Laminated Beam

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I found this 8-foot laminated-beam at a new home construction dumpster in Phoenix. I knew I wanted to use it in a future natural building project.  That was 10-years ago.  This beam finally found its home as a 'lintel' above a french door type opening in this studio.

To support the beam in place on each side of the opening, two steel 3/4"-pieces of rebar extend-through a drilled hole (of equivalent size) on both ends of the beam.  The steel rebar is vertically attached at its base in the stone stem-wall and is further secured inside the cob wall.

                                                             

Eventually as the earthen walls continue to rise in height, the cob wall and the rebar should provide the stability required for the laminated beam.