Structural moving skates provide an agile way to move homes, buildings, and other cumbersome structures. Building skates and beam roller skates are divided by their mobility and capacity to support different levels of weight. While beam roller skates can withstand 6 to 12 tons of weight, house and building skates are used for heavier loads ranging from 25 to 100 tons. Keep reading to learn about the most common uses for structural moving skates and important things to consider if you’re new to utilizing their benefits.

Uses & Considerations

Once you know the basic definition of structural moving skates, it’s not hard to imagine how they would be used. Construction companies and related industries use them for increased maneuverability and safety with proper use. Without skates, the transport of larger structures would be a lot more difficult and risky to attempt. Though they can be beneficial for any individual or team attempting to move a heavy load, structural moving skates are most commonly used in the following ways.

Uses

  1. Houses, Buildings, and Complexes

Structural moving skates make the intimidating task of removing an existing building from its foundation and moving it to a new location much smoother to accomplish. Professional home and building movers have turned to Hevi-Haul Skates for more than 80 years to help them execute their most successful moves. When moving a home or building, it’s best to use Model HM-50 (with a 50-ton capacity). Each HM-50 weighs 318 lbs and can be split into two halves, maintaining the ability to carry 50 tons per half. 

  1. Machinery & Equipment

Machine moving skates are another form of structural moving equipment, which come in handy for the transportation of large machinery or storage containers. Businesses that benefit from machinery and equipment moving skates include food and pharmaceuticals, low ceiling factories, and locations with uneven floors. However, anyone that needs to move an awkward-shaped, heavy piece of equipment can utilize a structural moving skate to support their endeavor.

Additional Considerations

Attempting to move an awkward, heavy load with the wrong equipment can be incredibly difficult and dangerous. There are structural moving skates made to support loads of all sizes, you just need to know the approximate weight and a few other key factors to determine which one to use. The important factors to take into consideration are:

  • Surface Type. Transporting heavy structures presents the possibility of leaving damage to the surfaces you’re moving over. To avoid damage you will need skates with appropriate rollers for the surface type. While metal rollers are the most supportive solution for extremely heavy moves, they can easily damage certain surfaces. Light to medium-duty loads can be accomplished with polyurethane rollers, which are ideal for wood, tiles, vinyl, and carpeted floors. Nylon rollers are also a great alternative, providing increased wear resistance and protection against floor damage.
  • Rolling Resistance. When moving heavy structures and equipment it is essential that the move is as easy as possible. This includes minimal rolling resistance which can be accomplished with the appropriate roller material. Nylon rollers have a harder quality than the standard polyurethane, allowing for less rolling resistance and the ability to support heavier loads.
  • Scope of Move. Each project has its own unique set of requirements. Most of the time, the move isn’t going to be a simple straight line and there will likely be surrounding equipment and other obstacles to maneuver around. You will want to map out exactly what type of maneuvers you will need to make with your load to ensure that your structural moving skate has the appropriate mobility. For example, some skates offer 360-degree rotation, but you’ll need some awareness of how to properly steer them so you don’t lose control of the load.

Hevi-Haul Structural Moving Skates 

Hevi-Haul structural moving skates are available as House & Building Skates and Beam Roller Skates. View our product catalog to learn more about the uses of our structural moving skates and how they are best utilized. For more personalized answers about our structural moving skates and how they are used, contact us today.