Lifting heavy beams

[Anonymous]

I need to get a 4.5 metre (10 X 10inch) oak beam into my house and slotted into position. One end into a wall, the other will rest on a cast iron pillar (with concrete pad). The beam will have to be pre-cut to fit the exisiting joists (that were previoulsy supported by a wall).

My feeling is:
1. cut a 10X20 hole in the wall.
2. slide beam into hole and lift (locating joists)
3. insert pillar

Onto my question . . . any suggestions as to how I can lift the beam into position. There's only two men (including me)?

 

[Anonymous]

What's above the point where the beam will rest?

 

[Anonymous]

What's above the point where the beam will rest? . . . .

Brick (solid wall) at the wall end and floor boards at the pillar end.

Phil

 

[Anonymous]

Re-reading your post, I suspect that this beam is being installed under an existing floor, so there's no way that you could erect a structure above it for lifting it. Is that right?
If so, then here's the only way I can think of right now. Get hold of two good hydraulic car jacks and a plentiful supply of paving slabs (or something similar that will stack safely). Locate the jacks under each end of the beam at floor level and lift it to maximum extent of the jacks. Pack under each end of the beam with slabs to hold it where it is, then lower the jacks. Now pack under the jacks with slabs to lift them as high as possible under the beam and repeat the procedure. This way you could lift the beam little by little into position.
I must add that I'm fairly unhappy about the safety of paving slabs stacking up to ceiling height, and you should perhaps think about creating some kind of better support idea - perhaps a scaffold structure with a platform that can be slid up vertical poles bit by bit and held by screw-up scaffold locking clamps.

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry Phil, I was typing my second post while you responded to my first!

 

[Anonymous]

Like the scaffold pole idea. Will have to investigate to see whether the clamps are strong enough.

Phil

 

[Anonymous]

A 90 degree double fitting swl 12.5 cwt slip tested to 25 cwt so plenty strong enough. Easy job to do using your head rather than bf&i.

Ensure you put a diagonal brace from top to bottom on each face of your scaffold erection to stop it folding up with the weight on top.

If you need a drawing let me know, for one of my sins I run a scaffolding concern.

 

[Anonymous]

I tried posting a diagram, but it's going to be tiny. A diagram from you would be great (the more ideas the better), probably easiest if you faxed it to 01603 422 589 or e-mail to early_911@fastmail.co.uk

I feel the frame may need to act as a pivot once the beam is in a position to slot into the wall (maybe by removing some of the supporting struts). Once in the wall, lift the other end and once in position, remove scaffold frame, support with acrows and insert the cast iron pillar.

Once thing that worries me is slipping . . . the beam will be a quite an angle and resting on a pole, would a strong nylon strap do the job?

Thanks for the help.

Phil

 

[Anonymous]

I understand your concern about the beam slipping off its support when it's resting on the scaffold support at a high level one end. I therefore feel that it would be much safer to lift the whole thing in a fairly level plane, but at a bit of a horizontal angle to the wall that has a socket (otherwise you'll need a hole in the opposite wall). Once that end can be slid into its socket, the other end can be squared up and the steel support placed underneath.
As you'll need to be able to slide the beam on its scaffold supports, how about putting a bit of plastic pipe loosely around the horizontal scaffold poles, so that it acts like a roller? It could also slide horizontally along the pole to help align the beam.

 

[Anonymous]

I strained my greens once when lifting heavy beams, I now have 'three' Adams-apples!

Grimmers

 

[Anonymous]

I wonder what you were lifting them with. You weren't showing off, were you?

 

[Anonymous]

I do not a show off mate – I am not an arse – an arsonist – a narsensnifist –

A narcissist!

Grimmers