At Shelby Erectors, we’re not engineers, we’re ironworkers. We are on the job site to install the backbone and skeleton inside every concrete structure, rebar. We have knowledge of why things are built the way they are, and we keep our focus on getting the job done safely and accurately.
In fact, we have so much experience, we know exactly how many man hours each ton of steel requires. From how much steel a job requires, to the total hours the team will need to install it, our bids are based on carefully calculated figures. This precision allows us to give a clear-cut bid while keeping our projections accurate. Our customers have come to understand that we understand every aspect of our work from costs, schedule, accurate billing, and cash flow. There is no such thing as a plug number with our business model.
We’re Puzzle Builders
The team at Shelby Erectors look at each truckload of rebar like a giant puzzle. Further inspection exposes hundreds, if not thousands of pieces of rebar with tags bent in all sort of configurations. While this may be meaningless to the average person, the description on the tags tell the team members what the piece is and where it belongs. A great team member will be able to visualize the final product before the work begins and our crews work together to put everything in the right place in the right order. We look at rebar cages as a thing of beauty and an art form only to be covered up with concrete.
Rebar Work
Rebar is not just rebar, it’s the foundation of every concrete structure and bridge that you see and drive over. Shelby Erectors focuses on the rebar installation for concrete structures, specifically, bridges. We provide the labor service and expertise that it takes to build the everyday typical structures to the exotic and signature structures that you see along our highways throughout the state of Florida, from Key West to Pensacola.
The work we do is hard and technical. In our opinion, rebar ironworkers (Rodbusters) are the hardest working tradesmen in the construction industry. The work is physically demanding. The schedules are tight and the pressure is always on. Our work is the last item before the concrete can get poured and in the construction industry, concrete is king.
There are many types of bridges that require our rebar labor services. Below are a few that Shelby Erectors specializes in:
Concrete FIB and Steel Girder Bridges
This is the standard bridge construction method and is used for single simple span bridges and continuous multi-span bridges. They can be straight and curved and consist of concrete or steel girders that span from pier to pier creating the driving surface that we all travel across.
Bascule Bridges
Bascule bridges are more commonly know as draw bridges. These bridges require a higher level of expertise than the standard bridges that we build. The drawings are technical and the work is more complicated. This work requires an experienced rebar placer in order to get it right.
Precast Segmental Bridges
This type of bridge is very technical in nature. It takes the place of a steel bridge when a curve and long spans are involved. It’s built in small sections and then precisely connected and held together with post tension cables. Shelby Erectors’ crews work diligently to ensure every angle is on point and every piece of rebar is precise.
Cast-in-Place Box Girder Bridges
This is another very technical type of bridge. A cast-in-place box girder bridge is built on the job site. Although they can be a costlier option, box girders typically have a smaller slab thickness, thus reducing the overall weight of the bridge. Depending on the project, this can actually make them more cost-effective in the long run.
Stay in Place Metal Deck Form Installation
In addition to providing rebar labor services, our crews work on Stay in Place (SIP) metal deck form installations. These create the deck surface that cars will eventually drive on. After thousands of bars and tens of thousands of ties have been put in place, our work is done and the concrete can be poured.
What Sets Us Apart
Every construction company has their own system, but at Shelby Erectors we’re proud to admit that ours is really good. Our crews know our processes as well as the why behind them.
We’re held to very high standards because of our Department of Transportation (DOT) work. The DOT projects have a smaller tolerance for variation and also require several layers of inspection and quality control.
Companies that take on DOT work are held to the highest standards of all construction jobs. Our crews are used to following these standards and safety requirements. We demonstrate careful attention to detail in every job we take on. Even though a job may take us a little longer, it’s worth it to know we’re creating a quality end result. After all, safety is the number one priority when building bridges.
What We Do Outside the Job Site
In addition to working on DOT projects, twice a year, Shelby Erectors is a part of the DOT’s Florida Construction Career Days. These events are designed to attract high school students to the construction industry by providing them with an opportunity to participate in hands-on activities and talk to experienced workers. Our learning lab is always a big success because of the hands-on activities.
Whether we’re on the job site building bridges, placing SIP metal deck forms, or doing community outreach, we’re always focused on quality and innovation to keep moving toward the future.
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