The present disclosure describes modular blocks configured to give the appearance of natural or cut stone. An aesthetic coating composition may be applied to one or more surfaces of a block having a low-density, such as an insulating concrete form (ICF), to form an modular block having the appearance of cut stone. The aesthetic coating composition includes a binder component, such as a cementitious binder made from white Portland cement, or a polymer binder such as an acrylic binder, an aggregate component, such as a limestone aggregate component, and optionally an adhesive component. The aggregate component includes a fine sand portion and a coarse sand portion that effectively enable the appearance of cut stone after finishing of the aesthetic coating surface via sanding, polishing, sandblasting, acid etching, acid finishing, or exposed aggregate finishing.

A process for making an erosion control mat includes rotating a cylindrical drum having a plurality of mold cavities; depositing a paste into the mold cavities; selecting the sheet of mesh material to have sufficient tensile strength to join the blocks of hardened paste together without tearing or separating from the blocks of hardened paste, and to have sufficient density to retain the paste within the mold cavities as the drum rotates; covering an outer surface of the cylindrical drum and outer surfaces of the paste with the sheet of mesh material; continuing to rotate the cylindrical drum as the paste hardens into dimensionally stable blocks, and holding the sheet against the outer surface such that the sheet retains the paste within the mold cavities and the sheet becomes embedded in the paste; and separating the dimensionally stable blocks from the mold cavities.

An adjustable railing post-to-substrate embed system for anchoring a railing post having a railing base with plural railing base anchor holes includes: a plate, having anchor holes; a plurality of nuts, a first end of each nut being arranged proximate a respective one of the anchor holes, the first end of each nut being configured to be selectively and removably threadingly engaged, via the respective anchor hole, with one selected from the group consisting of: respective upper protective bolts, and respective bolts of the railing base; and a plurality of anchors, each being configured to adjustably threadingly engage a second end of a respective one of the nuts, distal the respective anchor hole, each of the anchors being individually adjustable in length by threadable engagement with the second end of the respective one of the nuts.

Methods and ceramic matrix composite articles formed thereby, as well as systems for making such ceramic matrix composite articles and carrying out such methods are disclosed herein. The methods include preparing a ceramic matrix composite by steps including (a) providing reinforcing fiber, such as carbon fiber, for impregnation; (b) heat treating the reinforcing fiber; (c) impregnating the heat treated reinforcing fiber with a composition comprising a ceramic forming polymer to form a fiber reinforced, ceramic forming polymer pre-preg; and (d) heat molding the fiber reinforced, ceramic forming polymer pre-preg to form a molded ceramic matrix composite article.

Water-resistant gypsum products may be produced using a novel catalyst that includes calcium aluminate cement and/or calcium sulfoaluminate cement. For example, a water-resistant gypsum panel may have a core comprising: interwoven matrices of calcium sulfate dihydrate crystals and a silicone resin, wherein the interwoven matrices have dispersed throughout them a siloxane polymerization catalyst comprising (a) 55 wt % to 100 wt % calcium aluminate cement and/or calcium aluminate cement and (b) 0 wt % to 45 wt % and magnesium oxide, wherein the weight ratio of the siloxane polymerization catalyst to the calcium sulfate dihydrate is 0.01-5:100. The water-resistant gypsum panel may have an absence of one or more of: Portland cement, limestone, aragonite, calcite, dolomite, and slaked lime.

A method for manufacturing cladding elements for use in construction, including a composite cement-based structure, including an elastically deformable support element having a first surface, a second surface and a plurality of spacer elements having an elongated shape positioned between the first and second surface to realize a plurality of interconnected cavities. The method further provides preparing a substantially fluid and water-based cementitious composition and introducing the substantially fluid cementitious composition into the support element to obtain a composite structure in a deformable state. After this, part of the fluid cementitious composition is removed from the support element, to eliminate the excess fluid cementitious composition and position the deformable composite structure in a forming device. The method provides for maintaining the deformable composite structure in association with the forming device, until the consolidation thereof and that said support element is constituted by a three-dimensional elastically deformable fabric.

The invention relates to a pointing device (10) for pointing brickwork a method for pointing brickwork and use of the pointing device (10) for pointing brickwork. The pointing device comprises: ⋅—a support (12) that is configured for supporting a product (14) comprising brickwork; ⋅—a filling nozzle (20); ⋅—a pointing substance container (22) that is operatively coupled with the filling nozzle (20), wherein the pointing substance container (22) is configured for holding a pointing substance; ⋅—movement means (24) that are configured to position the filling nozzle (20) relative to the support (12); ⋅—a control unit (26) configured for ⋅—controlling the movement means (24); and ⋅—determining the amount of pointing substance in relation to a point; ⋅—a sensor (28) that is operatively connected to the controller (26), and is configured for sensing the location and size of the point; and ⋅—orientation means (30) that are configured to establish a relative position between the filling nozzle (20) and the support (12).

The present disclosure describes architectural blocks configured to give the appearance of real cut stone. A plaster composition may be applied to one or more surfaces of a block, such as a concrete masonry unit (CMU) to form an architectural block having the appearance of cut stone. The plaster composition includes a cementitious component, such as white Portland cement, a limestone aggregate component, and optionally an adhesive component. The limestone aggregate component includes a fine sand portion and a coarse sand portion that effectively enable the appearance of cut stone after finishing of the plaster surface via sanding and/or polishing.

A multi-zone cementitious product, which includes a base zone made of a first cementitious material composition and forming a portion of the product. At least one facing zone is adjacent to and bonded to the base zone, the facing zone made of a second cementitious material composition and forming at least one exterior face of said product which is visible when the product is installed. A disrupted boundary layer is between the facing zone and the base zone, and includes material from both the facing zone and the base zone. The disrupted boundary layer bonds the facing zone to the base zone. The facing zone has a thickness sufficient to prevent the base zone from being visible when the product is installed.

The invention relates to a panel and a method for producing a panel. The panel is in particular a floor, wall or ceiling panel, and comprises at least one core layer, the core layer comprising an upper core surface and a lower core surface and at least one pair of opposite side edges; wherein the core layer comprises magnesium oxide cement; wherein the core has a density which is substantially homogenous over its entire volume, and wherein at least one decorative top layer is attached to an upper core surface of the core layer.