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