[goosta]

This is a little different post - hoping to get some advice. So we setup large facades each year for our haunted western town. They all can be setup with two people typically, which is nice since it is usually my wife and I working on it. We have one heavy facade - it's 14' wide by 13' tall (at the center). It was built using old fence boards, so it's much heavier than the others. That one is just too much to handle ourselves so we need additional people to help.

We are moving things around this year and that facade will be setup against a wood privacy fence. I feel like I could use a pulley and winch to raise the facade ourselves. There will be an opening in the fence with the facade on the outside. Here is my thinking... I get it all bolted together flat on the ground with the bottom butted up against the bottom of the fence. Attach rope/cable at the top on both the left and right sides, which would attach to a winch that is attached to the house or pergola.

Am I crazy? Any better ideas? Should I just get help with it? I have zero experience with winches or any kind, so I'm just not sure.

I've included pictures of the facade, fence and house.

Thanks!

 

[FTWingRiders]

First.. awesome facade, and a way cool theme!! As to raising it up.. a few thoughts...How far is the fence to the pergola? You want to winch UP as much as possible, even if you could get it partially lifted it would help. If its a flat pull, the winch will be trying to pull straight back, and either the fence, of pergola might not fair so well.Perhaps a 12' A frame attached to the fence, with a pulley at the top, would give you the leverage needed.. Or maybe theres a friendly neighbor that could help..

 

[Bryan316]

I wouldn't know if you can get a winch up high enough above this façade. However, you could build an H-frame to put under it as you lift the top, then walk the H-frame towards it to lift upwards. Think of it as giving yourself two very wide hands to spread the load. Then as you get higher up, just let the feet of the H-frame dig into the lawn while to adjust and change grip. Lift it in stages.

OR

Get a couple of sturdy ladders, put them at the sides of the façade, run a long beam (pipe? long decking board?) underneath the façade, then lift each side up the ladder rungs. Once high enough, pivot it on the beam and let the bottom touch the ground.

 

[goosta]

Thanks for the suggestions! I'm sure the easiest way is just get some help, but I like these ideas too.