Interesting building

Here are some pictures of a commercial structure, it has since been demolished. It is interesting to note the girders and beams are wooden and started to fail over the years this was the construction method. It is multiple 2x8's attached to simulate heavy timber dimensions. Steel rods are attached at the ends of the beam/girderand travel to the opposite end. Steel has been placed uder the beam/girder to act as a tensioner. Looking closely at the wooden portion you can see the compressive load has attepted to lengthen the wooden beam/girder (take the pitch out of the roof). With the steel tensioner in place the, beam/girder couldn't lengthen and became "S" shaped.

This next picture shows the steel tensioners probably better than I explained it.

This next picture is in the basement of the structure, wooden columns were removed as they rotted out and were replaced with steel columns. Steel I beams were also installed to support the wooden beams in the existing floor.

Finally this is a scary photograph. Looking at the window you see a steel post supporting a wooden lintel in the wall. Look out the window and you see concrete blocks, a wall was built on the outside of the structure as the origional wall deteriorated. Then the new wall was covered with steel siding.

You are welcome to make any comments on the photographs. The building housed many things over the years. It started as a automobile dealership and ended as a sanitary supply company. It has been demolished. I found it while I was, to quote Mr. Brannigan, "undressing the building".
Jay