A GGR mini spider cranes and stone lifter were hired to help transform Lawns House in Leeds recently. Work is being done on this early 19^th Century former home and school to convert it into apartments, but as a Grade II listed building its exterior appearance needed to be preserved.

Developers plan to extend one of the buildings at the side of the house by bringing it forward by 8 metres, therefore the entire stone façade needed to be deconstructed then rebuilt.

A 0.995 tonne capacity UNIC mini spider crane was used with one of GGR’s stone lifting clamps to strip down then rebuild the building’s stone façade in its new position. The UNIC URW-095 mini crane was able to work on the uneven terrain of this restricted access site, using a Flat Grab as a below-the-hook lifting attachment to carefully move the stone pieces.

The 1500kg capacity Flat Grab lifter has a tapered jaw with an adjustable 0-1000mm width, self levelling suspension and rubber-lined clamp faces so not to scratch or damage delicate or polished stone surfaces. The mini crane and stone clamp were used to lift stone pieces back up onto the four metre high roof top and handle the 900kg upright pieces.

This mini crane and stone lifter combination were also used to reset gravestones at this Birmingham cemetery.

Take a look at GGR’s full range of stone lifting solutions here.