I am building an ICF garage with a second floor (storage). In order to get clearspan in the garage space below, I am using a hollow core deck. These are 4' wide by approx 30' long planks weighing in at about 6800 lbs. They will sit on the ICF wall and then we will (later) go up another 3 courses with a knee wall in the loft storage area.

My question is related to placement of these planks. We are doing our own install, and will hire the crane ourselves. The planks will sit with 4" of bearing on the 8" thick wall. The plans call for a bearing strip (rubber, I believe) that the hollow core manufacturer is to provide.

Does anyone have any tips for placing the planks? They are to go together "tight" at the bottom edge, and I am just thinking ahead to the point where we set the plank down on the walls with enough room to remove the straps (these planks will not have lift eyes). How does one go about "nudging" the 6800# plank into place? I would guess that we would need to move each one over about 1.5". Will they slide on this bearing strip? Don't I risk breaking off edges if I try to use a pry bar (or is that even feasible)?

thanks!!!

They slid pretty easy on the strips, the strips I use are masonite by the way. Your first gets placed enough to get the straps out, place the second close to the first and use 5' prybars and slid it over. Have 3 prybays handy, one for the truck, 2 for the top of the slab for moving. 2 guys can move them quite easily. The last one is the challenge, place it enough to get the straps out between the second last slab and a couple of 2x scraps to hold up the other side to slip the straps out. Place you prybar in the holes at the end, have the crane lift it by the prybar to slip the 2x's out and nudge/pull the slab tight. Do this at both ends, you may need to jump back to the first side if it slips a little.

Once installed bring in the concrete truck with grout, grout the seams, finish your ICF and pour. When all construction is complete pour your 2" cap and your finished.

Good luck

p.s. if you chip it a little it's no big deal, these things are pretty much bullet proof and can take a lot of abuse

Chris,

Thanks. That helps a lot. I will check to see what the bearing strip material being supplied is, but I bet it is not rubber - that would really make it tough to slide. I'm in good shape for the last slab because we are leaving a 4' opening for a stairway, so nothing tight to the wall to worry about. Glad to hear these are pretty tough, and you're right about chipping - it all gets grouted later anyway.

Appreciate the quick response and I will quit worrying about this detail

dave

We used 2' wide hollowcore precast 12" thick. They used silicone strips 2"x20"+ that were laid atop the 8" ICF core on the inside half. The precast overlapped about 4". They used 2 heavy duty cables with eyes at each end that hooked onto boom cable. They set about 1-2" apart and after unhooking cables they used a pry bar that did not chip the concrete and they slid together rather easily, thans to the silicone strips. They then drilled pilot holes through the hollow portion of the plank and into the ICF concrete, tapped in 14"-16" rebar dowels, and finally grouted the seams and around rebar holes. You can contact me, Dave, at [email protected]. I hope this was not too simplified and was of help. Molin Concrete installed the precast.

Even with the stairwell, the last part stays the same...less the 2x's. The crane will still need to to nudge it in place