Choosing the proper materials to use when building is critical. Each application may be different. If you have an option use a glu lam beam vs a natural wood beam, go with the glu lam. We will take it one step further, we prefer to us engineered lumber like timber strand. Highly glued and compressed.
Natural wood beams will sag, glu lam beams can be built with camber to avoid the heavy load causing them to depress. Concrete Retaining walls and beams.
