The process of lifting a roof in an industrial building
Lifting a roof in industrial buildings is a cost-effective and quick method if you need to increase the clearance of the building. It is done using hydraulically-powered roof lifting jacks to lift the roof on an existing building and simply installing additional beams, walls, and other structural elements to add to the building. Of course, the actual process is much more complex than that, which we will discuss further down.
Roof lifting projects are considered remodel/renovation projects. As such, the time frame for conversion is much shorter than for traditional construction methods, and they are normally done to reduce development and construction costs. Not to mention, lifting a roof also minimizes regulations, zoning restrictions, and taxes associated with new construction.
Now, let’s take a closer look at the fairly elaborate and detailed process of lifting a roof.
Step 1: Gutting the building
Raising a roof begins by gutting the building to the bare bone skeleton. Only temporary crib posts will support the roof during the lifting of the roof. The crib posts are normally welded to the ceiling and anchored to the floor to be able to support a wide variety of different roof sizes.
Step 2: Installing a temporary support system
A temporary support system is then installed to act as a shoulder for the roof. Once installed, lifters go around and cut the columns to separate the roof from the walls in preparation for the initial separation.
Step 3: Lifting the roof
Using hydraulic roof lifting jacks, the roof is lifted. The lift is controlled using a synchronization system that measures the lifting process, and the hydraulic jacks are carefully monitored to ensure safety and accuracy.
Step 4: Installing the new beams
Once the roof has reached the desired height, new columns are installed and the hydraulic jacks are removed. In a matter of hours, an industrial building can reach the desired ceiling height, for example to transform the building into a storage, manufacturing, or distribution facility.
Step 5: Installing new walls and other components
Once the roof lifting is complete, it’s time to upgrade the walls and install fixtures such as sprinklers and lightning; after which your new high ceiling building is ready for occupation.
How much does a roof lift cost?
The roof lift cost is considerably less costly than many other building improvement projects. However, it’s difficult to generalize on the roof lift cost as so much depends on the size of the building and the roof, as well as other factors including the roof and house material and what interior fitting there are.
Roof lifting jacks from Bygging-Uddemann
Lifting a roof is considered highly beneficial to industrial buildings as the downtime is significantly less as the roof can be lifted completely or in sections without having to vacate the premise.
At Bygging-Uddemann, we take great pride in our ability to perform roof lifts using our own specially manufactured units designed and constructed by our heavy lifting section. For example, the T15-S-18 hydraulic climber. Contact us if you want to learn more about the capabilities of our roof lifting jacks.