Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to wallboards, for example, suitable for use in constructing internal walls. The present disclosure relates more particularly to a wallboard and a method that provides simplified high-quality surface finishing. The wallboard includes a wall panel having a front surface and a rear surface. A sandable coating is disposed on the front surface of the wall panel. The method includes positioning wallboards adjacent to one another, applying sandable joint compound over joint formed between the wallboards, and sanding the joint compound and the sandable coating of the wallboards.

Abstract: Disclosed is a building board construction with increased surface strength. More specifically, increased nail pull strength is achieved via the application of an external surface coating. The surface coating is ideally applied to a paper faced gypsum building board. In one possible embodiment, the coating is formed from a water soluble polymer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for the production of gypsum board using starch pellets. In accordance with the present disclosure, the starch necessary for board formation is provided in the form of starch pellets. These pellets are mixed with a gypsum slurry in a mixer. The pellets are initially insoluble and do not dissolve. However, during subsequent drying stages, the pellets become soluble and dissolve into the gypsum phase. This both provides the desired starch component and also results in the formation of voids within the set gypsum.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to building surface products, for example, panels suitable for forming a building surface. The present disclosure relates more particularly to a building surface product including a gypsum panel with an upper edge that overlaps a lower edge of a neighboring gypsum panel.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to building surface joint supports, for example, suitable for covering a seam between two building surface panels. In certain aspects, the disclosure provides joint supports that include an elongate layered structure having inside and outside surfaces, the elongate layered structure including a support strip that includes first and second elongate flanges. In certain embodiments, the elongate layered structure also includes an inner facing sheet disposed on the inside surface of the support strip; and an outer facing sheet disposed on the outside surface of the support strip, wherein the each of the inner facing sheet and the outer facing sheet is formed from a fibrous polymer material.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to plaster boards and methods for making them. For example, one aspect of the disclosure is a plaster board comprising one or more continuous layers of material disposed within a body of hardened plaster material, the first side and second side of each continuous layer of material being substantially covered by the hardened plaster material. In certain such embodiments, each continuous layer of material includes a polymer (e.g., a damping polymer) disposed on a carrier sheet. Another aspect of the disclosure relates to a method for making a plaster board that involves drying a wet body of plaster material while a continuous layer of material or precursor therefor is disposed within it.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to evaluating the surfaces of a building. The present disclosure relates more particularly to a method of characterizing a surface texture of a building surface. The method includes illuminating a first area of the building surface from a single direction and capturing an image of the first area using a camera while the first area is illuminated. The first image includes a first group of digital pixel values. The method further includes calculating a first set of values that characterize a first surface texture of the first area based on a first group of digital pixel values of the image, and comparing the first set of values to a second set of values that characterize a second surface texture, so as to produce a comparator value.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are plaster boards that include first and second layers of hardened plaster material, a liner attached to the first layer of hardened plaster material, and a first material (e.g., a polymer material such as a viscoelastic polymer) adhered between the liner and the second layer of hardened plaster material. The liner includes one or more structurally weakened regions each extending substantially from a first edge to a second opposing edge of the plaster board. The structurally weakened regions of the liner may facilitate creation of a fissure that propagates substantially within a plane within the plaster board. Methods for making the plaster boards may involve drying wet plaster material while it is in contact with a liner having structurally weakened regions, processing a liner to form its structurally weakened regions while in contact with wet plaster material, or processing a liner to form its structurally weakened regions while in contact with hardened plaster material.

Abstract: An example plasterboard includes a layer of hardened plaster having a first surface and an opposed second surface, a layer of polymer material having particles of one or more cementitiously-active substances mixed therein, and a liner between the first surface of the layer of hardened plaster and the layer of polymer material. Another example is a method of forming such a plasterboard. The method includes loading an extruder with the polymer material having the particles of one or more cementitiously active substances mixed therein, extruding the polymer material through a die to form the layer of polymer material on a surface of the liner, contacting with a layer of wet plaster material, the liner having the polymer material applied thereon such that the surface of the liner faces away from the wet plaster material, and drying the layer of wet plaster material to form the layer of hardened plaster.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to plaster wall panels, for example, suitable for covering interior wall frames. The present disclosure relates more particularly to a plaster wall panel including a first plaster layer, a second plaster layer, and a damping layer disposed between the first and second plaster layers. The first plaster layer has a first thickness and is composed of a first plaster material that has a first material property. The second plaster layer has a second thickness and is composed of a second plaster material that has a second material property. The first thickness is smaller than the second thickness, and the first and second material properties are different.

Abstract: Disclosed is a building board construction that provides enhanced acoustical properties. In one possible embodiment, the board is a gypsum board with opposing facing sheets and an intermediate set gypsum core. An opened celled polymeric sheet is formed within the gypsum core and gives the resulting board enhanced sound absorption. In an alternative embodiment, individual pieces of polymeric foam are used in stead of the polymeric sheet. Also disclosed are various manufacturing methods whereby boards with enhanced acoustical properties can be formed in an continuous process. The various components of the present disclosure, and the manner in which they interrelate, are described in greater detail hereinafter.

Abstract: An example plasterboard includes a layer of hardened plaster material having a first surface and an opposed second surface and a layer of molded material having a surface that faces away from the layer of hardened plaster material. The surface of the layer of molded material has one or more raised features. The plasterboard also includes a liner between the first surface of the layer of hardened plaster material and the layer of molded material. Other examples include a method of forming such plasterboards and a method for installing such plasterboards.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to wallboards, for example, suitable for use in constructing internal walls. The present disclosure relates more particularly to a wallboard and a method that provides simplified high-quality surface finishing. The wallboard includes a wall panel having a front surface and a rear surface. A sandable coating is disposed on the front surface of the wall panel. The method includes positioning wallboards adjacent to one another, applying sandable joint compound over joint formed between the wallboards, and sanding the joint compound and the sandable coating of the wallboards.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are plaster boards having a first surface and an opposing second surface, and a first edge and an opposing second edge that bound the first surface and the second surface. The first surface includes a first section and a second section, the first section being raised compared to the second section, the second section abutting the second edge. The second surface includes a first section and a second section that are separated by a boundary between the first edge and the second edge. The first section of the second surface is substantially parallel to the first section of the first surface. The second section of the second surface slopes toward the first surface from the boundary toward the second edge. Methods for making the plaster boards involve forming wet plaster material and drying the wet plaster material such that the wet plaster material hardens into a plasterboard.

Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure is a plaster board having a first edge and an opposed second edge, and a third edge and an opposed fourth edge. The plaster board includes a first layer of hardened plaster material including a first surface and an opposed second surface, and a second layer of hardened plaster material including a first surface and an opposed second surface. The second layer of hardened plaster material is stacked against the first layer such that their first surfaces face one another. The first layer and the second layer together define the first, second, third, and fourth edges of the plaster board. The plaster board also includes a viscoelastic polymer disposed between the first surfaces of the first and second layers of hardened plaster material. The viscoelastic polymer does not extend substantially to the first, second, third, and fourth edges of the plaster board.

Abstract: A system for visually enhancing a surface. For example, the system may include an assembly that may be configured to project a laser line across at least a portion of the surface. Versions of the laser line may be projected at an angle of incidence relative to a plane defined by the surface. For example, the angle of incidence may be in a range of about 5 degrees to about 60 degrees. In one version, the laser line may be substantially perpendicular to a central axis of the surface. In addition, the laser line may enable enhanced, qualitative user visualization of the surface and non-planar distortion in the surface.

Abstract: A composition and process for manufacture thereof used in hybrid inventive building materials comprising Syngenite (K2Ca(SO4)2.H2O) and Struvite-K (KMgPO4.6H2O). Starting constituents include magnesium oxide (MgO), monopotassium phosphate (MKP) and stucco (calcium sulfate hemihydrate), mixed in predetermined ratios, cause reactions to proceed through multiple phases, which reactions variously are proceeding simultaneously and in parallel. Variables, e.g., water temperature, pH, mixing times and rates, have been found to affect resultant reaction products. Preferred ratios of chemical constituents and manufacturing parameters, including predetermined weight percent and specified ratios of Struvite-K and Syngenite are provided for building products used for specified purposes. Reactions are optimized in stoichiometry and additives to reduce the combined heat of formation to non-destructive levels. Various additives help control and guide reactions.

Abstract: An area separation wall (ASW) may include gypsum liner panels and structural elements located between adjacent ones of the gypsum liner panels. A sealing material may be located between the gypsum liner panels and the structural elements, and between adjacent ones of the structural elements. The sealing material may form seals therebetween, such that the ASW is substantially airtight when assembled. In addition, the ASW may include a fire rating of at least 2 hours in compliance with ANSI/UL 263.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are plaster boards that include first and second layers of hardened plaster material, a liner attached to the first layer of hardened plaster material, and a first material (e.g., a polymer material such as a viscoelastic polymer) adhered between the liner and the second layer of hardened plaster material. The liner includes one or more structurally weakened regions each extending substantially from a first edge to a second opposing edge of the plaster board. The structurally weakened regions of the liner may facilitate creation of a fissure that propagates substantially within a plane within the plaster board. Methods for making the plaster boards may involve drying wet plaster material while it is in contact with a liner having structurally weakened regions, processing a liner to form its structurally weakened regions while in contact with wet plaster material, or processing a liner to form its structurally weakened regions while in contact with hardened plaster material.

Abstract: A building board, particularly a gypsum board, can have a high fastener sealability if protected by the combination of thin layers of an extruded polymer film and a thermoplastic coating layer. The combination of extruded polymer film and thermoplastic coating layer is designed such that the gypsum board can also tolerate overdriven fasteners, thus exceeding the requirements of ASTM D1970-15.