| I would just add one item to uncledunnie's post. Rather than pack the rsj up with slate, get two additional props. cut your two opening at each end about the depth of the steel,which will be in the region of 8" depending on the span, plus a further 6". After you have put the steel in place, jack it uo with the aditional props. The chances are is that you will be putting the steel betweem a internal wall and an external wall. The int wall you can get a 2 x piece's of plywood about 12-14" x 9" drill two holes in each.
With the aid of someone get them to hold the plywood at the other side of the opening while you hold the ply underneath the steel. At the same time push a lenght of steel wire through the holes so theat it goes throught one piece and back throught to the other. Twist them to gether now, nice and tight. All you have to do now is poor liquid concrete into the viod that you have just created. You can use rapid cement/ sharp sand and pea gravel for a nice compact sulution. Keep tapping the sides to help it settle and get rid of air pockets. With the other side, if its a 9" wall, you only need to put plywood on the inside. If it's a cavity wall, do the same thing as previous, just remembering to cut the plywood so that you can position it inside the cavity. With this method, you can eliminate any chance of the packingl slipping out or crushing. Please make sure you have the pywood tight up against the underside of the steel.Make sure you get the mix right. I part cement / 2 parts sharp sand / 4 parts pea gravel and again filled to the very to, even letting it spill over.
[Edited on 19-11-2004 by Jon]  |