GB2087450A - Faced Building Blocks - Google Patents

Abstract

The facing of thermal insulating building blocks is carried out before the blocks are built into a wall rather than afterwards. This avoids the need for skilled labour which would otherwise be required at the building site to achieve the desired results in facing the wall after it has been built.

Description

SPECIFICATION Facing Thermal Insulating Building Blocks This invention relates to thermal insulating building blocks, bricks or slabs, hereinafter referred to as blocks, a thermal insulating building block being a block having a "k" (thermal conductivity) value of less than 0.50 W/m deg.C.

Thermal insulating building blocks are well known, and can now be used to build the external walls of buildings (e.g. dwelling houses) as well as inner walls and boundary walls. One form of thermal insulating block comprises aerated concrete formed from a mixture of pulverised flue dust or flue ash, cement, sand, and aluminium powder.

It is common practice to face such walls (after they have been built) with concrete tiles which simulate natural stone and are decorative and seal the blocks against inclement weather. This is a difficult and time-consuming process, as is any task of tilting any wall, and requires the use of skilled labour to attain the desired results.

An object of the present invention is to simplify the procedure of obtaining a wall of thermal insulating blocks faced with tiles.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of facing a thermal insulating building block wherein the block has a concrete tile adhesively bonded to at least one of its faces.

in one example of the invention each of a batch of thermal insulating blocks has a concrete tile adhesively bonded to one of its faces. The tile has a decorative outer face which may simulate natural stone and may have a "bull face" finish, or may contain a coarse aggregate which is exposed on the outer face.

To effect the bonding, a coating of cement and a suitable adhesive bonding agent mixed to a grout is applied to a face of the block, and to the back face of the tile.

The coated face of the block is then further coated with a matrix of the bonding agent, cement and sand, and the tile is placed on top of the coated face of the block and is pressed into position. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The said face of the block, prior to being coated with the grout, may be treated with water to reduce its liquid absorption properties.

Preferably, the rear face of the tile is serrated or otherwise roughened to provide a better key for the bonding agent.

The adhesive bonding agent used is preferably that sold under the Trade Mark "Sealotak", but other suitable bonding agents may be used.

The ingredients of the matrix are preferably in the approximate proportions of 10 litres of Sealotak to 50 kilogrammes of cement to 2 parts of sand (100 Kgs), and the thickness of the matrix is preferably about 5 mm.

As a result of the invention, thermal insulating building blocks can be quickly and easily faced in a factory, or even at a building site, by unskilled labour, so that walls can be built ready-faced with tiles by the normal building personnel.

It is to be understood that tiles can be secured to the return ends of the blocks in a similar manner to that above described.

The grout is preferably applied by brushing, and the matrix by trowelling.

Claims

1. A method of facing a thermal insulating building block wherein the block has a concrete tile adhesively bonded to at least one of its faces.

2. A method according to claim 1, comprising the steps of applying to a face of the block and to the back face of the tile a coating of cement and a suitable adhesive bonding agent mixed to a grout, further coating the coated face of the block with a matrix of the bonding agent, cement and sand, and pressing the tile on the coated face of the block.

3. A method accordingto claim 2, wherein, prior to being coated with the grout, the said face is treated with water to reduce its liquid absorption properties.

4. A method of facing a thermal insulating building block substantially as hereinbefore described.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Facing Thermal Insulating Building Blocks This invention relates to thermal insulating building blocks, bricks or slabs, hereinafter referred to as blocks, a thermal insulating building block being a block having a "k" (thermal conductivity) value of less than 0.50 W/m deg.C. Thermal insulating building blocks are well known, and can now be used to build the external walls of buildings (e.g. dwelling houses) as well as inner walls and boundary walls. One form of thermal insulating block comprises aerated concrete formed from a mixture of pulverised flue dust or flue ash, cement, sand, and aluminium powder. It is common practice to face such walls (after they have been built) with concrete tiles which simulate natural stone and are decorative and seal the blocks against inclement weather. This is a difficult and time-consuming process, as is any task of tilting any wall, and requires the use of skilled labour to attain the desired results. An object of the present invention is to simplify the procedure of obtaining a wall of thermal insulating blocks faced with tiles. According to the present invention there is provided a method of facing a thermal insulating building block wherein the block has a concrete tile adhesively bonded to at least one of its faces. in one example of the invention each of a batch of thermal insulating blocks has a concrete tile adhesively bonded to one of its faces. The tile has a decorative outer face which may simulate natural stone and may have a "bull face" finish, or may contain a coarse aggregate which is exposed on the outer face. To effect the bonding, a coating of cement and a suitable adhesive bonding agent mixed to a grout is applied to a face of the block, and to the back face of the tile. The coated face of the block is then further coated with a matrix of the bonding agent, cement and sand, and the tile is placed on top of the coated face of the block and is pressed into position. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The said face of the block, prior to being coated with the grout, may be treated with water to reduce its liquid absorption properties. Preferably, the rear face of the tile is serrated or otherwise roughened to provide a better key for the bonding agent. The adhesive bonding agent used is preferably that sold under the Trade Mark "Sealotak", but other suitable bonding agents may be used. The ingredients of the matrix are preferably in the approximate proportions of 10 litres of Sealotak to 50 kilogrammes of cement to 2 parts of sand (100 Kgs), and the thickness of the matrix is preferably about 5 mm. As a result of the invention, thermal insulating building blocks can be quickly and easily faced in a factory, or even at a building site, by unskilled labour, so that walls can be built ready-faced with tiles by the normal building personnel. It is to be understood that tiles can be secured to the return ends of the blocks in a similar manner to that above described. The grout is preferably applied by brushing, and the matrix by trowelling. Claims

1. A method of facing a thermal insulating building block wherein the block has a concrete tile adhesively bonded to at least one of its faces.

2. A method according to claim 1, comprising the steps of applying to a face of the block and to the back face of the tile a coating of cement and a suitable adhesive bonding agent mixed to a grout, further coating the coated face of the block with a matrix of the bonding agent, cement and sand, and pressing the tile on the coated face of the block.

3. A method accordingto claim 2, wherein, prior to being coated with the grout, the said face is treated with water to reduce its liquid absorption properties.

4. A method of facing a thermal insulating building block substantially as hereinbefore described.