- The exact preparation of a building for a move is entirely dependent on the type and size of the building. A shed can be moved by half a dozen men with a framework made of 2-by-4s. Anything larger than that will require special equipment, though the process is very similar.
First, the soil surrounding the foundation of the building must be dug out. This requires a good deal of open space around the building as the angle of the slope from beneath the foundation to street level must be very shallow.
In the case of concrete foundation buildings that have no basements, the preparation is complete once all electrical and water lines extending from the building have been turned off and severed.
If a basement does exist, then workers must actually cut through the brick or cement beneath with specially designed power saws, leaving everything at ground level intact. - The space beneath the building's foundation is carefully hollowed out a few feet at a time. Every few feet, one of a series of interlocking steel beams is inserted beneath the foundation. Keep in mind that these beams may be up to three feet in height and have heavy-duty tractor tires and hydraulic rams attached, so the space below the foundation will be significant.
Once the beams are in place and supporting the weight of the building, the hydraulic rams are connected to pressure lines and the building is actually lifted upward out of the ground. - The framework of beams underneath the foundation is designed to be moved. Eighteen-wheelers or other large trucks with tow cables are placed at the top of the slope leading out of the hole in which the building is sitting. The tow cables are attached to the framework, and the trucks work in concert to slowly pull the building up to street level. From there the trucks can hitch directly to the framework and move the building anywhere where there is sufficient clearance on either side of the road.
previous post