Abstract: An underlayment for use between a veneer material and a foundation surface comprises a base layer and a series of supports extending upwardly from the base layer. The supports are configured to create voids in a layer of bonding material used to adhere the veneer material to the underlayment. Each of the supports includes at least one outer wall extending upwardly from the base layer and terminating at an upper lip, a bowl area defined adjacent a center of the support; and an internal wall extending downwardly from the upper lip toward the center of the support to at least partially define the bowl area within each of the supports.

Abstract: A load bearing structure including a first fixed net layer, a second fixed net layer and a non-linear structure in between. The first fixed net layer may include a first layer of flexible fabric and a fixing material that fixes the shape of the first layer of flexible fabric. The second fixed net layer may include a second layer of flexible fabric and a fixing material that fixes the shape of the second layer of flexible fabric. The non-linear reinforcing structure may be in communication with the first and second fixed net layers and may be configured to share with the first and second fixed net layers a load applied to the load bearing structure.

Abstract: A net layer (32) defines the shell (40) of a building, carried by any necessary supports. A hardening layer (34) is applied to fix the shape of the net layer (32) and to establish wall, roof, and floor. Optionally the shell is of sufficient strength to receive application of further layers in order to define an exoskeleton. Structures of roof sections include parallel-sided segments and converging-sided segments, with troughed or domed section shapes. Structures of walls include opposed shell sides (35), (78) and central filler layers (70), together defining an exoskeleton. Posts (72) can add additional structural capacities for supporting walls, roof and floor and can be formed integrally of net (32) and hardener (34).

Abstract: A lightweight floor slab comprises a meshy shuttering (1), a metal mesh (3) and cement mortars (2), wherein the meshy shuttering (1) and the metal mesh (3) are formed to a whole by filing the cement mortars (2).

Abstract: A net layer (32) defines the shell (40) of a building, carried by any necessary supports. A hardening layer (34) is applied to fix the shape of the net layer (32) and to establish wall, roof, and floor. Optionally the shell is of sufficient strength to receive application of further layers in order to define an exoskeleton. Structures of roof sections include parallel-sided segments and converging-sided segments, with troughed or domed section shapes. Structures of walls include opposed shell sides (35), (78) and central filler layers (70), together defining an exoskeleton. Posts (72) can add additional structural capacities for supporting walls, roof and floor and can be formed integrally of net (32) and hardener (34).

Abstract: System and method for reinforcing structures includes basalt textile 20 connected to surfaces of the structure 100 with fiber anchors 30. Textile spreads forces and increases ductility of structure. Textile may connect multiple structural elements together, including walls, floors, columns, beams, and roofs. Textile is covered with mortar 50 customized to match color and texture of structure by use of locally obtained grit, aggregate, or colorant. Basalt fiber textile is preferred to avoid degradation of textile from alkaline components of mortar 50.

Abstract: Cementitious exterior sheathing products are provided which include a rigid support member affixed to a cementitious layer. The rigid support member includes at least one nailing flange disposed along one of its lateral sides for allowing the sheathing product to be affixed to an exterior wall of a building. Preferred mechanical and adhesive bonding techniques are suggested for combining the cementitious layer and rigid support member together to form an integrated product. Such products are lighter in weight and are more crack resistant than currently available fiber cement trim boards.

Abstract: An access floor and the installation method therefor includes a plurality of basic structural units (1) usually made from a lightweight plastic material, each unit including at least one surface (2), at least one lower cavity (8) defined by the upper surface (2), at least one lower unit-supporting edge (3) in contact with the supporting floor (13) and at least one opening (10) provided in the aforementioned surface (2). A method for installing the access floor, includes the following steps: pre-positioning the pipes, assembling the units (1) and positioning the pipes in the cavities (8), forming the cavities for the pillars (12), positioning a grating (11) on the surface (2) of the units (1), sealing the openings (10) using the corresponding cover, pouring concrete (14) or another resistant material, and positioning the coating (15) and/or the final floor (17).

Abstract: A roofing system provides a stronger bond than conventional roof systems to withstand greater uplift pressures in hurricane force winds, while also providing a sound fire rating. The system includes a non-corrosive metal blocking structure, including a perimeter edge closure that has an anchoring flange for attachment to the roof deck, a parallel upper flange and an intermediate flange extending perpendicularly between the upper and lower flanges. The system further includes lightweight insulating concrete applied to the roof deck and filled between the upper and lower flanges of the edge closure, an inter-ply sheet applied by torch or self-adhesive directly to the insulating lightweight concrete, and a torch applied cap membrane over the inter-ply sheet. Direct attachment of the inter-ply sheet to the lightweight insulating concrete without the use of hardware fasteners preserves the integrity of the underlying lightweight insulating concrete for future re-roofing.

Abstract: A blanket of fibrous building insulation is provided, for in situ cutting to correspond to spacings between studs or like building members between which the insulation is to be applied. The blanket includes a layer of fibrous insulation material and a facing material adhered thereto. An adhesive provides the adhesion between the two layers. Perforations in the facing material provide openings allowing some of the adhesive to bleed into the perforations to be visible from the opposite side whereby a plurality of perforations provide guidelines for cutting the blanket to desired sizes for installation between structural building members.

Abstract: A gypsum composition containing a sulfonate-containing comb-branched copolymer is disclosed. The sulfonate-containing comb-branched copolymer comprises recurring units of a polyether macromonomer, an acrylic monomer, and a sulfonate monomer. The sulfonate-containing comb-branched copolymer not only increases the fluidity of gypsum slurry but also has reduced retardation on the gypsum setting.

Abstract: A lightweight cementitious composite material includes expanded synthetic polymer particulate having a particle size of between 0.0625 and 0.5 inches. A dispersant coating on said particulate suppresses electrostatic attraction between particulate particles. A matrix surrounds the particulate and is present from 0.25 to 1 pound per gallon of dispersant coated particulate.

Abstract: A process for laying small decorative tiles on a surface includes the use of a lightweight plastic matrix having ridges of a desired pattern which are used to locate and space the tiles of different shapes in the desired locations. Tiles of the desired color and shape are placed face down on the matrix. A perforated paper matrix having an adhesive layer is then placed over the exposed back sides of the tiles to maintain their relative positions. The surface to be tiled is then coated with thinset adhesive and the tile strip with the matrix is removed and placed against the surface. Several such tile strips may be placed side-by-side or in a desired arrangement on the surface after which grout is applied between the tiles in a well known manner. The process for producing the paper matrix is also described.

Abstract: A combination floor pad having composite base boards includes at least one base pad, and multiple base boards fixed on the base pad. The base pad has a surface provided with two adjacent side ribs, and provided with multiple positioning ribs arranged longitudinally and transversely in a staggered manner, thereby forming multiple receiving spaces in the base pad for insertion and placement of the base boards. Thus, each of the base boards may be securely locked in the base pad rigidly and stably, thereby preventing each of the base boards from being detached or loosened from the base pad.

Abstract: A gypsum composition suitable for use in the manufacture of construction materials is provided. The gypsum composition includes gypsum, water, and a dispersant formulation comprising an acrylic/polyether comb-branched copolymer. A method of making a gypsum composition is also provided. The method includes mixing together, in any combination, gypsum, water, and a dispersant formulation comprising an acrylic/polyether comb-branched copolymer. A wallboard is provided including two sheets of board paper, and a gypsum core between the sheets of board paper.

Abstract: A process for constructing a wall, floor or ceiling in situ. The process includes the steps of erecting a substantially rigid frame (10) and attaching fiber reinforced cementitious sheets (50) to the front and rear faces of the frame to form a void (60) therebetween. This void (60) is then filled with a lightweight aggregate concrete slurry and allowed to cure. The sheets are adapted to absorb sufficient moisture from the lightweight aggregate slurry to provide natural adherence of the concrete slurry to the sheets without substantially losing their structural integrity during setting and curing of the concrete slurry.

Abstract: A building construction system including a pair of rigid vertical frame members secured to an underlying support surface, a connection trough defined between the vertical frame members, a horizontal suspension member also extending between the vertical frame members and suspended at generally a top portion thereof, and a plurality of corrugated material panels. The corrugated material panels are suspended from the horizontal suspension member, so as to hang between the vertical frame members and into the connection trough. Furthermore, the corrugated material panels include a plurality of apertures defined therein. A quantity of concrete is also included and is applied on the corrugated material panels, the apertures defined in the corrugated material panels facilitating adherence of the concrete to the corrugated material panels until hardening.

Abstract: The invention relates to a support and/or drainage plate made of a foil-like plastic material, for use with a plate-lined floor structure or a wall so as to create a space between the ground and the surface lining to be applied onto the foil-like plate. The structure of the plate is such that cavities are created by means of, on the one side, projections extending substantially in one direction and, on the other side, raised areas at the same level between which chambers are embodied for receiving a hardening contact medium, such as mortar or adhesive, which forms a contact layer with the surface lining to be applied. According to the invention the structure consists of projections (N1, N2) or (S1, S2) which extend in at least two directions and intersect. The resulting chambers (M1) are delimited in their circumference by the projections (S1, S2), which are open towards the other side of the plate.

Abstract: An exterior wall system for a side of a building includes a plurality of prefabricated composite panels which are positioned in courses above an elongated support bracket attached to a support structure of the building, the composite panels being connected to the building support structure by fasteners which extend through washers that each extend in part into grooved channels in the sides of abutting panels from adjacent courses. The courses of panels are covered by a seamless layer of a hardened mixture of binder and aggregate material such as marble.

Abstract: The invention relates to a ribbed plate for a composite slab, the profile of which consists of protruding ribs formed in an essentially planar plate, the upper flanges of the ribs being surface profiled in order to achieve better adhesion between the ribbed plate and the concrete of the composite slab. According to the invention, the surface profiling of the upper flange of each rib consists of spaced apart corrugations extending essentially across the upper flange. Additionally, in the junction of the web between the sides of the rib and the upper flange there is formed a protruding longitudinal corrugation extending at least partly along a length of the rib.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cantilevered composite structure plate for double floors, decks, roofs or the like, with a trough serving as outside reinforcement and made of a material with high tensile strength and high elasticity module, preferably sheet steel, and a filler material of low tensile strength and low elasticity module, e.g., anhydrite or concrete, placed in the hollow of the trough, and also with an armature in the trough floor, preferably in the form of funnel-shaped holes. The trough is formed with masses of the strong material being provided on the bottom of the trough floor in the form of substantially parallel, downwardly extending, flex-resistant rods that are disposed in substantially perpendicular relation to the trough floor.

Abstract: Reinforced panel structures include a panel core formed from a cementitious composition that has controlled bleed characteristics. For example, the cementitious composition may comprise hydraulic cement, a dispersing agent, a gelling agent, and water. At least one woven, fabric reinforcing layer in the form of a sheet is laminated in the panel core closely adjacent at least one of its faces. The controlled bleed characteristic of the core composition insures that the reinforcing layer is bonded tightly thereto. The fabric from which the layer is made has a tensile strain that is compatible with the compression strain of the panel core to permit the panel to be cold formed.

Abstract: A metal mesh lath, which is capable of receiving a spray or projection rendering of a material such as plaster or mortar, is provided on its rear surface with a coating of a resilient adhesive, particularly an elastomer or resilient plastic, which is stuck to the metal mesh and forms an elastic membrane over the apertures of the mesh.