Patent Application
20230183977
The present invention relates to an efficient, swift, low cost, building assembly for prefabrication of exterior walls, interior walls, floors and roofs to form a building.
Many techniques have been utilized to reduce building costs associated with conventional building construction. Normally, conventional building construction involves a labor intensive process where skilled workers and laborers may pour a concrete foundation, assemble a walls and roof stud assembly made of wood or metal studs, individual blocks made of varying materials that are stacked on each other and clad with varying materials, attach exterior and interior walls, assemble roof panels, and set and install windows and doors. On many occasions, the construction of the building may involve numerous contractors and subcontractors who are responsible for various stages of construction. Typically, delays arise and construction costs escalate accordingly.
One of the existing techniques used to reduce construction costs involves the use of prefabricated modular type homes. Typically, modular homes involve the use of panels, which are shipped to a construction site and only require the connection of the prefabricated panels in order to construct the building. The use of prefabricated panels provides a less expensive and easily assembled building as opposed to the conventional construction methods. One drawback associated with modular buildings is that modular homes tend to lack sufficient strength and durability for long-term use. Modular homes also tend to lack the necessary flexibility to accommodate various sizes and styles. Furthermore, some modular systems require the inclusion of traditional construction techniques in order to complete construction, therefore, escalating the costs associated with modular homes.
Other prefabricated buildings and a corresponding methods includes a plurality of space tubular steel columns, a pair of tubular steel girds each interconnecting respective ends of the columns and the plurality of space tubular steel cross members arranged in pairs, connected on opposite sides of the columns in a registry with each other to accommodate various available building materials. These designs and methods address some of the strength and durability shortcomings in the prior art, however, the panels may still be costly to assemble and may be somewhat limited in use in regard to design and style.
Further, some building construction systems may comprise a modular, transportable construction kit-type structure, which includes vertical frame members that are used in conjunction with a plurality of corrugated material panels and a quantity of concrete. These building construction systems and methods require extensive labor, and therefore do not reduce costs sufficiently in order to provide a complete substitute for traditional construction methods.
Accordingly, a need exists for an improved prefabricated building assembly system to build permanent homes, which truly addresses the shortcomings of the prior art. More specifically, a prefabricated building assembly that allows for low cost building construction, flexibility to accommodate various designs, and sufficient re-enforcement capabilities to provide many years of use, and to provide a durable building capable of surviving hurricane force winds and earthquakes with no or minimal damage would be desirable.
In one embodiment of the invention, a building assembly to form a building includes a foundation. The foundation includes rebar positioned in preselected areas of the foundation and the rebar extends above the foundation in preselected areas. The building assembly also includes a plurality of building components, which includes a plurality of wall panels preformed from expanded polystyrene, a plurality of sill panels preformed from expanded polystyrene, a plurality of header panels preformed from expanded polystyrene, a plurality of U blocks preformed from expanded polystyrene. Each U block of the plurality of U blocks includes a recess preformed therein and extending therethrough. The plurality of U blocks are defined by a first portion of U blocks, a second portion of U blocks, and a third portion of U blocks. A preformed U block cap is configured to be positioned over the recess of each U block of the first portion and each U block of the third portion to cover the recess therein. The preformed U block cap is connected to each U block via an adhesive to form a void extending therethrough. The building assembly further includes a plurality of wall structures formed from a plurality of preselected formations connected together via the adhesive. Each pre-selected formation includes at least one preformed U block from the plurality of U blocks of the first portion, and at least one other building component of the plurality of building components selected from the group consisting of a) one preformed wall panel of the plurality of wall panels, b) one preformed sill panel of the plurality of sill panels, and c) one preformed header from the plurality of headers, to form each preselected formation. Each U block of the second portion is positioned in at least one of a horizontal position and an angled position on an upper surface of each preselected formation to form each wall structure of the plurality of wall structures. Each U block of the second portion is positioned with the recess therein positioned on an upper surface thereof. Each U block of the second portion is connected to each preselected formation via the adhesive. A plurality of openings are formed in the recess of each U block of the second portion, and a perimeter of each opening is axially aligned with a perimeter of the recess of each U block of the first portion in each wall structure, respectively. Each U block of the first portion of the plurality of U blocks includes rebar in the recess therein, and when each wall structure is positioned vertically on the foundation, the rebar in each U block of the first portion is connected to the rebar extending from the preselected locations of the foundation. Each U block of the second portion of the plurality of U blocks has rebar positioned in the recess therein, and the rebar in each U block of the first portion extends upward and connects to the rebar in the second portion. The rebar in each U block of the first portion connects to rebar positioned in each recess of each U block of a third portion of the plurality of U blocks on a roof structure constructed over at least a pair of wall structures. One U block cap is positioned over the recess of each U block of the first portion and adhesively connected to the U block of the first portion to form the void therein after rebar is inserted therein. At least one of concrete and cementitious material is positioned in the recess of each U block of the second portion and flows through the plurality of openings therein to the void of each capped U block of the first portion, such that the rebar and the at least one of concrete and cementitious material in each capped U block of the first portion forms a solid structural vertical column, and the rebar and the at least one of concrete and cementitious material in the recess of each U block of the second portion forms a wall bond beam for structural support. The building assembly further includes a preformed window perimeter structure included in at least one wall structure which includes the sill panel and the header panel. The sill panel and the header panel are positioned spaced apart between a pair of capped U blocks of the first portion of the plurality of U blocks to form the perimeter for a window opening configured to receive a window frame and a window. Each capped U block of the pair of capped U blocks of the first portion includes the void with rebar and the at least one of concrete and cementitious material positioned therein. Each capped U block includes a plurality of recesses positioned on a side of each capped U block. The plurality of recesses on the side are connected to the void and including the at least one of concrete and cementitious material therein. And the building assembly includes a preformed outer door perimeter included in at least one wall structure which includes a header panel positioned between a pair of capped U blocks of the first portion of the plurality of U blocks to form the perimeter for a door opening configured to receive a door frame and a door. Each capped U block of the pair of capped U blocks of the first portion includes the void with rebar and the least one of concrete and cementitious material positioned therein. Each capped U block includes a plurality of recesses positioned on a side of each capped U block, the plurality of recesses on the side connected to the void and including the at least one of concrete and cementitious material therein. Further, the building assembly includes the roof structure. The roof structure includes at least one pair of opposing end wall structures. Each end wall structure of the at least one pair including at least one end wall beam positioned above and connected via the adhesive to each of the pair of opposing end wall structures. The at least one end wall beam is formed from one or more U blocks of the second portion. Each U block has rebar and the at least one of concrete and cementitious material positioned in the recess therein. A roof apex beam extends between an apex of each end wall structure of the pair of end wall structures. A plurality of support brackets are connected to the roof apex beam and to at least one wall bond beam. The plurality of support brackets are positioned spaced-apart and opposite relative to each other on the roof apex beam and the at least one wall bond beam, respectively, to form a plurality of pairs of opposing support brackets, each opposing pair of support brackets carrying a support. Moreover, the building assembly includes a plurality of preformed roof panels formed from an expanded polystyrene. Each roof panel of the plurality of roof panels are connected to at least one of a) each other via the adhesive, b) at least one U block of the third portion of the plurality of U blocks, and c) at least one connector. Each roof panel is carried by at least one support of the roof structure and forms a roof panel structure when connected to at least one of a) a plurality of roof panels connected to each other and connectable to the roof structure, b) a U block of the third portion connectable to the roof structure, and c) at least one connector connectable to the roof structure. When each U block of the third portion of the plurality of U blocks is included in the roof panel structure, the recess in each U block of the third portion includes rebar and is configured to hold the at least one of concrete and cementitious material. The rebar in each U block of the third portion extends to connect to at least a portion of the roof structure. Each U block of the third portion has one preformed U block cap which is connected via the adhesive to cover the recess thereof in order to hold the at least one of concrete and cementitious material therein.
In another aspect of the one embodiment, the pair of capped U blocks of the first portion having the plurality of recesses forming a part of each preformed sill perimeter and a part of each preformed door perimeter, the at least one of concrete and cementitious material within the plurality of recesses provides rigidity and reinforcement to each preformed sill perimeter and each preformed door perimeter. In a further aspect, the plurality of recesses in the side of each capped U block are spaced-apart and perpendicular relative to the void in each capped U block.
In yet another aspect of the one embodiment, at least a portion of the plurality of roof panels includes a pair of grooves formed in side edges thereof and each roof panel interconnects with at least one other roof panel via an H connector which includes a plurality of legs which insert into the pair of grooves in each roof panel. Each H connector includes one or more holes to permit coupling of the H connector to at least one of a) the roof panel and b) the roof structure.
In still another aspect of the one embodiment, at least a portion of the plurality of preformed roof panels includes a groove formed in each side edge thereof and each roof panel interconnects with another roof panel via a T connector which includes a pair of legs. Each leg inserts into the groove in each roof panel, wherein each T connector includes one or more holes to permit coupling of the T connector to at least one of a) the roof panel and b) the roof structure.
Also, in another aspect of the one embodiment, the building assembly further comprises a cementitious material which is applied to the building constructed from the building assembly to encompass all surfaces of all inside structures and all outside structures of the building in the cementitious material. The cementitious material has a thickness in a range from one-eighth (⅛) inch thickness to one (1) inch thickness. In an additional aspect, the cementitious material forms a monocoque structure which encompasses the building, so that the building is rated to withstand hurricane force winds and the monocoque structure is resistant to earthquakes.
In yet another aspect of the one embodiment, the building assembly comprises a preformed interior partition wall structure formed from a portion of the plurality of wall panels. In a further aspect, the preformed interior partition wall structure includes an inner door perimeter which is formed from at least one wall panel and a header panel.
In still yet another aspect of the one embodiment, each U block having a U block cap has one of a a square perimeter defining the void therein and a rectangular perimeter defining the void therein.
In another embodiment of the invention, a method of using a building assembly to construct a building includes providing a foundation having rebar positioned in preselected areas therein and extending thereabove. The method also includes providing a plurality of building components, including a plurality of preformed wall panels formed from expanded polystyrene, a plurality of sill panels formed from expanded polystyrene, a plurality of header panels formed from expanded polystyrene, a plurality of U blocks preformed from expanded polystyrene. Each U block of the plurality of U blocks includes a recess preformed therein and extending therethrough. The plurality of U blocks are defined by a first portion of U blocks, a second portion of U blocks, and a third portion of U blocks. A preformed U block cap is configured to be positioned over the recess of each U block of the first portion and each U block of the third portion to cover the recess. The preformed U block cap is connected to each U block via an adhesive to form a void extending therethrough. The method further includes forming a plurality of wall structures from a plurality of preselected formations, each of the preselected formations constructed by selecting at least one preformed U block of the first portion of the plurality of U blocks and at least one other building component of the plurality of building components selected from the group consisting of a) one preformed wall panel of the plurality of wall panels, b) one preformed sill panel of the plurality of sill panels, c) one preformed header panel of the plurality of header panels, connecting the selected building components together via the adhesive to form each preselected formation, and connecting each U block of the second portion of the plurality of U blocks to an upper surface of each preselected formation via an adhesive. Each U block of the second portion positioned in at least one of a horizontal position and an angled position to form each wall structure. A plurality of openings are formed in the recess of each U block of the second portion, and a perimeter of each opening is aligned with a perimeter of the recess of each U block of the first portion. The method further includes positioning rebar in each U block of the first portion of the plurality of U blocks. The method also includes positioning rebar in each U block of the second portion of the plurality of U blocks. And, the method includes connecting the rebar in one end of each U block of the first portion with rebar in preselected areas of the foundation, and connecting rebar in an opposite end of each U block of the first portion to rebar in each U block of the second portion, the rebar of each U block of the first portion configured to connect to rebar in each U block of the third portion of the plurality of U blocks also. The method includes positioning one U block cap over the recess of each U block of the first portion of the plurality of U blocks by connecting the U block cap via the adhesive to each U block of the first portion to form a plurality of capped U blocks of the first portion. The method also includes providing a preformed window perimeter included in one wall structure of the plurality of wall structures which includes a sill panel spaced apart from a header panel and positioning both the sill panel and the header panel between a pair of capped U blocks of the first portion to form a perimeter for a window opening configured to receive a window frame and a window. Each capped U block of the pair of capped U blocks includes the void with rebar therein as well as a plurality of recesses on a side of each capped U block of the pair of capped U blocks forming a portion of the perimeter, the plurality of recesses on the side connecting to the void in each capped U block and configured to receive at least one of concrete and cementitious material therein. The method further includes providing a preformed outer door perimeter included in one wall structure of the plurality of wall structures which includes a header panel positioned between a pair of capped U blocks of the first portion of the plurality of U blocks to form the perimeter for an outer door opening configured to receive an outer door frame and an outer door. Each capped U block of the pair of capped U blocks of the first portion includes a void therein as well as a plurality of recesses on a side of each capped U block of the pair of capped U blocks forming a portion of the perimeter, the plurality of recesses on the side connecting to the void in each capped U block and configured to receive the at least a portion of the at least one of concrete and cementitious material therein. And, the method includes providing the roof structure. The roof structure includes at least one pair of opposing end wall structures. Each end wall structure includes at least one end wall beam which is positioned above and connected via the adhesive to at least one wall structure of the plurality of wall structures. The at least one end wall beam is formed from one or more U blocks having rebar and the at least one of concrete or a cementitious material positioned in the recess therein. A roof apex beam extends from an apex of each end wall structure. Moreover, the method includes providing a plurality of support brackets connected to at least one of the roof apex beam and at least one wall bond beam. The method also includes connecting the plurality of support brackets in opposing pairs on the roof apex beam and the at least one wall bond beam, respectively. The method also includes providing a plurality of roof supports and positioning the plurality of roof supports, such that each opposing pair of support brackets carries one roof support of the plurality of roof supports. Further, the method includes providing a plurality of roof panels formed from expanded polystyrene. Each roof panel of the plurality of roof panels is connected to at least one of a) each other via the adhesive, b) one U block of the third portion, and c) at least one connector. Each roof panel is carried by at least one support of the roof structure and forms a plurality of roof panel structures when connected to at least one of a) a plurality of roof panels connect to each other and connectable to the roof structure, b) at least one U block of the third portion connectable to the roof structure, and c) at least one connector carrying a roof panel connectable to the roof structure. The method includes providing rebar to each U block of the third portion of the plurality of U blocks and connecting rebar extending from each U block of the first portion to one end of the rebar in each U block of the third portion, and connecting an opposite end of the rebar in the third portion to rebar in the roof structure. The method also includes pouring the at least one of the of the concrete and cementitious material into the recess of each U block of the third portion, and connecting one U block cap via adhesive to each U block of the third portion to close the recess and to form a void having rebar and the one of concrete and cementitious material. Further, the method includes simultaneously pouring the at least one of concrete and cementitious material into the recess of the second portion of the U blocks of the plurality of U blocks such that the at least one of concrete and cementitious material flows through and fills the recesses in each U block of the second portion. The at least one of the concrete and cementitious material flows through the plurality of openings formed in each recess of each U block of the second portion and into each void of each capped U block of the first portion to fill each void thereof. Each U block of the first portion forms a structural vertical column, each U block of the second portion forms a structural wall bond beam, and each U block of the third portion forming a structural beam of the roof structure.
In one aspect of the other embodiment, in the steps of providing a preformed sill perimeter, and providing a preformed door perimeter, the at least one of concrete and cementitious material is positioned in the void of each U block of the pair of U blocks of the first portion and in the plurality of recesses to fill the recesses to provide rigidity and reinforcement to each preformed sill perimeter and each preformed door perimeter. In this aspect, the plurality of recesses in the side of each capped U block are spaced-apart and perpendicular relative to the void in each capped U block.
In yet one aspect of the other embodiment, in the step of providing a plurality of roof panels, at least a portion of the plurality of roof panels includes a pair of grooves formed in side edges thereof and each roof panel interconnects with at least one other roof panel via an H connector which includes a plurality of legs which insert into the plurality of grooves in each roof panel. Each H connector includes one or more holes to permit coupling of the H connector to at least one of a) the roof panel and b) the roof structure.
In still another aspect of the other embodiment, in the step of providing a plurality of roof panels, at least a portion of the plurality of roof panels includes a groove formed in each side edge thereof and each roof panel interconnects with another roof panel via a T connector which includes a pair of legs. Each leg is inserted into the groove in each roof panel. Each T connector includes one or more holes to permit coupling of the T connector to at least one of a) the roof panel and b) the roof structure.
And in another aspect of the other embodiment, the embodiment further comprises the step of applying a cementitious material to a building constructed from the building assembly to encompass all surfaces of all inside structures and all outside structures of the building in the cementitious material, wherein the cementitious material has a thickness in a range from one eighth (⅛) inch thickness to one (1) inch thickness. In and additional aspect, the cementitious material forms a monocoque structure which encompasses the building, and the building is rated to withstand hurricane force winds and the building is resistant to earthquakes.
In another aspect of the other embodiment, the embodiment further comprises the step of providing a preformed interior partition wall structure formed from a portion of the plurality of preformed wall panels. Each wall panel of the plurality of walls panels is connected to each other via the adhesive.
In still yet another aspect of the other embodiment, wherein in the step of providing a plurality of U blocks, each U block having a U block cap has one of a square perimeter defining the void therein and a rectangular perimeter defining the void therein.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:
One or more specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below. In an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, all features of an actual implementation may not be described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure.
When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present disclosure, the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. The variations of “comprising”, “including” and “having”, such as, but not by way of limitation, “comprise”, “include”, “have” or “has”, are also included in this definition. Any examples of operating parameters and/or environmental conditions are not exclusive of other parameters/conditions of the disclosed embodiments.
The present invention relates to a prefabricated building assembly capable of providing a swift, efficient and economic construction of exterior load bearing walls, interior load bearing walls, interior partition walls, floors, and roofs to form a building assembly. The present invention includes lightweight prefabricated panels that desirably form a building assembly comprised of exterior walls, interior partition walls, bearing walls, floors and roofs. A building built from the present building assembly may be assembled in its entirety, or the wall and roof system may be utilized independently of each other and adapted to include standard building materials (i.e. standard roof trusses, standard interior framing, standard drywall, exterior block walls, and the like). The panels may be constructed primarily of expanded polystyrene components to build exterior walls, interior walls, bearing walls, and roof system for lightweight, high insulation benefits. The wall components may consist of U blocks, U block caps, headers, sills, and wall panels.
The prefabricated building components of the building assembly desirably include prefabricated panels shaped from an expanded polystyrene which, for example, may be from 4 to 6 inches thick, or alternatively 6 to 24 inches thick, 6 to 24 feet in length, and 1 to 24 feet in width, depending upon the job specifications and requirements. However, it will be understood that any length, width, height, and thickness of any building components herein may be molded, preformed and/or prefabricated to any building specification.
Some building components, for example, but not by way of limitation, are U blocks which may have U block caps attached thereto to form large voids which extend through the U block. U blocks are disposed vertically and others are disposed horizontally or at an angle to form structural columns and other structural supports. The voids of these U blocks desirably contain rebar and concrete and/or a cementitious material to provide structural stability and load bearing for a structure.
Other building components such as some panels, for example, but not by way of limitation, wall panels and roof panels, which do not themselves include rebar, concrete, or cementitious material, may also include voids and/or recess for utilities such as electrical wiring, plumbing, HVAC components, internet, and the like. These plurality of small passageways desirably may be preformed both horizontally and/or vertically.
An adhesive is also used to connect the various building components of the building assembly together into preselected formations, as will be described in detail below. Such adhesives include, but are not limited to, 3M™ Polystyrene Insulation Adhesive 78 or a low rise polyurethane foam adhesive such as DuPont ENERFOAM™ Adhesive. The cementitious material used herein may include, but not by way of limitation, RecoMix™ formulation, which is available from World Housing Holdings, LLC, a Wyoming LLC. Other cementitious materials are commercially available.
The building assembly, and desirably all inner and outer structures (with the possible exception of portions of the foundation), receive one or more applications of the cementitious material in a range from one-eighth (⅛) inch to one (1) inch thickness, to provide strength rigidity, and resistance to water, fire, insects, mold and mildew.
For additional structural strength, steel rebar in the foundation connects with rebar within voids of certain components, including U-blocks and capped U blocks. Concrete and/or cementitious material is desirably poured into these voids and recesses to combine with the rebar to provide increased structural stability to the building assembly.
One of the purposes of the present building assembly is to take advantage of the use of light-weight materials described herein which form the bulk of the construction. These materials are desirably custom prefabricated in a factory environment and then shipped to the building site for assembly and for the addition of limited finishes. This reduces shipping costs and manual labor costs. Building customized preselected formations to form wall structures and roof structures from the building components which include preformed wall panels, sill panels, header panels, U blocks, capped U blocks, roof panels, and connectors as described herein, result in a building that is rapidly and inexpensively built, significantly reducing labor costs for on-site construction.
To this end,
The wall panels 10, 11 may be sized differently in length, width, or thickness, to accommodate the specifications of a given building plan. As described below, in some instances, U block caps are joined to U blocks by the adhesive described herein, and U blocks are joined to each side of wall panels, sills, and headers via the adhesive, to form both exterior and interior load bearing walls. Interior walls (interior partition wall structures) also may include wall panels and headers, door openings, and the like, and are joined together and to the foundation or a floor, and a ceiling or a lower surface of a roof via the adhesive. However, it will be appreciated that non-load bearing interior walls may not require U blocks. The foundation may comprise a footer (
Two types if molded sill panels 12 and 13 are illustrated in
Standard molded headers having different features are illustrated in
A primary structural component of each wall are U blocks. U blocks are positioned vertically as well as horizontally or at angles within a wall structure to provide additional support thereto. Some U blocks 18′ (as shown in
An alternative U block 20 is shown in
Molded or preformed U block caps are joined to U blocks by the adhesive, to provide a closed void in the U blocks.
U blocks are also positioned horizontally or at an angled position for gabled walls on top of vertical walls and headers, as shown in
While each building component mentioned herein may be used to build a wall structure vertically component by component, desirably a building plan describes each component for, example but not by way of limitation, an outer wall of a building such as structural wall assembly 60 or 62. Such a structural wall assembly 60, 62 desirably may be built by placing all components on a flat surface and adhering or otherwise connecting them together. Such a structural wall assembly 60, 62 would include all wall structures, wall panels 10 or 11, including vertical U blocks 18, 18′ and horizontal or angled U blocks 18, 19 (each of U blocks 18 and 19 providing wall beams 29, and may be referred to as a second portion of the plurality of U blocks). Structural wall assemblies 60, 62, once assembled, may be positioned vertically on a floor or foundation 32 and adhered thereto and/or otherwise connected in any manner known in the art. It will be appreciated that recesses (or voids when the U block is capped) of vertical U blocks 18, 18′ of such outer walls would be aligned with rebar 31 in the foundation 32, so that rebar 31 which is or will be positioned in the vertical U blocks 18 or 18′ may connect thereto. Similarly, openings 18g (
Moving forward to
Returning to
A partition internal wall assembly 64 is shown in
A roof may comprise U blocks, U block caps, roof panels, H connectors and/or T connectors. Support attachments may include, but not by way of limitation, purlin support brackets, roof purlin supports, connection plates, cross beams, and various fasteners.
A portion of a roof assembly is shown in
Turning now to other portions of the roof assembly, purlin support brackets are attached to concrete and/or cementitious material 33 of U blocks 18/wall beams 29 in order to receive roof support purlins 25, 26, 27.
Roof purlin support brackets 25, 26, and 27 are shown in
Structural wall assemblies 62 which includes a roof purlin support 28, is illustrated in
Turning to
H connectors 35 can be used to connect roof panels 36 together. The H connectors 35 are shown in
Roof panels can also be connected together by using one or more T connectors 38, as illustrated in
Alternative roof panels 39 are shown in
28B shows a roof connection of the alternative roof purlin support bracket 46, which includes roof panel 36, H connectors 35, and spacers 41 and self-tapping screw 44 inserted into the alternative roof purlin support bracket 46 and extending to and connecting to the roof panel 36 and the H connector 35. An adhesive 22a may also be used to bond the roof panels 36 together, as shown and described previously herein. It will also be understood that in constructing a roof of a building, temporary shoring may be used on the inside and/or the outside of the building assembly (not shown).
The building assembly once erected and surface coated with a cementitious material can be clad with a myriad of standard building materials such as roofing membranes, roofing tiles, roofing shingles, MGO boards, plywood, paints, coatings and other waterproofing membranes to offer additional water resistance, and resistance to fire, mold and mildew, and insect infestation to the roof. A number of standard building materials such as brick, siding, paints, coatings, stuccos and stone can be used, that when applied or attached to the walls, can provide the building assembly with additional waterproofing, fire resistance and aesthetics. It will be understood that a myriad of standard building materials may be applied or attached to the interior walls and ceilings as well.
Wall panels using U blocks, U block caps, sills, and headers, to form walls makes forming walls quick and simple. Roof panels using U blocks, grooved panels with H connectors and/or T connectors makes joining roof panels rapid and easy. Preformed voids, or alternatively, creating grooves and chases in the building assembly makes is simple to insert utility apparatuses therein, such as, for example but not by way of limitations, electrical wiring, plumbing, internet, HVAC, and the like. Attaching window frames, door frames, shutters, security bars, backing and bucking to the concrete filled voids and recesses within the building assembly as well as the faces within the building assembly is quick and easy.
Surface coating the entire surface area (outer and inner) of the building assembly with a cementitious material enhances the longevity, energy efficiency, rigidity, impact resistance, water resistance, wind resistance, fire resistance, insect infestation resistance, and mold and mildew resistance of the building assembly, and is quickly and simply accomplished. It will be appreciated that adhering, attaching or applying paints, membranes, roof tiles, brick, stone, or other standard building materials to the coated surfaces of the building assembly will enhance the building assembly's useful life and aesthetic appearance. Most importantly, the present building assembly provides low cost and rapidly erected housing to areas of the world where such building assemblies are needed.
The present invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. However, it is recognized that departures therefrom and modifications will often remain within the scope of the invention.
While only certain features of the disclosure have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the disclosure.
The techniques presented and claimed herein are referenced and applied to material objects and concrete examples of a practical nature that demonstrably improve the present technical field and, as such, are not abstract, intangible or purely theoretical. Further, if any claims appended to the end of this specification contain one or more elements designated as “means for [perform]ing [a function] . . . ” or “step for [perform]ing [a function] . . . ”, it is intended that such elements are to be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f). However, for any claims containing elements designated in any other manner, it is intended that such elements are not to be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f).
