Disclosed is an economical and effective way of producing a double sided wall having a corner or closed end using facing panels having a face surface and a back surface with a retaining structure. The facing panels are stacked in a back-to-back arrangement into a pair of first and second wall components bridged by separate connectors. An end wall component forming an end or corner of the wall includes facing panels stacked to extend across the intermediate space. A branched connector and link are used for bridging a concrete facing panel in the end wall component with an adjacent concrete facing panel of the first or second wall component. The branched connector has a first connecting end and an opposite branched end with at least a pair of second connecting ends for attachment to the retaining structure of the adjacent facing panel and the link has a first end for attachment to a facing panel in the end wall component and a second end for linking to the branched connector.

According to one embodiment, an insulated structure includes a frame comprising a plurality of wall studs coupled together and a plurality of foam boards attached to the frame to form a continuous insulative wall. A plurality of fasteners attaches the foam boards to the frame. Each fastener includes an elongate shaft and a cap. The elongate shaft is configured to penetrate through a foam board and into a wall stud to couple the components together. The cap is configured to be positioned atop a foam board to distribute a load relatively evenly to the foam board. A sealing tape is applied across seams between adjacent foam boards and over the fasteners' caps to seal the wall. A sealing caulk is applied to secondary fasteners and penetrations to seal the wall. In some embodiments, the structure has a fastener density of about 1 fastener per 243 in.sup.2 of foam board.

According to one embodiment, an insulated structure includes a frame comprising a plurality of wall studs coupled together and a plurality of foam boards attached to the frame to form a continuous insulative wall. A plurality of fasteners attaches the foam boards to the frame. Each fastener includes an elongate shaft and a cap. The elongate shaft is configured to penetrate through a foam board and into a wall stud to couple the components together. The cap is configured to be positioned atop a foam board to distribute a load relatively evenly to the foam board. A sealing tape is applied across seams between adjacent foam boards and over the fasteners' caps to seal the wall. A sealing caulk is applied to secondary fasteners and penetrations to seal the wall. In some embodiments, the structure has a fastener density of about 1 fastener per 243 in.sup.2 of foam board.

A coating composition for forming a barrier membrane (16) on an exterior wall (10) of a building includes a fluid mixture of water, a binder, and at least about 3 wt % of an alcohol. After spreading the mixture on the exterior wall (10), at least the binder forms the barrier membrane (16). A method of applying a membrane (16) composition to an exterior wall (10) of a building includes providing a first mixture including at least about 82 wt % of an alcohol, providing a fluid composition including a binder and water, mixing the first mixture and the fluid composition to form a second mixture having alcohol in an amount of at least about 3 wt %, and spreading the second mixture on the substrate.

A coating composition for forming a barrier membrane (16) on an exterior wall (10) of a building includes a fluid mixture of water, a binder, and at least about 3 wt % of an alcohol. After spreading the mixture on the exterior wall (10), at least the binder forms the barrier membrane (16). A method of applying a membrane (16) composition to an exterior wall (10) of a building includes providing a first mixture including at least about 82 wt % of an alcohol, providing a fluid composition including a binder and water, mixing the first mixture and the fluid composition to form a second mixture having alcohol in an amount of at least about 3 wt %, and spreading the second mixture on the substrate.

Apparatus and methods for providing wall covering. The apparatus may include a traveling support for a wall covering panel. The support may include a bracket. The bracket may include a projection that extends into a generally U- or C-shaped channel. The apparatus may include one or more standards for each panel. The apparatus may include one or more brackets for each panel for each standard. The bracket or brackets may be arranged so that when the panel is engaged to the standard or standards, the standards are parallel to each other and perpendicular to an edge of the panel. The standard or standards and the panel will thus be squared. When the edge is set on a horizontal floor, the standard or standards will be plumb.

The mortarless brick panel has upper and lower horizontal metal framing tracks with vertical metal wall studs secured therebetween that forms a rectangular frame to which a sheet of expanded metal lath is secured to the face thereof. A sheet of insulation overlays the expanded metal lath and is attached to the frame with screws or other fasteners. The mortarless brick, with a mounting rod protruding from its back side is secured to the panel by hand pressing the mounting rod through the insulation and expanded metal lath and is secured to the expanded metal lath with speed washers or other mechanical fasteners, thereby forming a mortarless brick panel. Time and motion studies have concluded that this mortarless brick can be installed up tp eight times faster than mortar joint brick, providing great savings in erection costs. This savings is used to provide a minimum of four inches of thermal insulation to the exterior walls of the structure to conserve energy and provide great savings to the consumer in heating and cooling costs.

A system and method for installing decking are described. One embodiment includes a method of installing decking. The method includes aligning a track for decking relative to a joist. The method further includes attaching the track to the joist, and snapping a decking board into a retaining portion of the track after attaching. In the system, the track has a base element with at least one attachment element for attaching the track to a joist, a first snap-fit element, and a second snap-fit element. The first snap-fit element is coupled to a first end portion of the base element, and the second snap-fit element is coupled to a second end portion of the base element. The snap-fit elements are configured to retain at least one decking board.

An acoustic damping building material (100) comprising an acoustic damping layer (118) secured to at least a portion of a substrate (110). The acoustic damping layer comprises at least two media wherein the at least two media are configured such that the acoustic damping layer comprises at least one direct energy transmission pathway and at least one indirect energy transmission pathway through the acoustic damping layer to the substrate.

According to one embodiment, an insulated structure includes a frame comprising a plurality of wall studs coupled together and a plurality of foam boards attached to the frame to form a continuous insulative wall. A plurality of fasteners attaches the foam boards to the frame. Each fastener includes an elongate shaft and a cap. The elongate shaft is configured to penetrate through a foam board and into a wall stud to couple the components together. The cap is configured to be positioned atop a foam board to distribute a load relatively evenly to the foam board. A sealing tape is applied across seams between adjacent foam boards and over the fasteners' caps to seal the wall. A sealing caulk is applied to secondary fasteners and penetrations to seal the wall. In some embodiments, the structure has a fastener density of about 1 fastener per 243 in.sup.2 of foam board.