Microllam vs Parallam vs Anthrax: Beam Material Choices for Toronto Renovations

Names That Sound Similar But Aren't

Spend any time around Toronto framers and structural engineers and you'll hear three terms thrown around for beams: Microllam, Parallam, and "Anthrax" steel. They are not the same product, not the same material family in some cases, and not interchangeable. This post explains what each actually is, when each is specified, and what it means for your Toronto renovation budget.

For the broader beam comparison see [LVL vs Steel vs Glulam](/blog/lvl-vs-steel-beam-vs-glulam-toronto). For the wall removal context start with the [pillar guide](/blog/load-bearing-wall-removal-toronto-2026-complete-guide).

Microllam — The LVL Standard

What it is: Microllam is a brand name (Weyerhaeuser) for Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL). Thin layers of softwood veneer (usually Douglas fir or southern yellow pine) are peeled, dried, oriented with grain in the same direction, and glued under heat and pressure into a dimensionally stable structural beam. How it's made:

• Logs peeled into 1/8 inch thick veneer sheets
• Veneers dried, sorted, and graded
• Adhesive applied (typically phenolic resin)
• Veneers stacked grain-parallel
• Pressed at high temperature and pressure into 4 ft wide billets
• Billets sawn into beam widths (1-3/4 inch is the standard residential ply)

Standard sizes: 1-3/4 inch wide, depths from 5-1/2 inch up to 18 inch. Multi-ply beams field-glued and bolted from individual plies. Strength: Very high relative to dimensional lumber. A single 1-3/4 inch x 11-7/8 inch LVL ply replaces roughly two 2x12s in capacity. Where it's used: The vast majority of Toronto residential load-bearing wall replacement beams. Two-ply or three-ply 11-7/8 inch or 14 inch deep is the typical bungalow and 1960s-1980s detached spec. Cost (2026): $7–$12 per linear foot per ply. A 14 ft 3-ply beam: about $300–$500 in materials alone (engineered package with bolts and connectors more). Lead time: Next-day from Toronto-area suppliers. Stock product.

Parallam — PSL, Not Quite the Same

What it is: Parallam is also a Weyerhaeuser brand name, but for Parallel Strand Lumber (PSL) — a different engineered wood product. Long strands of veneer (typically 2.5 ft long, 1/8 inch thick) are oriented parallel and bonded with adhesive into very large cross-sections. How it's made:

• Same starting material as LVL (peeled veneer)
• But veneer is cut into long strands rather than kept as full sheets
• Strands oriented parallel with adhesive
• Pressed into large cross-section billets (up to 11 inch x 19 inch and beyond)
• Cut to engineered sizes

Why it differs from LVL:

• Larger cross-sections available — a single Parallam member can replace multi-ply LVL
• Higher unit cost than LVL
• Slightly higher capacity per cubic inch in some loading conditions
• Better behaviour at point loads (post bearing on top of beam)
• Available in both natural and treated for exposed/exterior applications

Standard sizes: 3-1/2 inch and 5-1/4 inch widths common; depths up to 18 inch and beyond. Sold as single members rather than ply-stacked. Where it's used: Toronto residential applications include long-span beams where a single member is preferred over multi-ply LVL for stiffness or aesthetic reasons, point-load conditions (post landing on beam), and headers carrying multi-storey loads. Cost (2026): Roughly 30–60% more than equivalent LVL. A 14 ft single Parallam beam: $700–$1,300 in materials. Lead time: Some sizes stocked in Toronto, larger sizes ordered (1–2 weeks). The everyday Toronto rule: unless your engineer specifies Parallam for a specific reason, LVL is the default and is cheaper. Parallam shows up when the engineer wants single-member behaviour or specific point-load capacity.

"Anthrax" Steel — Heavy Industrial Sections

What it is: "Anthrax" is not a product brand — it's a colloquial term older Toronto contractors use for very heavy industrial-grade structural steel sections, typically W14, W16, W18, or larger I-beams used in commercial or industrial conversions. The term traces to early steel-mill product naming in some sources, and it has become trade slang for "the heavy stuff." What it actually is: Standard ASTM A992 (or A36) wide-flange structural steel, just in larger and heavier sections than typical residential. Where it shows up in Toronto residential:

• Commercial-to-residential conversions (warehouse loft conversions in the East End, King West)
• Very long spans (24 ft+) carrying heavy loads
• Multi-storey conditions where lighter steel won't satisfy deflection criteria
• Custom architectural projects with cantilevers or unusual structural forms

Cost: Significantly more than standard residential W8 or W10 steel. A 20 ft W14x53 beam fabricated and installed: $5,000–$9,000+ in materials and fabrication. Lead time: 2–4 weeks fabrication. Heavy lifting equipment usually required for install. Honest reality check: in 90%+ of typical Toronto residential load-bearing wall removal projects, you do not need "Anthrax" steel. Standard LVL or W8/W10 steel handles the load. If your contractor is throwing the term around for a typical bungalow project, ask why.

Which One for Your Project?

A simplified decision tree for typical Toronto residential 2026:

• 1. Span under 14 ft, single-storey above, normal loading: LVL (Microllam or competitor brand). Multi-ply 1-3/4 inch deep beams.
• 2. Span 12–18 ft, want single-member or point-load condition: Parallam.
• 3. Span 14–20 ft, normal-to-heavy load: Steel W8 or W10.
• 4. Span 18 ft+, exposed aesthetic intended: Glulam (different product family — see [LVL vs Steel vs Glulam](/blog/lvl-vs-steel-beam-vs-glulam-toronto)).
• 5. Span 20 ft+, heavy loads, multi-storey conditions: Heavier steel (W12, W14, sometimes "Anthrax"-class).

Your engineer makes the actual selection based on calculations, but knowing the language helps you understand the quote and ask intelligent questions.

Common Brand Equivalents

You'll see different brand names from different suppliers. Functionally equivalent for residential design:

• LVL: Microllam (Weyerhaeuser), Versa-Lam (Boise Cascade), Roseburg LVL, Pacific Woodtech LVL
• PSL: Parallam (Weyerhaeuser) — Parallam is essentially the only mainstream PSL brand in Toronto residential supply
• Glulam: Western Archrib, Nordic Structures, QB Corporation (different product class entirely)
• Steel: generic ASTM A992 or A36 wide-flange — sourced from any structural steel supplier

The engineer typically specifies "LVL of equivalent capacity" or "PSL" rather than a specific brand, and the contractor sources whatever's available.

Cross-Linking the Decision

Beam material is one of three big decisions in load-bearing wall removal. The other two:

• Bulkhead vs flush: see [Bulkhead vs Flush Beam Toronto Design](/blog/bulkhead-vs-flush-beam-toronto-design)
• Standalone vs kitchen reno bundle: see [Load-Bearing Removal During Kitchen Renovation](/blog/load-bearing-removal-during-kitchen-renovation)

Ready to Spec Your Beam

We coordinate with engineers regularly enough that we can usually estimate beam type at the consultation visit, before formal engineering. [Book a load-bearing wall consultation](/services/home-renovation/load-bearing-wall-removal) and we'll give you a probable beam type, span estimate, and budget range based on your specific wall.