A method for designing block layouts for use in block placement during construction, the method including, in one or more electronic processing devices, acquiring plan data indicative of a construction plan, identifying walls and intersections within the construction plan, identifying a number of possible intersection layouts for each intersection, generating different block layouts, each block layout including a combination of intersection layouts, the combination including one of the number of possible intersection layouts for each intersection and at least one wall layout for each wall, the wall layouts being generated based on the combination of intersection layouts and selecting one of the different block layouts.

A flooring installation assembly for pressing a warped floorboard into position for installation includes a mounting plate that is mounted to a floor joist during installation of floorboards onto the floor joist. A pair of rods slidably extends through the mounting plate. Each of the rods extends through a pressure plate such that the pressure plate is spaced from the mounting plate. A push plate is coupled to each of the rods. A nut is coupled to the mounting plate, and a bolt is threaded into the nut to abut the pressure plate. The bolt urges the pressure plate away from the second section of the mounting plate when the bolt is rotated in a first direction such that the push plate compresses the floorboard into position for installation.

A mobile printing robot system for printing a construction layout. The method addresses a problem that occurs when there is a loss of a tracking lock to an absolute positioning device, such as a total station. In a construction site, a line of sight between a mobile robot and an absolute positioning device may be lost when the mobile robot moves into a shadowed region behind an obstacle, such as a column. The mobile printing robot may use its local sensor data to continue to print until a maximum estimated position is reached. The mobile robot may also provide position updates to the absolute positioning device to aid it to regain a track lock when the mobile robot emerged from the shadowed region.

A marking gun having a marker container, a propellant canister, a supply tube, an expulsion chamber, and an attachment coupled to the expulsion chamber. The marker container is coupled to the expulsion chamber by the supply tube, and the propellant canister is coupled to the expulsion chamber. The marking gun is configured to expel the marker from the expulsion chamber. The attachment comprises a stencil, an elastic pointed tip, a housing, a screen, a magnet, one or more entry holes, or a combination thereof.

The disclosure presents templates that can be useful in construction. Embodiments of the templates include a face, and two or more indicators. The indicators are located at one or more predetermined intervals on the face, and each indicator defines a window. Each window is of a predetermined length, and each indicator is coded to indicate that each indicator is located at one of the one or more predetermined intervals.

A threshold system with an insulated thermal break device configured to provide a thermal break for insulating a door opening and related methods is provided.

Apparatus, systems, and methods to vertically plumb a wood framed wall. The apparatus includes a handle portion, a beam portion is connected to the handle portion, and a base plate pivotally connected the beam portion. The apparatus includes one or more apertures in both the beam portion and the base plate. The apparatus may include a flange that extends from the base plate with one or more apertures in the flange. The handle portion may have a circular cross-section and may be integrally formed with the beam portion. The beam portion of the apparatus may be pivotally connected to the base plate by a clevis and a pin. Fasteners connect the beam portion to a brace of a wood framed wall and the base plate to the floor or a base plate. A force may be applied to the handle to vertically plumb the wood framed wall.

A horizontal support apparatus and method are provided for use with any structure having a horizontal span, including but not limited to doors, garages, and windows. The horizontal support apparatus may include two support columns, a lintel that is configured to be attached to the support columns, and that includes a vertical flange and a horizontal flange. The apparatus may include two lift bolts coupled to two end portions of the horizontal flange. The two lift bolts may be configured to respectively raise the two end portions of the horizontal flange. The apparatus may include two rotatable lift nuts that, when rotated, raise the lift bolts to engage and raise the two ends of the horizontal flange.

A horizontal portion of a frame, as a door header, of a predetermined length for installation between two adjacent studs of a stud wall spaced from one another. An installation tool, releasably mounted on a respective stud via a magnetic attachment, supports a respective end of the horizontal portion adjacent the metallic stud during attachment of the horizontal portion to the stud. A kit formed of at least one horizontal portion and at least one installation tool is also provided.

A horizontal portion of a frame, as a door header, of a predetermined length for installation between two adjacent studs of a stud wall spaced from one another. An installation tool, releasably mounted on a respective stud via a magnetic attachment, supports a respective end of the horizontal portion adjacent the metallic stud during attachment of the horizontal portion to the stud. A kit formed of at least one horizontal portion and at least one installation tool is also provided.