The crosswise arrangement of the border also results in the fact that cross laminated timber elements can also be used as plate elements which can distribute any loads acting parallel to the element plane due to bending. This is typically the case for window lintels or stiffening ceiling plates. This supporting action can specifically be used especially in the construction of additional storeys on existing buildings in order to direct the loads caused by additional storeys across considerable span widths to the load-distributing external walls on the existing building.