhindman@vt.edu or jon09@vt.edu. Thank you for your help in this endeavor!
Go here for the survey.