How to Move a Building Using Soap? 0 6

Engineers from a construction company in the Canadian city of Halifax found an original solution when faced with the task of clearing land for a new residential complex. The most obvious option seemed to be demolishing the old building; however, this was impossible as it holds historical value. Ultimately, a decision was made to move it.

First, the workers dug underneath and installed 12 steel beams. Then they attempted to shift the house using two excavators and a tow truck, but all efforts proved fruitless.

Ingenuity came to the rescue: the engineers used blocks of regular soap to ensure smooth sliding. The 200-year-old building, weighing almost 200 tons, was lifted by 2.5 cm using hydraulic jacks, after which 700 pieces of soap were placed between the load-bearing structures. Overnight, the soap turned into a mush under pressure, making the beams slippery. As a result, the house was successfully moved 9 meters.