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 thermal wall system may include a plurality of blocks configured to interconnect with each other forming a monolithic wall. The plurality of blocks form a series of vertical interior cavities that each extend from a top of the plurality of blocks to a bottom of the plurality of blocks, and tubing vertically extends through the series of vertical interior cavities.

Method of making construction materials intended for use as structural elements, such as structural blocks, used in the construction of buildings and civil engineering structures. In one aspect, the blocks may comprise a body shape configured so as to allow it to interlock with other blocks in the construction of a structure. Methods for manufacturing the blocks and structures comprising such materials and methods for building such structures are also disclosed.

Wall blocks, veneers, veneer connectors, walls, and methods of constructing walls are provided. More particularly, the invention relates to constructing walls in which a veneer panel is attached to a wall block with a connector and in which the front faces of the veneers have a desirable texture.

A block, block system and method of making a wall block. A block with multiple embodiments of a visually exposed surface having three dimensional shaped areas and three dimensional angular valleys or joints that can be used to construct a patio, wall, fence or the like; the multiple embodiments creating a more random and natural appearance. A mold box having a moveable liner and a stripper shoe that impart three dimensional shaped areas and three dimensional angular valleys or joints onto an exposed surface of a block. The moveable liner and stripper shoe also impart a parting line onto the exposed surface of the block.

A timber structural member includes: a first timber round having a first cooperating longitudinal surface, a second timber round having a second and a third cooperating longitudinal surfaces, and a third timber round having a fourth cooperating longitudinal surface. The first cooperating surface cooperates with the second cooperating surface, and the third cooperating surface cooperates with the fourth cooperating surface. The timber rounds are secured together to form a structurally integral unit in which the first cooperating surface is in contact with the second cooperating surface, and the third cooperating surface is in contact with the fourth cooperating surface, and the first, second and third timber rounds are substantially parallel to each other. The timber rounds are secured to each other by a plurality of spaced fasteners provided at acute and obtuse angles from a longitudinal axis of the structural member and extending through the timber rounds.

A precast concrete wall on a prepared subgrade, comprises standardized, precast, reinforced concrete foundation, wall and cap modules. The cap modules include parapets on opposed sides and an elevated roadway therebetween. A plurality of tie down rods, each extending through the cap modules, two or more courses of wall modules and at least partially into the foundation modules. An optional anti-tunneling barrier is provided in the subgrade, below the foundation. A method of constructing the wall includes specifying standardized reinforced concrete foundation, wall and cap modules so that they can be manufactured by multiple suppliers, and providing a logistical model to minimize shipping costs by matching each point of fabrication with the appropriate point of delivery.

A concrete building block includes indicators along each end to assist in aligning a pin placed in the block with a channel in a like block in a course below as a wall is being constructed.

The invention relates to a structural assembly (10) including a plurality of adjacent blocks connected together, comprising: a first block (12) having a first side (12a) and a second side (12b); a second block (14) having a first side (14a) and a second side (14b), the second side (12b) of the first block (12) bearing against the first side (14a) of the second block (14); a first assembly device (20) connecting the first and second blocks (12, 14) together, the first assembly device (20) being entirely housed in the first and second blocks, the first assembly device (20) being tensioned so as to compress the first and second blocks (12, 14) against each other.

A structural masonry element includes an element body having a perimeter wall defined by height, and having parallel top and bottom surfaces, each of the top and bottom surfaces having an external lunate shape. The external lunate shape is defined by a material section resulting from a symmetrical lens cut away from a first circle. The symmetrical lens is a result of an intersection of the first circle with a second circle. Radii of the first and second circles are equivalent. A distance between centers of the first circle and second circle is greater than each of the first and second radii. The external lunate shape is configured to nest an analogous interfacing masonry element within the symmetrical lens and thereby provide a spherical first interlocking masonry joint. A mortarless masonry structure including a plurality of such masonry elements is also considered.