Steel Building Roof Jacks

For Heavy Lifting

• Jacks are most commonly used with steel roof building because they are easy to maneuver into place and work in conjunction with any crane operations helping to swing the roof joists in. Humans alone are generally not strong enough to hold massive steel beams in place, so some other form of tool is required. Jacks free up the crane to let it move more pieces in place while the roof jacks hold the beams and rafters up.

For Leveling and Angling

• Because jacks are adjustable, they can be used to help level a beam or joist across its length. Not all roofs have flat elements, however, which is why the adjustable nature of a jack comes in handy with this type of construction. You can adjust the jacks as necessary to change the angle of the roof elements. For example, while a central beam might be level across its length, the rafters themselves might have a 45-degree angle, and the jacks can be adjusted to accommodate this angle.

Holding in Place

• Roof jacks for steel building also help by holding the beams and rafters in place during the installation phase. Since steel beams and rafters are welded and bolted in place, rather than nailed like wood, it requires more time to mount the steel elements. Because the workers need to be focused on the installation of the beam, the roof jacks work by keeping the elements firmly in place while the bolts are placed and the welds made.

Mounting

• Roof jacks are made so they can be mounted to the floor of the area where they are being used, which is usually another steel beam or structure that can support the weight of the steel elements being held up by the jack. If a jack isn’t mounted to the floor with bolts, it can potentially slip out, causing damage and injury. While the upper parts of the jacks are meant to be raised and lowered, the bottom halves are meant to be mounted in place with heavy-duty operations to hold things up.