Method and apparatus for construction second story additions to pre-existing residential structures

Claim 1

A method for making a second story addition on a pre-existing residence, said method comprising the steps of: (a) severing a first roof section that includes a finished ceiling from the remaining portion of the roof of said residence and also severing said first roof section from the walls of a first section of said residence; (b) installing peak spanner means inside said first roof section for distributing lifting forces to at least most of the trusses or rafters of said first roof section and installing a plurality of tension elements to transmit lifting forces from respective ones of a plurality of cables to said peak spanner means, said peak spanner means including an elongated bar having a cross-sectional shape of an inverted V with an angle that matches the angle between truss chords of said first roof section, said peak spanner means including a plurality of tabs for supporting said elongated bar, said installing of said peak spanner means including pressing said elongated bar upward against the inner peak portion of said first roof section and nailing or otherwise attaching said tabs to truss chords of said first roof section, said method including drilling holes through the peak portion of said roof, extending said tension elements through said holes and attaching them to said spanner means; (c) connecting a plurality of cables supported by a crane to said tension elements and to a plurality of lift points of said roof substantially spaced from the peak of said first roof section; (d) operating said crane to lift said first roof section away from said residence and put said first roof section on the ground near said residence, said remaining portion of said roof and the walls of said residence all remaining in place; (e) connecting a plurality of cables supported by said crane to a pre-constructed floor section at a plurality of lift points, respectively, of said pre-constructed floor section; (f) operating said crane to lift said pre-constructed floor section, align it with said walls of said first section of said residence, and placing said preconstructed floor section on said walls; (g) operating said crane to lift a plurality of pre-constructed walls sections with said pre-constructed floor section, and attaching said pre-constructed wall sections to said pre-constructed floor section; (h) repeating step (c) to connect the plurality of cables to said first roof section on the ground; and (i) operating said crane to lift said first roof section, aligning it with the tops of said wall sections, placing said first roof section on the tops of said wall sections, and attaching it to said wall sections, whereby said first roof section can be removed from said residence, said preconstructed floor section and said pre-constructed wall sections can be installed on said residence and said first roof section can be re-installed on said residence, within a single day.

Claim 2

A method for making a second story addition on a pre-existing residence, said method comprising the steps of: (a) severing a first roof section that includes a finished ceiling from the remaining portion of the roof of said residence and also severing said first roof section from the walls of a first section of said residence; (b) installing peak spanner means inside said first roof section for distributing lifting forces to at least most of the trusses or rafters of said first roof section and installing a plurality of tension elements to transmit lifting forces from respective ones of a plurality of cables to said peak spanner means, said peak spanner means including an elongated bar having a cross-sectional shape of an inverted V with an angle that matches the angle between truss chords of said first roof section, said peak spanner means including a plurality of tabs for supporting said elongated bar, said installing of said peak spanner means including pressing said elongated bar upward against the inner peak portion of said first roof section and nailing or otherwise attaching said tabs to truss chords of said first roof section, said method including drilling holes through the peak portion of said roof, extending said tension elements through said holes and attaching them to said spanner means; (c) connecting a plurality of cables supported by a crane to said tension elements and to a plurality of lift points of said roof substantially spaced from the peak of said first roof section; (d) operating said crane to lift said first roof section away from said residence and put said first roof section on the ground near said residence, said remaining portion of said roof and the walls of said residence all remaining in place; (e) connecting a plurality of cables supported by said crane to a pre-constructed floor section at a plurality of lift points, respectively, of said pre-constructed floor section; (f) operating said crane to lift said pre-constructed floor section, align it with said walls of said first section of said residence, and placing said preconstructed floor section on said walls; (g) operating said crane to lift a plurality of pre-constructed walls sections with said pre-constructed floor section, and attaching said pre-constructed wall sections to said pre-constructed floor section; (h) repeating step (c) to connect the plurality of cables to said first roof section on the ground; and (i) operating said crane to lift said first roof section, aligning it with the tops of said wall sections, placing said first roof section on the tops of said wall sections, and attaching it to said wall sections, whereby said first roof section can be removed from said residence, said preconstructed floor section and said pre-constructed wall sections can be installed on said residence and said first roof section can be re-installed on said residence, within a single day.