Homebuilding: Setting Basement Steel

One of the first steps in the construction of a newlowered onto the new column and theprevious
home issetting the steel beams and columns in thecolumn. Men on ladders guide it into place and bolt
basement and/or crawlspace. This supports the flooritdown. Again 2x4's are used to brace the beam to
joists and usually runs the lengthof the house at midthe outsidefoundation walls. This procedure is
span in most homes. Not only does thisrepeated until you get to abeam pocket at the other
systemsupport the floor, but usually has the weightend of the building, or a column thatterminates at an
of bearing walls,ceilings, second floors, second flooropening.
bearing walls and sometimesroofs transfered downTo keep beams level and straight, I like to use a dry
to it.line frombeam pocket to beam pocket (this can also
The first step is to install the sill plates on thebe done with a laser).
foundationwall . This gives you a place to nail 2x4First I drive a nail in the sill plate corresponding with
bracing to hold columns and beams in place while youtheedge of the beam. Most beams run pocket to
install them. Once set in place these braces hold thepocket. If this is thecase I'll drive a nail in the plate by
steel till the floor joists are nailed in to take theirthat pocket at the samedimension as the first nail,
place.measured from a common referencepoint, usually the
Before I continue, a word of caution. Homebuildingfront or back sill plate. I now have areference point
can be adangerous activity. Care and safety are ato line up the edge of the beams with and resultin a
must in all phases ofthe construction process. Settingstraight installation.
steel definitely falls intothis category. Beams canAssuming the foundation and sill plates are level, this
weigh anywhere from 100 to 400 poundsdependingstringcan be used to level the steel beams (again, a
on their size and length. Beams can be lifted intoplacelaser can beused). After most beam installations a 2x
manually but I would recommend the use of a crane.plate is either boltedor shot with a powder actuated
Not onlycan the beams be put in place safely, but ittool to the top of the beam. Thisis to bring it level
can also quicken theprocess.with the sill plates and to provide nailingfor the floor
With the sill plates in place the steel can be set. Onejoists. Using a 2x block as a gauge, lay it on thetop
end ofthe first beam typically starts in a beamof the beam where it sits on a column. This simulates
pocket formed into thetop of the foundation wall.theplate that will be installed later. Shim the column till
The other end sits on top of a lallycolumn. A typicaltheblock touches the bottom of the dry line. Repeat
column is 3 1/2" in diameter and filled withconcrete. Itthis for everycolumn. Columns are shimmed with
has a flange welded to the top with holes in itsteel plates of variousthicknesses. These shims are
thatmatch holes in the bottom flange of the beam.provided by the steel supplier.
The beam is loweredonto the column and then boltedThe next step is to plumb the lally columns on their
together.concretepads. Using a 4-foot level, the columns are
To make this happen, I like to use four people. Onetapped into plumbwith a sledge hammer. Make sure
to hold thebeam in the pocket, one to hold thethe steel shims remain under thecolumns. After all
column, one man on a ladderto guide and bolt thecolumns are plumbed up, the concrete floor canbe
beam onto the column and one man to nailoff bracingpoured. This holds the columns in place.
to sill plates. Braces (2x4's) are laid flat on thebottomThe next step is to frame the floor. Once the floor
flange of the beam on both sides of the web andjoists arenailed in place all bracing can be removed.
thennailed to the sill plates on opposing walls.The joists are nowholding the steel in place.
The next beam is now ready to be set. With oneJust like the foundation, setting the steel straight and
person holding thenext column, the next beam islevel isimportant to producing a quality home.