How to Brace a Cold-Formed Steel Structure
A cold-formed steel structure is made from materials that are formed by pressing or rolling thin gauges of metal into sheet goods. It is most often used in buildings, bridges, and storage racks. While a building is being constructed with cold-formed steel, it is sometimes necessary to brace the base of the structure until it is complete. This will help support and strengthen it until it is strong enough to stand on its own. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Paper
- Pencil
- White spray paint
- Shovel
- Pieces of steel
- Self-tapping sheet metal screws
- Power drill
Instructions
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1
Measure the length and width of the steel structure you want to brace, and record the measurements. This will determine how many braces you will need to use to support the structure.
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2
Measure every eight feet along each side of the structure, and mark the location with white spray paint. This is where the braces will be installed. Walk out eight feet from the structure at each marked location and spray-paint the spot. Continue all the way around the structure in the same manner.
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3
Dig a hole four inches deep at each spray-painted location with a shovel. Repeat the process for all of the holes around the structure.
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4
Place a piece of cold-formed steel at an angle into the first hole you dug. Lean it up against the structure with a helper holding one end. Screw it to the structure with self-tapping sheet metal screws and a power drill.
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5
Fill the hole with dirt until it is level with the ground. Repeat the process for each remaining hole until the steel is braced to the structure firmly at every location.
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