A beam and bolting construction method and an example dwelling (10) according to the method are provided. The method involves preliminary steps of selecting a site and determining a bolt array (19) and selection of dimensions and materials. Actual construction steps include forming a foundation slab (14) having vertical bolts (18) embedded therein in accordance with the bolt array (19). Alternating layers of beams (B), having aligned bolt bores (52) for receiving the bolts, are successively laid down over the bolts (18), with sides meeting at corners (29) with alternating sides encompassing the corner bolt. Once a desired height is achieved, washers (72) and nuts (78) are placed on the bolts and are tightened to desired pressure levels. The dwelling (10) is formed with beams (42) compressed together by threaded bolts (18) in a bolt array (19).

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 wall reinforcement system is provided. The wall reinforcement system includes a plurality of spaced apart channels formed in a side of a wall. At least one reinforcement rod is positioned in each of the channels. The at least one reinforcement rod is formed from basalt fibers. An adhesive mixture is positioned in each of the channels and configured to retain the at least one reinforcement rods within the channels.

A module for realizing modular building structures comprises a bearing block having pairs of flat faces with complementary shaped joints for coupling with further similar modules arranged in side by side position, means for anchoring the bearing block to bearing blocks of side-by-side modules for realizing the building structure. The anchoring means comprise one pair of passages mutually perpendicular and staggered along a first transverse direction, the passages extending in the block from respective flat faces. The anchoring means also comprise reinforcing bars adapted to be inserted in a pair of consecutive passages belonging to two mutually side-by-side modules to define a reinforcement meshed armor. Each bar has ends associated with male and female connecting elements for coupling with facing ends of contiguous bars belonging to a side-by-side module.

A building block system of a plurality of transportable, lightweight, and reusable hollow prefabricated non-masonry interlocking mortarless building blocks that have corresponding mating formations being protuberances and concavities that run vertically up the building blocks being joined together and when aligned in a staggered manner upwardly are held together with threaded reinforcement rods extending vertically between and connected to the top and bottom channels through connectable couplings and capped off with complementary cap attachments.

A system includes apparatus and methods for providing continuous structural support to footings and hollow core wall units. In operation, wire rope chairs, connectors, wedge pins, and a tensioner tool are used to interconnect wire rope within footings and hollow core wall units laid on the footings, allowing for continuous wire rope within selected units that when grouted, provide an interconnected reinforced structural wall that is safer to install than traditional methods, with other advantages.

A building block system of a plurality of transportable, lightweight, and reusable hollow prefabricated non-masonry interlocking mortarless building blocks that have corresponding mating formations being protuberances and concavities that run vertically up the building blocks being joined together and when aligned in a staggered manner upwardly are held together with threaded reinforcement rods extending vertically between and connected to the top and bottom channels through connectable couplings and capped off with complementary cap attachments.

A closed wall hold down system is provided including at least one closed wall panel, at least one first tie rod, at least one second tie rod, at least one coupler nut, and at least one ratcheting take-up device. The at least one closed wall panel includes a bottom plate and a top plate. The at least one first tie rod projects through the bottom plate. The at least one coupler nut is coupled to the at least one first tie rod and to a first end of the at least one second tie rod. A second end of the at least one second tie rod extends through the top plate. The at least one ratcheting take-up device engages the second end of the at least one second tie rod. A method of installing the closed wall hold down system is also provided.

Precast blocks with a rectangular or quadrangular prism shape contain a normal weight hydraulic concrete casing, lightweight concrete or similar material, for building walls or slabs. The steel-reinforced blocks for walls, mezzanine or rooftop slabs have the length of the wall or slab to build. An acoustic, thermal-insulating lightweight material housed in the interior simultaneous provides for blocks sufficiently lightweight to transport and install manually on-site. For walls, the blocks are tongued and grooved on the top and bottom sides and placed horizontally one on top of the other using block or similar adhesive therebetween. In the corners or T intersections, blocks are alternatively placed and form armed headframes for stability and resistance. For blocks for slabs, the tongue and groove system is on the sides, installed one beside the other, using block or similar adhesive therebetween. Transversal rods to the slab are placed to avoid temperature retraction.

A dry stack block structure, comprising: at least one course comprising blocks, each comprising: a first and second side walls and a central wall positioned between and parallel to the side walls, wherein the walls are rectangular and having a bottom and top edges located in a first plane and a parallel second plane, a first end and a second end located in a third plane and a parallel fourth plane, perpendicular to the first plane; a first and second end transverse webs connecting the ends respectively of the walls in the third and fourth planes respectively, wherein the end transverse webs having a bottom edge located in the first plane; and two intermediate transverse webs positioned between the third and fourth planes and connecting the second and central walls, the intermediate transverse webs having a bottom edge and a top edge located in the first and second planes.