There is a large square picture window in the new extension. It is big. Very picture. You step up into it to get from the lounge into the master bedroom.
The ashlar blocks (three of them) that form the window will were heavy enough. But the ashlar jambs (the bits that go up the sides) are enormous and weigh in at 640kgs – far too heavy to be lifted by hand. But to use a crane, you have to be able to attach (safely) the stone to the lifting hook. The builders had a metal plate made with an eyelet. This was then bolted and glued to the back of the stone work. This allowed the stone to be attached without leaving any marks on the outside faces.
There were smiles around once these pieces reach their final resting place.
The large pieces of ashlar are on the telehandler lying on their backs. The crane will lift these up one by one using the metal plate that has been fixed to the back of the stone.
A metal plate with an eyelet has been bolted and glued to the back of the stone. This will be left in place as it is behind all the stonework and will not be seen.
Once roughly in position, the column is nudged into it’s final location while most of the weight is still being held by the crane. No one wants this to topple over as they will be no stopping it once it starts to go.
This peices of ashlar weigh in at around 640kgs (according to the crane operator). They are far too heavy to be lifted by hand and they are still a challenge even with a crane to get into exact position.
The head is fairly easy to get into position with a couple of straps around it.