Steel Erection in Tough Conditions: How Patriot Lifting Delivered Three Weeks of Precision Through Rain, Wind, and Tight Deadlines

Steel erection projects rarely go exactly as planned—but the difference between a lift that stalls out and a lift that succeeds comes down to preparation, communication, and the ability to adapt when the weather turns.

This month, Patriot Lifting was brought in to support a full steel truss installation for a new commercial building. The job wasn’t simple: large trusses, a long reach requirement, a fully extended jib, and a three-week window filled with unpredictable weather.

But as always, our team showed up prepared, stayed locked in, and delivered the job safely and on schedule.

The Challenge: Long Reach, Limited Space, and Weather That Wouldn’t Quit

From day one, it was clear this project would push both planning and execution.

Key challenges included:

• Jib-extended picks required for long truss placements

• Tight site access with limited room to reposition the crane

• Three straight weeks of on-and-off rain that turned the ground soft and slowed steel delivery

• Wind delays that forced constant recalculations

• A strict deadline—the general contractor needed the building dried-in immediately after steel installation

Even with ideal conditions, truss work demands precision. Add bad weather and extended reach, and the margin for error becomes razor thin.

Engineering the Plan: Lift Sequencing, Ground Prep, and Communication

Before the first pick, our team laid out a complete lift plan:

• Ground stabilization to ensure safe crane setup despite rain

• Sequenced truss installation, staged to minimize crane movement

• Jib configuration planning to ensure each truss could be placed from a single footprint

• Daily safety + weather briefings to adjust operations around wind and visibility

• Real-time communication between operator, riggers, and steel crew for synchronized placements

Every detail mattered.

Execution: Day-After-Day Precision Through Unpredictable Weather

Some days the job started late to wait for wind to settle. Other days we worked around rain cells, positioning the crane between showers.

But when the windows opened, our crew moved with purpose:

• Smooth picks of long-span steel trusses

• Controlled drift and slow-speed precision with the jib fully extended

• Close communication with ironworkers on the steel skeleton

• Steady pacing to stay ahead of the GC’s schedule despite weather setbacks

Even during the toughest moments, the team stayed focused. No shortcuts. No rushed picks. Just disciplined, consistent execution.

The Result: Three Weeks. Dozens of Trusses. Zero Incidents. Project Delivered.

By the end of the third week, every steel truss was set:

• Perfectly placed

• Safely landed

• Aligned exactly to spec

Rain, wind, mud, delays—we saw it all. But the job still finished on time, and the contractor was able to move straight into decking and roofing the moment we wrapped.

This project is exactly why Patriot Lifting exists: to deliver reliability, expertise, and precision—even when the conditions are far from perfect.

Why Contractors Choose Patriot Lifting for Steel Erection Projects

• NCCCO-certified operators

• Detailed lift planning for complex picks

• Safety-first mindset

• Ability to adapt to changing field conditions

• Consistent communication with all trades on site

• A track record of delivering difficult jobs—every single time

Steel erection requires trust. You can’t afford downtime, mistakes, or uncertainty. And with Patriot Lifting, you never have to worry about what’s going to happen when the weather shifts or the job gets complicated.

Have an upcoming steel job? Let’s plan your lift.

Whether it’s trusses, beams, mezzanines, or full structural packages, our team is ready to help you get the job done right.

Visit PatriotLifting.com or call us today to schedule your lift.