Starting the floor

The professional opinion of the engineer is that the timber frame is too heavy to sit on floor joists that span the full 28' width of the house.  The solution is a 6x16"x42' laminated "beam" and floor joists only 14' long.  Guess we've been working with the solid wood too long, because this laminated stuff strikes us as very wimpy!  Even a 6" thick sheet of plywood (which is the quick description of this product) has significant sag in one direction.  Good thing the 16" depth of the beam that will be holding the weight has good stability! 

But since this is prior to "Crane Stage", how will we get it onto the basement walls?  At the walk-out end of the basement, that beam sits at least 10' above ground level.  The best idea we had was to try 2 tractors equipped with bale forks & slings.

On the tractor, the VP of Operations

What a miserable time!! First we had to do this in the evening when everyone was tired:  that alone could have prompted several relationship disasters.  Then it was raining and getting dark. Also, the beam kept turning in the slings so the weight was borne by the flexible face. That LVL beam is easily capable of 2.5' of deflection (at center over a 41' span) if it turns the wrong way!!

Logistics Manager

On the ladder,
VP of Communications

(And on the other side of the camera, the VP of Publicity)

Anyhow, here are the HIGH moments of the evening:

 Almost there!

 Setting in the first end!

SUCCESS!!  all slings & tractors removed! 9:45 PM

We must be keeping busy.  I started this entry by uploading pics the same evening we set the LVL beam into the basement.  Tommorrow those pics are 2 weeks old!  We haven't taken many pictures, but my memory tells me that like the above picture, we've been worked 'til near-dark several evenings to finish up tasks that work best with 2 adults.  Those have been long days for Dennis.  I start late enough that it only takes a couple hours to work 'til sundown. 

So, as I post this, the floor joists are in and the floor is sheeted.  The outside of the basement is all covered with plywood and vapor barrier.  We just want to dig a section of sewer line under the foundation, and then WE'RE READY TO BACKFILL.  "Floor on" was a great milestone, and I expect "backfilled" will be another great one.