Disclosed is an economical and effective way of producing a modular retaining wall for a material to be retained, using only blocks which in and of themselves are of insufficient thickness to function as retaining wall blocks. The modular wall includes backer blocks and facing blocks which are connected by separate connectors in a back to back, spaced apart arrangement, thereby forming a hollow retaining wall. The hollow wall is filled with loose filler material to increase the mass and retaining capacity of the wall. None of the wall components is embedded in the material to be retained. Further disclosed are wall components and a wall kit for a modular retaining wall. A double sided decorative wall is also disclosed. The modular wall system allows for the construction of retaining walls and freestanding, double sided, decorative walls forming both straight and curved walls.

A building block and a set of modular building elements is intended for construction of foundational and wall structures. The building block comprises a plurality of outer walls, a cavity, at least one inner wall, and at least two connecting elements. The outer walls are arranged in an n-gon shape surrounding the cavity and the cavity is open on both lower and upper sides. The cavity is divided by the inner wall into at least two parts. At least one part is adapted for the insertion of an insulating insert. Each connecting element is adapted for insertion into the cavity. The first connecting element is intended for insertion into the cavity of a different one of two neighbouring building blocks of a different row than the second connecting element. Each connecting element is attached to a wall of the building block and offset from that wall in a direction towards the inside of the cavity. Each connecting element comprises a wall of the connecting element protruding from a respective wall of the building block. The wall of the connecting element comprises a free end and side edges. The side edges approach each other from a place of attachment to the wall towards the free end. An insulating layer at least partially surrounds a part of the cavity adapted for the insertion of the insulating insert. The set of modular building elements comprises foundation building blocks comprising the cavity enclosed by the solid bottom and hollow building blocks.

A concrete block includes a dry cast concrete body having opposite first and second sides, opposite first and second end faces extending between the first and second sides, and opposite first and second bearing faces extending between the first and second sides and the first and second end faces. Each of the first and second bearing faces defines an inset region sized to receive a key that will also fit into the inset region of a like block stacked thereon. The body has at least a pair of rod-receiving apertures extending completely therethrough between the first and second sides to permit attachment to a like block through the first and second sides with a rod extending through each of the apertures. The block can be tapered to form curved walls.

A construction block system including primary blocks 15, primary half blocks 115, base blocks 215, base half blocks 315 and column blocks 415 that cooperate to erect vertical structures using leveling and alignment tools at the base and between rows of blocks. Alignment and leveling tool 80 permits the leveling of the first row with respect to a supporting surface S and also immobilizes tool 80. The longitudinal outer walls 20; 40; 120; 140; 220; 240; 320; 340; 420 and 440 include outwardly extending rectangular walls 25; 45; 125; 145; 225; 245; 325; 345; 425; and 445 that coact with each other leave a space between abutting blocks for cementitious substances to further bind the structure. Tool 80 rests on surface S and includes two parallel rails receivable within cooperating and aligned channels on the base and column blocks. Tools 80 includes an elongated rigid member receivable within abutting blocks horizontal surfaces and serves to align and strengthen the structure.

A insulated masonry wall system having insulation blocks between structural and face blocks to provide structures that are strong, inexpensive, avoid thermal bridges, and resist transmission of heat. The walls are attractive and versatile, and an enormous variety of decorative face members may be utilized. The face blocks are attached to the structural blocks to prevent facing materials from falling even if fire destroys the insulation blocks between the structural blocks and the facing. The system resists water penetration and effectively drains water that does penetrate any portion of the system.

A component is a building block having a pair of parallel load-bearing concrete side walls separated by a gap and joined by crossed metal ties which bridge the gap. The outer faces of the side walls can be covered with a decorative finish such as stone. The blocks have an added end wall which enables pillars to be built. The method of casting the blocks utilizes a collapsible metal mold which permits the side walls to be stepped.

A concrete section and method for constructing a wall includes first and second concrete sections identically configured and dimensioned to allow the entire concrete wall to be constructed via one concrete section design, thereby minimizing labor time and parts. The single design for all concrete sections for constructing a concrete wall is achieved by vertically offsetting corresponding and oppositely disposed first and third locking fingers; and vertically offsetting corresponding and oppositely disposed second and fourth locking fingers. First and second locking finger receiving recesses are also vertically offset to horizontally align a first recess of a second concrete section with a fourth locking finger of a first concrete section; and to horizontally align a second recess of a first concrete section with a first locking finger of a second concrete section. All horizontal alignment occurs when the bottom walls of the first and second concrete sections are coplanar orientated, thereby promoting the snug joining of a locking finger with a cooperating recess.

Concrete wall supports that reduce or eliminate wall movement due to exterior horizontal forces. One support is a bracket mounted to a floor joist with a plate extending below the top of the wall and two legs extending from the plate and attaching to the joist. One leg is above the concrete wall on one horizontal side of the plate, and the other leg is on the opposite side of the plate. Another support has a plate that extends below the top of the wall with two legs on opposite sides of the joist above the wall. A leg attaches to the lower edge of the joist. A support against shear forces includes a highly water permeable aggregate composite disposed in the voids of the wall, with a supportive strip that is enclosed in the aggregate composite and extends out of the voids to the face of the wall.

A insulated masonry wall system having insulation blocks between structural and face blocks to provide structures that are strong, inexpensive, avoid thermal bridges, and resist transmission of heal The walls are attractive and versatile, and an enormous variety of decorative face members may be utilized. The face blocks are attached to the structural blocks to prevent facing materials from falling even if fire destroys the insulation blocks between the structural blocks and the Facing. The system resists water penetration and effectively drams water that does penetrate any portion of the system.

An insulated block includes two sides and a self-adhering foam core joined to the two sides during the curing of the foam core. The foam core includes protrusions and recessions to facilitate joining of each insulated block with another insulated block. The insulated block is configured to be joined to other insulated blocks to create a structure or foundation which does not require mortar.