DIY: How to Lift a Heavy Roof

Go inside the house and into the attic. Install 2-by-12 brace boards across each face of the underside of the roof trusses. Drive three of your 16d nails through the brace boards at each truss. Leave the head of each nail 1/8 inch above the face of the brace board for easy removal later.

Remain in the attic and inspect the underside of the roof, starting at the bottom of the trusses, for wires, pipes and HVAC ducts that protrude into the space. Cut through each of these with a reciprocating saw or a pair of wire snips. Remove the excess parts from the space to prevent damage or injury during the lifting process.

Access the top of the roof with a ladder. Drill through the roof, between the trusses, every 10 feet along each face of the structure. Slide a heavy nylon lift strap through each hole. Position an assistant inside the attic area to wrap the end of each strap to the bottom braces of every third truss. Fasten the end of each strap to itself with a heavy anchor shackle. Activate the crane, lower the main hook and attach the free end of each strap to the hook.

Activate the crane and apply pressure to the roof to prevent binding of the saw blade throughout the removal process. Be careful to maintain constant contact between the helper in the attic, yourself on the roof and the crane operator. Do not allow excess pressure to be applied to the trusses, as that will cause damage to the structural stability of the frame. The object of this maneuver is only to remove the slack from the straps and apply mild pressure to the trusses.

Return to the inner attic area. Lay across the bottom of the trusses and cut through the points where each truss is connected to the top plate of the wall. Take your time and cut through each point, working in a pattern from one end of the house to the other.

Exit the attic area and evacuate the house. Double-check every room from the attic to the basement and clear the surrounding area of spectators. Activate the crane and lift the roof assembly from the house. Swing it slowly out of the way and lower it into a prepared landing zone.