Hayloft is Crashing Down! Help!

[sdkubota]

I would try to get rid of the weight without ever being under the failed area. It could suddenly collapse without notice since the connectors are already failing. The area below the sagging joists is extremely dangerous and not worth losing a life. After the weight is out, the failure can be evaluated and corrected.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Correction. The rim is a doubled 2x10, the joists are 2x10s, 16 o.c.

What I see that may not show well in pics, are the rim is bowing down in the middle and splaying out.

I'm a little reluctant to put pressure trying to shore it up for fear the remaining structure comes more loose or fails.

My plan is to build support first on the opposite side that has bowed down, using a 14 foot 4x4 under the joists, supported by 3, 4x4s, one at each end and one in the middle, with a 2x4bottom plate laid on the black top aisle floor. Then build the same on the other end where the joists tore loose, jacking the 4x4 up with a barn jack. Maybe not jack them all up level, but get the middle 4 or so joists supported flat by the 4x4. Then support the 4x4 temporary beam with 4x4s .

Then add cross bracing. Then go up in the loft and take some or all the hay out, until permanent repairs can be done.

 

[GPintheMitten]

If I remove the weight first, what happens if it crashes while I'm up there moving hay. I could get crushed in that process too. I guess I would stand a better chance than if it collapsed while shoring of up.

 

[sdkubota]

2 x 10s @ 16" c/c do not support the kind of weight that is being placed up there. That is a typical framing for a house. Probably could double the # of joists (8" spacing) but you have to have adequate support beams and columns to carry the loads. Talk with a (gulp) engineer...a real one.

 

[GPintheMitten]

This whole thing reminds me of a cave in in a mine.

 

[GPintheMitten]

This isn't even my daughters property. I'm thinking we get the owner to call his insurance agentand let him get an engineer in to supervise everything, including removing the load.

 

[brin]

If your daughter is the tenant, lessee and she stacked all that hay in the loft I would worry about the landlord / owner's reaction..he would probably look to your daughter to take care of any damages...unless the lease allowed her to load up the loft with unlimited bales of hay with no guidance....on the other hand if your daughter works for him...then all he can do is reprimand her or overlook the situation and then have it shored up...I'm just saying it all depends on the arrangement with the owner...Best of Luck....be careful what you or your daughter say...

 

[dave1949]

Is the power to/at the building shut off? If those conduits break and rip wires apart ...

You have to do what you think is safe, and some jobs ought not to be tackled by one person.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Yes, after safety, her liability is my next concern.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Is the power to/at the building shut off? If those conduits break and rip wires apart ...

You have to do what you think is safe, and some jobs ought not to be tackled by one person.

Power is still on to the subpanel in the barn, but all breakers in that sub are off. The subpanel is in a corner, away furthest from where the hay is loaded. Opening the breakers was the first thing I did