The BIGGEST Building we’ve Built Part 3: POSTS

Building the Largest Structure: Setting Up for Success

Introduction to the Project

• Kyle introduces the project, highlighting that they are constructing the largest building they have ever worked on.

• The team is using a new supplier, Richland Ohio Timberland, after their previous supplier went out of business.

Preparing for Column Construction

• The initial task involves cutting and marking raw columns for specific building requirements.

• Kyle explains his method of identifying the tallest bracket to ensure all columns can be adjusted accordingly without needing to cut them down.

Laser Measurement Process

• A laser level is set up to determine the elevation of each bracket accurately.

• Kyle emphasizes establishing both high and low points during measurement to account for potential inconsistencies when pouring concrete.

Adjusting Elevation Measurements

• He discusses how wind can affect laser readings, making it crucial to allow time for stabilization before taking measurements.

• Kyle mentions that adjustments may be necessary as he marks brackets based on observations around the site.

Importance of Accurate Marking

• The team checks if different milling processes affect column sizes and ensures brackets fit correctly with new columns.

Understanding the Story Pole in Construction

Introduction to Story Poles

• The speaker introduces the concept of a story pole, which is essential for marking measurements and layout in construction projects.

• The story pole helps determine heel height and other critical dimensions, ensuring consistency across all columns during construction.

Importance of Precision

• The story pole serves as a "Bible" for the job, providing accurate references that guide the entire construction process.

• Since this project is a storage building without interior marks, maintaining precision with external measurements becomes crucial.

Setting Up Measurements

• The speaker discusses using a thick marker for making marks, emphasizing the need to adjust based on specific measurements (e.g., plus 7/16).

• It’s important to establish where zero is located; it should not be at the bottom of the column but rather at the start of the grade board.

Managing Height Adjustments

• The speaker explains how different column heights affect overall structure; adjustments are made based on existing conditions and planned elevations.

• A minimum height above piers is maintained to ensure structural integrity when pouring concrete.

Transitioning to Center Wall Columns

• After completing sidewall columns, attention shifts to center wall columns which are taller due to design requirements involving raised trusses.

Construction Process Insights

Initial Setup and Challenges

• The designer discusses the construction plan, indicating confidence in the process despite unexpected challenges, such as a spider interrupting the workflow.

• The team decides to leave columns long for easier assembly of trusses later, emphasizing practical decision-making in construction.

Team Dynamics and Workflow

• Greg expresses gratitude for help with cutting girts, highlighting teamwork's importance in speeding up tasks.

• Cole's departure for football practice is noted; his absence will impact efficiency but emphasizes the value of having multiple hands on deck.

Material Handling Techniques

• The speaker mentions difficulties with hard wood and nail guns, stressing the need to manually drive nails due to material density.

• A tip about lifting techniques is shared: using back strength rather than legs for better leverage during heavy lifting.

Structural Adjustments

• Discussion on marking heel blocks for truss setup indicates careful planning to ensure structural integrity.

• Columns are organized strategically to prevent moisture absorption and warping over time, showcasing attention to material care.

Wall Construction Planning

• Plans are laid out for constructing walls with specific measurements (19-foot lengths), demonstrating meticulous project management.

• The speaker explains lumber sorting techniques based on board quality (crown checking), which affects overall stability and aesthetics of the build.

Importance of Wood Grain Orientation

• An explanation is provided regarding how wood grain orientation impacts structural performance when installing girders.

Framing Techniques and Best Practices

Importance of Quality in Framing

• Emphasizes the significance of avoiding poor-quality screws during framing work to maintain aesthetic appeal.

• Highlights the need for straight boards without twists or sudden movements for a smooth construction process.

Cutting Girts Efficiently

• Shares a technique learned from experience: when cutting 16 ft girts, mark accurately but cut slightly longer to account for natural growth.

• Recommends using HKC style saws for ease of use, ensuring cuts are square and precise without needing additional squaring tools.

Material Management

• Discusses the current inventory of lumber, noting that one bunk does not cover an entire wall, indicating ongoing material needs.

• Mentions being selective with wood quality while saving premium materials for critical areas like FAS (First and Seconds).

Layout and Alignment Strategies

• Describes laying out columns and girts to ensure proper spacing and alignment with grade lines using laser measurements.

• Stresses the importance of aligning tops appropriately off the wall to maintain squareness throughout construction.

Team Coordination and Workload Management

• Expresses hope to complete layout before lunch despite a late start due to weather issues, emphasizing teamwork in achieving goals.

• Reflects on physical labor's role in maintaining health compared to sedentary office work, highlighting camaraderie among team members.

Finalizing Construction Steps

• Outlines measuring techniques for column placement based on center points to ensure structural integrity when erecting walls.

• Acknowledges challenges faced during heavy lifting tasks while framing multiple walls, indicating reliance on team support.

Nail Application Strategy

• Introduces the use of a jumbo nailer with specific nail counts per connection type to enhance structural stability.

Building Progress Update

Overview of Construction Efforts

• The construction team discusses the expansion of their building, noting that it will become significantly larger. They emphasize the complexity involved in this process.

• Acknowledgment of the hard work put into laying out columns and girts, with a sense of fatigue shared among the team members after completing these tasks.

• The completed wall has more linear footage than the entire RHQ building, highlighting the scale of their current project. The team plans to begin erecting walls in the next video segment.

• Two machines will be utilized to lift approximately 80 feet at a time to minimize splicing efforts during construction, indicating a strategic approach to efficiency.