A portable apparatus and method for cutting linear trenches in a concrete ground surface includes two bars extending in parallel spaced relation along the concrete with an elongated track removably fastened and extending orthogonally thereto. A trolley supporting a motor-driven cutting wheel is movably engaged with the track. A depth adjuster alternately lowers and raises the cutting wheel to engage and disengage the concrete while the trolley follows contours of the concrete to cut a kerf of uniform depth. The track is selectively movable to spaced locations along the lengths of the two bars to cut a first plurality of parallel kerfs in a first direction. The apparatus is rotatable about a vertical axis to cut a second plurality of parallel kerfs oriented in a second direction at a predetermined angle, e.g., 90 degrees, to the first direction, to form a simulated tile pattern in the concrete.

A water damaged floor (10) is dried by forming an opening (18) in a flooring (14) of the floor and creating and forcing an airflow from a surrounding space (28) through the opening (18) into a ventilating space between the flooring (14) and a subfloor (22). According to the invention, an end portion of the flooring (14) is elevated from the subfloor (22) for creating said ventilating space and for creating an air passage (27) between the ventilating space and the surrounding space (28) at an edge of the flooring (14).

A vertical joint system 10 for substrates 12 is formed with joints Jm and Jf which engaged by relative motion in a direction perpendicular to major surfaces 14 and 16 of the substrate 12. The joints are configured to enable relative rotation of up to 3 degrees (i.e. clockwise or anticlockwise) while maintaining engagement of the joints. The joints Jm and Jf are further configured to form two locking planes 18, 20 one on each of the inner and outer most sides of the joint. Engagement about the locking planes 18, 20 is provided by transverse outward extending surfaces Cm1, Cm2, Cf1 and Cf2. The surface Cf1 and Cf2 overhang the surfaces Cm1 and Cm2. At least one surface in each pair of engaging surfaces: Cf1 and Cm1; and, Cf2 and Cm2 is smoothly curved. The joints Jm and Jf can be further arranged to provide a third locking plane 74 parallel to and between the locking planes 18, 20. The joints are disengaged by combination of a downward rotation of one joint relative the other then application of a downward force. By virtue of these features flooring with the joint system can be laid on sub-surfaces which have undulations greater than current world industry standards. Additionally replacement of damaged substrates is possible by vertical lifting of damaged substrates without the need to pull up excess flooring from the closest wall to the damaged substrates.

A method and apparatus are provided to rehabilitate and beautify cracked concrete surfaces by adding channels to the surface.

A water damaged floor (10) is dried by forming an opening (18) in a flooring (14) of the floor and creating and forcing an airflow from a surrounding space (28) through the opening (18) into a ventilating space between the flooring (14) and a sub-floor (22). According to the invention, an end portion of the flooring (14) is elevated from the subfloor (22) for creating said ventilating space and for creating an air passage (27) between the ventilating space and the surrounding space (28) at an edge of the flooring (14).

A vertical joint system for substrates is formed with joints and which engaged by relative motion in a direction perpendicular to major surfaces and of the substrate. The joints are configured to enable relative rotation of up to 3 degrees while maintaining engagement of the joints. The joints and are further configured to form two locking planes one on each of the inner and outer most sides of the joint. Engagement about the locking planes is provided by transverse outward extending surfaces. At least one surface in each pair of engaging surfaces is smoothly curved. The joints and can be further arranged to provide a third locking plane parallel to and between the locking planes. The joints are disengaged by combination of a downward rotation of one joint relative the other then application of a downward force.

The present apparatus and method relates in general to sealing a hole in a floor with a precast plug. A precast plug is created by pouring a wet aggregate mix into a form mold and thereafter inserting a pre formed rod into the uncured mixture, positioning it such that the center of the rod rests in the center of the form mold and the ends of the rod extend outward near the top of the form mold. The mix is then cured. The precast plug may then be transported to the hole that it is destined to fix. Grooves may be carved on either side of the hole to accommodate the rod's ends. The interior of the hole and the exterior of the plug may then be covered with a sealant, after which the plug may be inserted into the hole. Once the sealant cures, the hole is fully repaired.

A panel 10 is formed with first and second joint systems 20 and 22 to enable engagement of a plurality of panels 10 along their sides 16 and 18. The first joint system 20 has a laterally extending tongue 24a along one longitudinal side 16a and a groove 24b along an opposite longitudinal side 16b. The second joint system 22 is a vertical joint system having mutually engageable male and female parts Jm and Jf respectively. The male part Jm is formed on one transverse the side 18a, while the female part Jf is formed on an opposite transverse side 18b.

A flooring component comprising a main body portion defining a first major surface and a second major surface, a first extending portion that extends from the main body portion in a first direction, the first extending portion defining a third surface coplanar to at least a portion of the first major surface, and a second extending portion that extends from the main body portion in a second direction opposite the first direction, the second extending portion defining a fourth surface coplanar to at least a portion of the second major surface, wherein at least 60% of the main body portion, the first extending portion and the second extending portion is of a first material, the first extending portion comprises a female structure on a side of the first extending portion opposite the third surface, the second extending portion comprises a male structure on a side of the second extending portion opposite the fourth surface, the flooring component comprises, in a region of at least one of the female structure and the male structure, a resilient portion of a second material more pliable than the first material, and the female structure is of a shape that snappingly engages the male structure using a resilience of the resilient portion.

A flooring component (700) comprising a main body portion (717) defining a first major surface (701) and a second major surface (702), a first extending portion (720) that extends from the main body portion in a first direction, the first extending portion defining a third surface coplanar to at least a portion of the first major surface, and a second extending portion (730) that extends from the main body portion in a second direction opposite the first direction, the second extending portion defining a fourth surface coplanar to at least a portion of the second major surface, wherein at least 60% of the main body portion, the first extending portion and the second extending portion is of a first material, the first extending portion comprises a female structure (722) on a side of the first extending portion opposite the third surface, the second extending portion comprises a male structure (733) on a side of the second extending portion opposite the fourth surface, the flooring component comprises, in a region of at least one of the female structure and the male structure, a resilient portion of a second material more pliable than the first material, and the female structure is of a shape that snappingly engages the male structure using a resilience of the resilient portion.