A method of building a house or the like on a previously provided foundation, starting from a packaged structure comprising a plurality of panels, wherein, after the deposition of the package on the foundation, in successive stages a superjacent part of the package is hoisted up, and in the space thus formed the panels are unfolded, and packaged structure for use in said method.

A lifting frame is provided for use in lifting elongated room-size prefabricated building modules and other large, heavy and bulky elongated loads having asymmetrical or lopsided weight distributions in the direction of elongation. The lifting frame includes a pair of generally parallel, side-by-side, spaced apart elongated beams and a pair of cross-brace beams running at right angles to the elongated beams and located therebetween. The elongated beams are adapted to be releasably fastened to the upper portion of the building module or other load with the longer dimension of such beams running in the same general direction as the longer dimension of the building module or other load. The cross-brace beams are adapted to receive and laterally position the lower ends of the cables of a cable-type lifting sling. Structure is provided for releasably fastening the cross-brace beams to the elongated beams at selected ones of a series of different longitudinal locations along the elongated beams for enabling the centerline of lift to be longitudinally aligned with the center of gravity of the building module or other load with a minimum of tipping of the module or load during the lifting process. By using lifting sling cables of proper different lengths on the two sides of the lifting frame, the centerline of lift can also be brought into lateral alignment with the center of gravity for the case of a building module or load having an asymmetrical lateral weight distribution.

A lifting apparatus for elevating folding roof sections comprises a pair of jackknifing lifting bars. A hoist means transmits a pulling force to the bars, thereby enabling each bar to unfold from a initial folded configuration into an extended straight configuration. The bars elevate first roof sections to an intermediate pitch while unfolding into the straight configuration and while rotating into a generally vertical position with respect to the first roof sections. Remaining roof sections, together with the first roof sections, are elevated to a desired pitch with the bars in the straight configuration by applying additional force. Additional force causes the bars to rotate from the vertical position into a generally horizontal position while lifting both first and second roof sections to the desired pitch. At the start of the lift, all roof sections are horizontally folded and substantially supported on first segments of hinge plates fastened thereto. Second segments of these hinge plates are attached to the top ends of interconnecting side walls. During elevation, the lifting of the roof sections causes the first segments to bend to an angle determined by the pitch of the roof sections. Subsequent to adjusting the roof sections to a final pitch and position, end gables are installed and replace the hinge plates in the function of substantially supporting the roof sections. Eliminating the force from the hoist means allows the bars to refold and be removed.

There is shown the preforming of walls and floor slabs as a stack wherein the walls of each story are connected to the next floor slab thereabove by lift pick-up cables spaced along the to be top edge of each wall. Lift apparatus forming no part of the building is provided for attaching lift fixtures to elements cast in the edges of the floor slabs. The lift apparatus includes pairs of columns as necessary supporting a repositionable upward bridge therebetween having lifting jacks operating lift rods connected with the floor slabs below by the removable lift fixtures. The whole stack is lifted and starting with the first floor the ceiling slab lifts the walls therebelow which swing out and are guided into position under the slab thereabove and become load bearing walls. Successive like lifts are made to position the respective ceiling slabs and load bearing walls. Suitable vertically aligned apertures are formed in the walls and slabs above for installation of reinforcing rods.

Prefabricated building modules of a generally elongated tunnel configuration, each module generally being comprised of a unitarily formed, steel reinforced, poured concrete roof portion and side walls extending the length of the roof, the opposed ends thereof being open. A steel reinforced concrete floor slab is formed in a position relative to the roof and side walls whereby it is in direct alignment with and at the proper elevation to be moved between the side walls to its permanent position, means being provided to securely fix the floor slab in place. End closures are then put in place and the interior is finished and equipped for the purpose for which it is to be used. One module may be used individually or two or more modules may be arranged in various stacked and/or side-by-side and spaced-apart arrangements.