Day 1: Finally the erection was to begin - very late but at least not never. Tess the Handyman and I arrived on site on Tuesday the 28th to a slab with the much-loved brackets fate sealed by trapping them in cement but with the same thought - "Hope these are all in the correct spots"
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| Bare Slab |
After spending some time looking over the pile of metal that is to be a shed the columns were selected, assembled, erected and the Z's added.
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| Tess and hindrance |
Mick from AYR Concreting worked on the concrete apron and preparing an access ramp for equipment delivery. The temperature reached 38 degrees C but it was not unbearable with a cool breeze in the morning and by the end of the day we were quite pleased with ourselves.
Day 2: Started with a good sort of the pile of metal that is the shed and ended with the roof truss assembled on the slab with the 9-meter beams moved there using AYR excavator. We were now so confident that the crane was ordered for 10:30 the next morning. The temperature had reached 39 degrees C with a cool breeze, again bearable.
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| A shed one day |
Day 3: With the confidence that only the inexperienced can have the crane arrived right on time and we set up to lift the first truss and quickly all went the way of a bad No 2. The connection is 3 mm plate and is weak as paper with this kind of load when combined with the method of propping not working and the crane meter running. Steve and Dave the rigger suggested what we needed some straps and it was now time to listen to wiser heads and left in the car to pick up what was needed.
Franna Crane lifting the last beam
The next try was smoother with the Falcon now used as an anchor point - tow bars are very useful attached to 1700 kg of metal. It took about an hour a beam as each one has to have 2 x Z purlins to tie it back to the first beam but with a little overtime, we had all the beams up. The temperature reached 40 degrees C and there was a trend developing for the next day.
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| Fords Falcon acting as an anchor |
Day 4: This was to be the day all the roof Z's were to be added. The day started with no breeze and it was predicted that it would reach 41 degrees giving something to really look forward too. All the Z's were up by 5 pm with the temperature forecast met plus some and we both had group thought at this point - beer - cold - lots.
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| The End |
Day 5: All the bracing beams in the front bay were now installed and the Falcon freed from its shackles. All went well till the last beam was installed but after much checking, it was determined to be 80 mm too long. The rest of the day was spent installing all the tension rods with lots of wasted time watching the hips move back and forward as we tried to adjust the rods but just before leaving we believe that this is now in hand but that's for the second trip.
And a bloody good time was had by all.....!
