A spacer for fixation to a construction element, for maintaining a relative distance to another construction element, and for restricting at the maintained distance a movement about a position that is relative to another construction element, the spacer having a structure that: a) provides resiliency and generates a force for enhancing a distance relative to another nearby construction element when distance to that other construction element is reduced to a predetermined distance, and b) provides restriction of a movement of the structure in at least one direction that is different from the direction of predetermined distance.

A method of fastening a wall panel to a wall, according to one illustrative embodiment, comprises coupling a retaining body to a mounting body mounted on an outer surface of the wall adjacent a side edge of the wall panel. Coupling the retaining body to the mounting body may comprise coupling a first connector on an inner surface of the retaining body to a second connector on the mounting body, and positioning a retainer on the retaining body against a retaining surface on the wall panel to fasten the wall panel to the wall. Kits and wall assemblies according to other illustrative embodiments are also disclosed.

Devices, assemblies, and methods for increasing lateral confinement, strength, and/or ductility in construction materials are disclosed. A ring with a continuous outer perimeter that is sized to fit at least partially within a perimeter of a piece of construction material, such as a construction block formed from masonry materials, may be used. The ring may be formed from a material that provides a higher tensile strength than one or more corresponding construction materials, so that when the ring and the one or more construction materials are assembled together, the ring provides increased resistance to lateral forces. This may be used to provide a structure with greater strength and durability.

A bridge to construct a multi-stage wall is provided with a clip at each end. One of the clips is sized and shaped to fit snugly onto the wall of a standard concrete masonry unit (CMU), while the other is sized and shaped to fit onto a segmental wall system (SWS) unit. A retaining or stand-alone wall is constructed by laying a row of SWS units and a row of CMUs roughly parallel to each other, with bridges extending between them to fix the units. The hollow spaces in each unit and the space between the rows is filled with gravel, rock or other fill material as each course is laid. Additional courses of SWS units and CMUs are placed on top of the prior courses, with bridges added to each course. This process is repeated until the desired wall height is reached. Various sized and shaped clips and connector brackets are provided to allow spacing of the walls at different distances, with varying blocks. Multiple walls can be constructed in parallel and connected with bridges to provide sufficient retention mass for taller walls.

A system for anchoring a wall including superposed rows of construction blocks to an adjacent upstanding structure, each row including a plurality of the construction blocks, the system comprising: an inter-block element insertable between adjacent ones of the construction blocks and securable thereto; and an anchor including an anchoring portion securable to the upstanding structure and a coupler, the coupler securing the anchor and the inter-block element to each other with the anchoring portion at a predetermined distance from the inter-block element and such that with the anchoring portion operatively secured to the upstanding structure and the inter-block element operatively inserted between the adjacent ones of the construction blocks and secured thereto, the anchoring portion and the inter-block element are movable vertically relative to each other over a predetermined range of motion with the anchor remaining secured to the inter-block element. Also a wall including the system.

A bridge to construct a multi-stage wall is provided with a clip at each end. One of the clips is sized and shaped to fit snugly onto the wall of a standard concrete masonry unit (CMU), while the other is sized and shaped to fit onto a segmental wall system (SWS) unit. A retaining or stand-alone wall is constructed by laying a row of SWS units and a row of CMUs roughly parallel to each other, with bridges extending between them to fix the units. The hollow spaces in each unit and the space between the rows is filled with gravel, rock or other fill material as each course is laid. Additional courses of SWS units and CMUs are placed on top of the prior courses, with bridges added to each course. This process is repeated until the desired wall height is reached. Various sized and shaped clips and connector brackets are provided to allow spacing of the walls at different distances, with varying blocks. Multiple walls can be constructed in parallel and connected with bridges to provide sufficient retention mass for taller walls.

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 method of fastening a wall panel to a wall, according to one illustrative embodiment, comprises coupling a retaining body to a mounting body mounted on an outer surface of the wall adjacent a side edge of the wall panel. Coupling the retaining body to the mounting body may comprise coupling a first connector on an inner surface of the retaining body to a second connector on the mounting body, and positioning a retainer on the retaining body against a retaining surface on the wall panel to fasten the wall panel to the wall. Kits and wall assemblies according to other illustrative embodiments are also disclosed.

A wallboard panel support may include a base support member having two upwardly extending sidewalls which receive the lower end of the wallboard panel and space the lower end of the wallboard panel above a floor of a building. A method for installing a wallboard panel in a building may include attaching a wallboard panel support to the lower end of a wallboard panel, moving the wallboard panel attached to the wallboard panel support to a location in a building adjacent a stud, placing the wallboard panel against the stud, and securing the wallboard panel to the stud.

A system for anchoring a wall including superposed rows of construction blocks to an adjacent upstanding structure, each row including a plurality of the construction blocks, the system comprising: an inter-block element insertable between adjacent ones of the construction blocks and securable thereto; and an anchor including an anchoring portion securable to the upstanding structure and a coupler, the coupler securing the anchor and the inter-block element to each other with the anchoring portion at a predetermined distance from the inter-block element and such that with the anchoring portion operatively secured to the upstanding structure and the inter-block element operatively inserted between the adjacent ones of the construction blocks and secured thereto, the anchoring portion and the inter-block element are movable vertically relative to each other over a predetermined range of motion with the anchor remaining secured to the inter-block element. Also a wall including the system.