Building blocks include a tongue and groove on each block that allow the blocks to be placed in a way that interlocks the tongue and groove of one block with the corresponding groove and tongue, respectively, of another block facing the opposite direction. In a first embodiment, the same building block that has a decorative front face is used for both sides of the wall, resulting in a wall with opposed finished surfaces. In a second embodiment, a first plurality of blocks that have a decorative front face are used for one side of the wall, while a second plurality of blocks that have a thicker and non-decorative face are used for the other side of the wall, with the first and second plurality of blocks interlocking back-to-back via their respective tongues and grooves. Both types of blocks can be made using the same concrete form.

A free-standing wall includes concrete base blocks adjacent to each other forming a base course; a first set of concrete wall blocks stacked on the base course and on each other to form a first wall face; and a second set of concrete wall blocks stacked on the base course and on each other to form a second wall face that faces the opposite direction from the first wall face and that has the same number of courses as the first plurality of wall blocks. Methods of constructing the wall arrangement include laying the base blocks next to each other end to end; stacking individual blocks of a first set of blocks on the base course and then on each other to form a first wall face; stacking individual blocks of the second set of blocks on the base course and then on each other to form a second wall face that faces a direction opposite of the first wall face.

A portable, reusable concrete washout is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the washout is constructed from a series of blocks that can be removably interlocked together and can be easily transported so that the washout may be assembled and disassembled onsite. A plastic sheet or other containment member can be laid over and secured to the washout to hold and contain the mixture of water and concrete as it is washed from the equipment. The blocks are preferably poly-cuboidal in shape and design, whereby the blocks can be stacked and overlap with one another. The blocks further include at least one type of interlocking mechanism for the removable interlocking and attachment of one block to another.

A robotic constructing system based on a cable-driven robot for constructing a structure formed by objects such as bricks is provided. The process of laying the bricks is performed by the cable-driven robot autonomously. The bricks are provided to the robotic constructing system by an external conveyor and a robot arm of the robotic constructing system is configured to pick up the bricks. The robot arm is then configured to place the bricks in a position to receive an adhesive from an adhesive dispenser of the robotic constructing system and further to load the bricks onto a linear rail. The linear rail can be configured to place the bricks within the proximity of the cable-driven robot. The cable-driven robot can be configured to pick up the bricks and lay the bricks in the designated position of a three-dimensional space.

A wall construction system includes multiple block types that interfit with one another to form walls in a staggered arrangement. Block types include jamb blocks having front and back surfaces, a planar surface on a first end, and a second side having a projecting surface or a receiving surface configured to mate with the projecting surface. The jamb block includes a top mating surface and a bottom mating surface configured to mate with the top mating surface. Webs extend from the front surface to the back surface to form voids. A multi-directional elevation is formed over a void adjacent the planar surface to permit stacking of blocks in two orientations. Other block types include a half jamb block having a web to form a void and a planar surface, and a web stretcher having a projecting surface on one end and a receiving surface on another end.

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 robotic constructing system based on a cable-driven robot for constructing a structure formed by objects such as bricks is provided. The process of laying the bricks is performed by the cable-driven robot autonomously. The bricks are provided to the robotic constructing system by an external conveyor and a robot arm of the robotic constructing system is configured to pick up the bricks. The robot arm is then configured to place the bricks in a position to receive an adhesive from an adhesive dispenser of the robotic constructing system and further to load the bricks onto a linear rail. The linear rail can be configured to place the bricks within the proximity of the cable-driven robot. The cable-driven robot can be configured to pick up the bricks and lay the bricks in the designated position of a three-dimensional space.

A wall construction system includes multiple block types that interfit with one another to form walls in a staggered arrangement. Block types include jamb blocks having front and back surfaces, a planar surface on a first end, and a second side having a projecting surface or a receiving surface configured to mate with the projecting surface. The jamb block includes a top mating surface and a bottom mating surface configured to mate with the top mating surface. Webs extend from the front surface to the back surface to form voids. A multi-directional elevation is formed over a void adjacent the planar surface to permit stacking of blocks in two orientations. Other block types include a half jamb block having a web to form a void and a planar surface, and a web stretcher having a projecting surface on one end and a receiving surface on another end.

Building blocks include a tongue and groove on each block that allow the blocks to be placed in a way that interlocks the tongue and groove of one block with the corresponding groove and tongue, respectively, of another block facing the opposite direction. In a first embodiment, the same building block that has a decorative front face is used for both sides of the wall, resulting in a wall with opposed finished surfaces. In a second embodiment, a first plurality of blocks that have a decorative front face are used for one side of the wall, while a second plurality of blocks that have a thicker and non-decorative face are used for the other side of the wall, with the first and second plurality of blocks interlocking back-to-back via their respective tongues and grooves. Both types of blocks can be made using the same concrete form.

Building blocks include a tongue and groove on each block that allow the blocks to be placed in a way that interlocks the tongue and groove of one block with the corresponding groove and tongue, respectively, of another block facing the opposite direction. In a first embodiment, the same building block that has a decorative front face is used for both sides of the wall, resulting in a wall with opposed finished surfaces. In a second embodiment, a first plurality of blocks that have a decorative front face are used for one side of the wall, while a second plurality of blocks that have a thicker and non-decorative face are used for the other side of the wall, with the first and second plurality of blocks interlocking back-to-back via their respective tongues and grooves. Both types of blocks can be made using the same concrete form.