A method of manufacturing a pre-stressed beam or panel and the resulting beam or panel are described. The method includes providing a timber-based component (1); providing a pre-stressing member (9) arranged along the timber-based component; applying a tensile force to the pre-stressing member (9); providing concrete anchors (11a, 11b) at locations that are spaced apart along the timber-based component (1); coupling the pre-stressing member (9) to the concrete anchors (11a, 11b); and releasing the tensile force on the pre-stressing member (9) to transfer a compressive force to the timber-based component (1) through the concrete anchors (11a, 11b) to form a pre-stressed beam or panel.

A modular wall unit for a modular wall system includes a first elongate reinforcement member comprising at least one tubular portion for connecting the wall unit to a further wall unit of the wall system. The wall unit also includes a body at least partially surrounding the reinforcement member along its elongate length. The reinforcement member provides strength to the wall unit and allows a connecting element to engage with the at least one tubular portion. The connecting element can connect the wall unit to a further wall unit. This allows formation of a wall system where multiple wall units are interconnected via the reinforcement members and connecting elements. A kit including a wall unit and one or more plugs for assembling a plurality of wall units, a method for forming a wall unit, and a hanging device for supporting a frame are also described.

A modular wall unit for a modular wall system includes a first elongate reinforcement member comprising at least one tubular portion for connecting the wall unit to a further wall unit of the wall system. The wall unit also includes a body at least partially surrounding the reinforcement member along its elongate length. The reinforcement member provides strength to the wall unit and allows a connecting element to engage with the at least one tubular portion. The connecting element can connect the wall unit to a further wall unit. This allows formation of a wall system where multiple wall units are interconnected via the reinforcement members and connecting elements. A kit including a wall unit and one or more plugs for assembling a plurality of wall units, a method for forming a wall unit, and a hanging device for supporting a frame are also described.

A substantially parallelepipedal construction block includes an upper face configured to be associated with the lower face(s) of one or two other similar construction block(s), a lower face configured to be associated with the upper face(s) of one or two similar construction block(s) and at least two vertical openings. The construction block also includes a front face, a rear face and two lateral faces with a recess which allows two beads to appear at the sides of the two lateral faces. The construction block is constituted by expanding foam and sand, and an insulation portion situated between the rear face and the front face. The insulation portion extends over the width of the construction block and is substantially parallelepipedal. The height and the length of the insulation portion is identical to the construction block.

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 modular building system consists of panels of various sizes and shapes that join together through a series of primary joints and secondary joints. The primary joint and secondary joint have key-to-keyway fasteners and wedge-to-slot fasteners. In this way any panel can attach to any other panel. Panels could be joined for form larger panels and cutouts or other features could be included in the panels.

A modular building system consists of panels of various sizes and shapes that join together through a series of primary joints and secondary joints. The primary joint and secondary joint have key-to-keyway fasteners and wedge-to-slot fasteners. In this way any panel can attach to any other panel. Panels could be joined for form larger panels and cutouts or other features could be included in the panels.

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an interlocking, interchangeable wall system allowing for the formation of a plurality of form structures. Each parallel sidewall is embedded with stones or other materials into a composition base on one side. On the opposite side, the sidewalls are embedded with metal lathing and hardware to connect to bracing which connects to the opposing sidewall to form a plurality of structures, including an interlocking block system. Each sidewall interlocks with the panel or block next to it. When connected, the resulting interlocking composite blocks may be used in the construction of walls or other structures. The resulting sidewalls may be used in the decoration of existing construction or other structures. The present invention provides a significant improvement in labor and customization of structures.

Embodiments relate to an enhanced method for building walls by primarily reducing the time for assembly. The design is for a molded multi-segment plastic composite construction block that interlocks horizontally, vertically and orthogonally with a clearance-fit, does not require mortar for structural integrity and is self-aligning. The blocks are molded out of natural-fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites with thermal expansion coefficient less than 0.0002 per degree Celsius and compression strength greater than 60 MPa.

Embodiments relate to an enhanced method for building walls by primarily reducing the time for assembly. The design is for a molded multi-segment plastic composite construction block that interlocks horizontally, vertically and orthogonally with a clearance-fit, does not require mortar for structural integrity and is self-aligning. The blocks are molded out of natural-fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites with thermal expansion coefficient less than 0.0002 per degree Celsius and compression strength greater than 60 MPa.