Glue-laminated bamboo (GLB) is increasingly specified for load-bearing decks and floors where friction governs safety and wear. This study investigated how different GLB surface modulates static (μS) and kinetic (μK) friction coefficients during dry sliding against rubber, stainless steel and high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Sliding speeds and normal loads were varied systematically. Surface topography, wettability and surface energy were characterised. Besides, a two-way analysis of variance tested factor effects. The surface roughness Sa is between 9 and 10 μm for initial and sanded GLB surfaces, while the Sa of laser-ablated GLB increased to about 25 μm. GLB–HDPE exhibited relatively low friction coefficients of 0.05 to 0.35, which was consistent with HDPE's low surface energy and limited junction shear strength. GLB–rubber exhibited higher friction coefficients within 0.4 to 1.0 and pronounced load sensitivity of μS, which could be attributed to viscoelastic hysteresis. The friction coefficients of GLB–stainless steel were in a wide range of 0.1 to 0.7, reflecting adhesion-dominated contact with insignificant speed-dependent trends. Sanding increased μS via asperity inter-locking, whereas laser ablation reduced steady-state μK despite higher roughness. The results delineate how micro-texture, counterface kinds and operating conditions jointly control GLB friction, offering guidelines for tailoring GLB surfaces to distinct service scenarios.
