Hardscapers Advice to Lifting Large Slabs
As newer, larger slabs are being used in hardscaping, whether they’re natural stone, dry-cast or wet-cast pavers, or similar material, these slabs can be difficult to handle safely. It's easy to smash fingers or have back injuries when working with these materials, but it's also in high demand for hardscaping projects for patios, sidewalks, and similar constructions. We'll look at the challenges faced with stone lifting, how to properly prepare before lifting, what kind of equipment to use to safely handle the material, and basic troubleshooting of issues that can arise on the job site.
Understanding the Challenges
Weight and Size Considerations
A small stone slab of 20” square and 2 3/8” thickness will often weigh upwards of 70 pounds, but that's actually on the small end of the size and weight available in stone slabs. By comparison, a 20” X 30” slab 2 ⅜” thick will weigh over 115 pounds, with larger slabs on the market that require unique approaches, such as granite stone lifting.
The kind of material that you're using can have a strong impact on what kind of equipment you'll need to use. Using suction equipment for large slabs, such as a vacuum lifter, may have different limitations depending on how porous the material you're lifting may be.
Potential Hazards
Evaluate and estimate the weight of your slabs before moving them due to the safety risks that can become an issue with improper natural stone lifting techniques. If you're employing your usual lifting tool for granite slabs to lift porous concrete slabs, it can fail to lift effectively or may lose suction when the slab has been partially lifted, damaging the slab and injuring your workers.
Preparation Before Lifting
Assessing the Worksite
You'll want to start by checking the worksite. Is the area you're working in level and clear of obstacles and debris? This can help prevent trip-and-fall injuries. Similarly, you'll want to check the weather conditions and ground stability to ensure that your crew can work safely in this area.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Beyond the worksite, you'll also want to ensure that your crew has the proper PPE for the job. Steel-toe boots are essential as they can prevent crushing injuries if a slab falls or heavy equipment is accidentally dropped.
In addition to footwear, providing hard hats, gloves, and high-visibility vests can significantly reduce the risk of injury and ensure that your team is both safe and easily identifiable on the job site.
Consider using tools such as the Pave Tool Adjustable Chain. This chain comes with all the appropriate safety tags and clasp hooks, which can prevent failures that could result from improper straps.
Tools and Equipment Needed
There is a wide range of tools and equipment that can be used for a paving slab lifter. Though you can use lifting clamps or other hardscaping equipment for projects that have a limited number of large slabs, a paver lifting tool that uses suction or vacuum to hold the stone in place may be a better option for large projects requiring extensive slab placement.
Equipment for Lifting Large Slabs
Benefits of Using Mechanical Aids
When you use mechanical aids to move your large slabs, your company will see significant savings in terms of time and safety. Mechanical equipment makes it much easier to move large slabs quickly, while the security of this type of equipment also protects your crew from injuries.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Uneven Surfaces
When you need to move large slabs across grounds that are unstable or uneven, it's important to keep crew safety in mind. Using machine-mounted equipment, such as a vacuum, clamp system, or premium all-in-one machine, allows you to safely move the slab from the pallet right into the laying field.
Slabs with Cracks or Damage
When you're dealing with slabs that have been cracked or damaged, it's important to pay close attention to the extent of the damage. One obvious crack doesn’t mean there are no others, and the best way to handle this is to remove and discard any broken pieces.
Putting It All Together
Key Points to Remember
Now that you understand the basics of stone lifting, how to properly prepare your crew and worksite before lifting, what kind of equipment you should use to safely handle the material, and some basic troubleshooting tips for issues that can arise on the job site, you can apply this knowledge in the real world. Whenever handling heavy slabs, remember that safety and technique are second to none.
Use Pavetool's Purpose-Designed Products for Success
Started by individuals with a strong knowledge of the hardscaping industry, Pave Tool's products are designed specifically for the rigors and demands of your needs. Our many tools designed for lifting large slabs provide you with the results you need, time and again.
Get Started with Pave Tool
If you're ready to get started with Pave Tool for your hardscaping business, please feel free to check out our website, find a dealer or contact us today!