Abstract: A wallboard and stud unit formed of an elongate strip of foldable steel affixed to the wallboard back face, adapted to be folded outwardly away from the wallboard to function as a wall stud, in a hollow wall having a plurality of such units in back-to-back relationship.

Abstract: A casing trim, and the combination therewith of a flat vinyl strip, and the method of concealing building wooden casings and the like, wherein the casing trim is nailed to the edge portion of a casing, with one flange of the casing trim extending over an edge of the casing, and the perpendicularly directed face portion has a channel which receives and retains an edge of the flat vinyl strip. In an added embodiment, the flat vinyl strip is replaced by a wide cap having a rearwardly extending flange, for engagement in a forwardly extending channel of a receiver, all of which are disposed around the edge of adjacent vinyl siding.

Abstract: A casing trim, and the combination therewith of a flat vinyl strip, and the method of concealing building wooden casings and the like, wherein the casing trim is nailed to the edge portion of a casing, with one flange of the casing trim extending over an edge of the casing, and the perpendicularly directed face portion has a channel which receives and retains an edge of the flat vinyl strip.

Abstract: A secondary vertical stud or furniture channel for mounting against one side of a plurality of vertically spaced upwardly opening horizontal channels in a hollow partition wall framework, with slots in the secondary stud for engaging the upwardly extending flanges of the horizontal channels. The secondary studs are able to be freely located at any position along the length of the wall, for supporting wall furniture where desired, for locating a perpendicularly extending second partition wall wherever desired, or for receiving fasteners or adding stability to the wall framework wherever desired, by very simple installation procedures.

Abstract: A wall framing system including U-shaped metal studs in which there are two web portions with a plurality of aligned holes in the two webs, short sections of channel are disposed through said aligned holes for supporting wallboard thereon, and means are provided near the ends of the short channel for maintaining the ends of the channels in a fixed position relative to the wallboard supported thereon.

Abstract: A ceiling panel, in a drop ceiling, formed from a relatively large ceiling board and at least one reinforcing metal channel affixed to the board top side, in which the channel has at least one opening shaped to form a tongue. The tongue extends into an opening on a metal plate which is mechanically affixed to the top of the board, such as by a plurality of tangs which penetrate the back of the board.

Abstract: An electrical raceway floor track and a partition embodying such floor track wherein the floor track is an elongate aluminum extrusion with a relatively wide upwardly opening lower channel connected to a relatively narrower upwardly opening upper channel by a solid rigid vertical wall. Wallboards and studs are supported by the upper channel, utilities are disposed between the channels and base trim strips are attached to the lower channel to hide the track and utilities. Electrical boxes and cable shelves are easily mounted between the channels with clips engaging ridges in the channels. Shallow grooves guide during screw insertion and provide lines of weakness for removal of short narrow sections where needed.

Abstract: A wallboard and stud unit formed of an elongate strip of foldable steel affixed to the wallboard back face, adapted to be folded outwardly away from the wallboard to function as a wall stud, in a hollow wall having a plurality of such units in back-to-back relationship.

Abstract: Post-formed vinyl siding affixed to a substructure by nails extending through a channel shaped hurricane clip disposed over the top nailing portion of the siding. A top narrow strip of the clip front leg projects outwardly a short distance to form a guide so an applicator won't drive the nail in tightly and prevent movement of the siding during expansion and contraction.

Abstract: In a bucket, partially filled with an aqueous slurry of drywall joint compound, the joint compound is hermetically sealed from the air above by a formed-in-place flexible solid seal disposed over the entire top of the joint compound and preferably extending a short distance up the inner wall of the bucket. For partial use of the joint compound, the seal is first separated from the bucket inner wall and then lifted off the joint compound, cleaned, and kept in a condition suitable for reuse.

Abstract: An elongate thin strip, with two similar flanges forming a 90.degree. angle, each flange having a shallow step whereby a recessed area for joint compound is provided, when used as a drywall inside corner bead.

Abstract: Phase change materials (PCM's) having a phase change at about 10.degree. C. to 30.degree. C. are incorporated like a fine aggregate into building materials.

Abstract: A roll-coating apparatus and method of using it, the apparatus having a pair of narrow rubber tires mounted to be driven by the roll-coater doctor roll, disposed to transfer a narrow band of coating material along the two opposite edge areas of a board which is subsequently coated throughout the full width of the board by the roll-coater main applicator roll.

Abstract: A pneumatically operated staple gun with an adjustably spaced away elongate guide shoe allows control, with fine adjustment, of depth of penetration of staples, when stapling, through nailing slots of vinyl siding, into thick low density insulating boards. Shoe includes slot locating means in one embodiment.

Abstract: A predecorated gypsum wallboard and the method of manufacture wherein a protective base coat is applied on the face paper by a rotogravure printing of the protective coat with minute openings very closely spaced throughout the coating, as by printing the coat in the form of reasonably uniformly sized tiny dots with about 1000 to about 100,000 dots per square inch, a decorative coat is applied over the base coat, gypsum wallboard is formed with the coated surface of the paper on the outside face, and the newly formed wallboard, when hardened, is dried by heating and removing water from the gypsum core through the still porous coated paper.

Abstract: Gypsum wallboard, for use in drywall construction, printed with suitable identifying indicia on the face using an optical brightener which is visible only under ultra-violet light. The wallboard is identifiable as to source, after the board is installed, and even after having been painted.

Abstract: A demountable partition wall with laminated panels hung from a wall framework by clips applied to the back of the panel. The panels are sound absorbing tack boards, consisting essentially of a gypsum wallboard base board, a mineral fiber board core board and a porous decorative sheet of material adhered to the core board.

Abstract: A wall construction wherein a sheet of paper covered gypsum wallboard has at least one V-shaped groove formed part way through the thickness of the wallboard, and a sheet of rigid bendable sheet metal, conforming to one surface of the wallboard, along the groove area, is laminated to the wallboard whereby folding of the wallboard and sheet metal, along the groove, closing the groove, results in a folded section which remains firmly folded by reason of the folded rigid sheet metal laminate.

Abstract: Formed sheet metal clips, affixed relative to a wall panel being mounted, support the panel on a central downwardly extending hump in the clip, which provides a pivot point permitting slight rotation of the vertically extending panel, for easy placement in exactly the desired vertical extent prior to affixing the panel in place, as by screws or adhesive. The clips may be affixed to the panel bottom or to a floor track and may additionally provide means for affixing a wall base trim.

Abstract: A wall framework consisting essentially of vertical studs formed of sheet metal and horizontal channels extending through openings in the webs of the studs and locked firmly in the bottom portion of each opening by bendable sheet metal tabs formed at the sides of the upper portion of each opening, which tabs, when bent relatively inwardly, engage and hold the channel firmly in a desired position.