Hoisting & Setting Metwood Beam

During this latest site visit to Redbud they were installing the Metwood beams that were discussed in an earlier post. I have posted a video (below) of them installing one. There are three of these beams that will hold the metal deck and concrete for the garage slab. This picture shows the beam from the video (below) in the preformed beam pockets in the poured concrete wall.

Out at the Redbud Site as I was checking out the progress of the floor system I ran across an interesting type of beam. It is a Metwood Technologies steel through span beam. (http://metwood.com/) Among the normal engineered floor trusses being used on this project, there are several of these different types of beams in certain places around this layout. They are used at critial load points where there is more bearing load than what the normal floor trusses can handle.

Installing 1/2" Expansion Joint Material

1238 Redbud Rd: At this residential site in Blacksburg these workers are installing expansion joint material in preperation for the basement slab pour. This joint allows the slab to flex independently from the poured foundation wall.

Holdiay Inn Christiansburg: At this site there is probably 7 or 8 pieces of quipment that in all the visits to observe have been idle each time. Not once has one been doing any work around the site. This can't be efficient, especially since all the equipment appears to be rented.

Holiday Inn in Christiansburg: This site is a slab on grade hotel project with a steel skeleton. (As seen in this photo.) What is interesting about this site is the fact that they seem to have all the materials stockpiled already. It may have been that they got a better price on materials if they purchased them in bulk or all at the same time. It will be interesting to see how the materials stand the elements as some won't be used for a long period of time in the construction process.

Construction Progress

This blog is dedicated to following construction sites and commenting on different aspects as they relate to what I have been learning in my educational career so far in Virginia Tech's Building Construction program as well as working for FDH Engineering, Inc. It will mostly be comprised of pictures during the progress of several construction projects around the Blacksburg, VA and then eventually will expand to wherever my career in construction takes me.