| One of the first steps in the construction of | | | | foundation walls. This procedure is repeated |
| a new home is | | | | until you get to a |
| | | | |
| setting the steel beams and columns in the | | | | beam pocket at the other end of the |
| basement and/or crawl | | | | building, or a column that |
| | | | |
| space. This supports the floor joists and | | | | terminates at an opening.To keep beams level |
| usually runs the length | | | | and straight, I like to use a dry line from |
| | | | |
| of the house at mid span in most homes. Not | | | | beam pocket to beam pocket (this can also be |
| only does this system | | | | done with a laser). |
| | | | |
| support the floor, but usually has the | | | | First I drive a nail in the sill plate |
| weight of bearing walls, | | | | corresponding with the |
| | | | |
| ceilings, second floors, second floor | | | | edge of the beam. Most beams run pocket to |
| bearing walls and sometimes | | | | pocket. If this is the |
| | | | |
| roofs transfered down to it.The first step | | | | case I'll drive a nail in the plate by that |
| is to install the sill plates on the | | | | pocket at the same |
| foundation | | | | |
| | | | dimension as the first nail, measured from a |
| wall . This gives you a place to nail 2x4 | | | | common reference |
| bracing to hold columns and beams in place | | | | |
| while you install them. Once set in place | | | | point, usually the front or back sill plate. |
| these braces hold the steel till the floor | | | | I now have a |
| joists are nailed in to take their | | | | |
| place.Before I continue, a word of caution. | | | | reference point to line up the edge of the |
| Homebuilding can be a | | | | beams with and result |
| | | | |
| dangerous activity. Care and safety are a | | | | in a straight installation.Assuming the |
| must in all phases of | | | | foundation and sill plates are level, this |
| | | | string |
| the construction process. Setting steel | | | | |
| definitely falls into | | | | can be used to level the steel beams (again, |
| | | | a laser can be |
| this category. Beams can weigh anywhere from | | | | |
| 100 to 400 pounds | | | | used). After most beam installations a 2x |
| | | | plate is either bolted |
| depending on their size and length. Beams | | | | |
| can be lifted into | | | | or shot with a powder actuated tool to the |
| | | | top of the beam. This |
| place manually but I would recommend the use | | | | |
| of a crane. Not only | | | | is to bring it level with the sill plates |
| | | | and to provide nailing |
| can the beams be put in place safely, but it | | | | |
| can also quicken the | | | | for the floor joists. Using a 2x block as a |
| | | | gauge, lay it on the |
| process.With the sill plates in place the | | | | |
| steel can be set. One end of | | | | top of the beam where it sits on a column. |
| | | | This simulates the |
| the first beam typically starts in a beam | | | | |
| pocket formed into the | | | | plate that will be installed later. Shim the |
| | | | column till the |
| top of the foundation wall. The other end | | | | |
| sits on top of a lally | | | | block touches the bottom of the dry line. |
| | | | Repeat this for every |
| column. A typical column is 3 1/2" in | | | | |
| diameter and filled with | | | | column. Columns are shimmed with steel |
| | | | plates of various |
| concrete. It has a flange welded to the top | | | | |
| with holes in it that | | | | thicknesses. These shims are provided by the |
| | | | steel supplier.The next step is to plumb the |
| match holes in the bottom flange of the | | | | lally columns on their concrete |
| beam. The beam is lowered | | | | |
| | | | pads. Using a 4-foot level, the columns are |
| onto the column and then bolted together.To | | | | tapped into plumb |
| make this happen, I like to use four people. | | | | |
| One to hold the | | | | with a sledge hammer. Make sure the steel |
| | | | shims remain under the |
| beam in the pocket, one to hold the column, | | | | |
| one man on a ladder | | | | columns. After all columns are plumbed up, |
| | | | the concrete floor can |
| to guide and bolt the beam onto the column | | | | |
| and one man to nail | | | | be poured. This holds the columns in |
| | | | place.The next step is to frame the floor. |
| off bracing to sill plates. Braces (2x4's) | | | | Once the floor joists are |
| are laid flat on the | | | | |
| | | | nailed in place all bracing can be removed. |
| bottom flange of the beam on both sides of | | | | The joists are now |
| the web and then | | | | |
| | | | holding the steel in place.Just like the |
| nailed to the sill plates on opposing | | | | foundation, setting the steel straight and |
| walls.The next beam is now ready to be set. | | | | level is |
| With one person holding the | | | | |
| | | | important to producing a quality home.(c) |
| next column, the next beam is lowered onto | | | | Mike Merisko Merisko has been a carpenter |
| the new column and the | | | | for 26 years. Most of those years were spent |
| | | | in the homebuilding and remodeling |
| previous column. Men on ladders guide it | | | | industries. He was also in business as a |
| into place and bolt it | | | | carpentry and general contractor. While that |
| | | | is his forte, he also has experience in |
| down. Again 2x4's are used to brace the beam | | | | bridge building, commercial construction, and |
| to the outside | | | | exhibit building which is how he earns his |
| | | | living these days. |