Raising Columns

We built a 7m high bamboo tripod and used a multiplier pulley to raise our columns, here’s a photo of the third going up. This made the process so easy that we could raise the column, level vertically with a plumb line, scribe a level line at the base using the concrete pedestal as a guide, and lower it again to chainsaw the bottom level. We also put a thin concrete latex slurry under each column, this was concrete with a PVA additive to create a waterproof membrane, preventing wicking and rising damp, whilst also reducing cracking.

The 2 flat steel bars protruding from the concrete were strong enough to hold the column in place whilst we moved the tripod and fitted the first beam, more on beams later.