How to Care for Reclaimed Lumber

At The Lumber Baron, we tell our customers that one of the advantages of using reclaimed lumber is that it has already stood the test of time. Because of that, it is not as susceptible to rot, insects, or mildew as new growth lumber would be. With that said, there are still some best practices that should be used to ensure that your reclaimed lumber continues to be durable and look good for years to come. Additionally, sealing exposed exterior lumber helps prevent mildew and mold from growing on horizontal surfaces, keeping things like decks safer for the whole family to use.

Home Remodel - Knowing When to Call a General Contractor

Improving your home can be both fun and rewarding. It is exciting to plan a home remodeling project and imagining new functional spaces for your changing needs and updating the design of your home. However, depending on your project, it may be better to work with a general contractor rather than do the whole project by yourself. Here are a few things to keep in mind to know when you should consider calling a general contractor in your area.

Tower Cranes Assist in the Construction of Skyscrapers

Extremely large tower cranes are used in the construction of today’s super tall skyscrapers such as the Wilshire Grand Center in Los Angeles and the Salesforce Tower in San Francisco.  Tower cranes assist with lifting heavy loads of steel, concrete, generators and other building materials and can be erected to grow taller as a construction project moves upward.  The typical maximum unsupported height of a tower crane is 265 ft. and the maximum reach of the jib is 230 ft.  However a tower crane can grow right along with the height of the skyscraper’s construction once it is secured to the building.  A tower crane’s maximum lifting strength is generally around 19.8 tons.  

Although there are different types of tower cranes, for the most part, the components are the same.  The mast is the main supporting tower of the crane and is made from steel trussed sections.  The engine that allows the crane to rotate is called the slewing unit and sits on top of the mast with the operating cabin and controls just above that.  The jib is the operating arm and is the piece that extends horizontally from the mast.  The two common types of jibs are the luffing jib that moves up and down the crane and a fixed jib that is equipped with a trolley to move materials horizontally.  The hook is used to connect materials to the crane, and large concrete weights behind the mast are used to counteract the weight of the materials being lifted by the hook.     

A tower crane must be stabilized at the jobsite before it is ready for use.  This involves constructing a concrete pad equipped with large anchor bolts embedded into the concrete to secure the base of the crane.  When the tower crane reaches its maximum height, it can be tied to the side of the structure with steel collars and moved upward to accommodate the upward needs of the project.

The Conco Companies’ mission is to be the best supplier of concrete services in the Western United States and to bring expertise and unsurpassed quality to each project. We continue to upgrade and expand facilities to better serve the growing market for public works projects, commercial, parking structures, educational, and other construction development.

Sources:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crane_(machine), science.howstuffworks.com/transport/engines-equipment/tower-crane.htm