GB2404931A

GB2404931A - Locating and architectural component and method of installing in a building

Info

Publication number: GB2404931A
Application number: GB0328273A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Douglas Law
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-07-31
Filing date: 2003-12-05
Publication date: 2005-02-16
Also published as: GB0328273D0; GB2404672A; GB0317992D0

Abstract

A method of installation of a locating component and attaching an architectural component to the locating component for buildings. The locating component and the architectural component have respective interlocking arrangements consisting of gripping pins on the locating component and one or two longitudinal slots in architectural components to be attached to the locating component by press-fitting. The locating component is in long rails or as short pieces with E, C or g cross-section. The gripping pins are either integral to the locating components or are in the form of a strip.

Description

Installing Architectural Finishing Components in a Building The present invention relates to methods of installing architectural finishing components in a building, in particular components such as skirting boards. The present invention also provides a locating component for installing an architectural finishing component in a building, a skirting board blank and a kit of building components for use with such methods. This invention is related to the disclosures of, and may be used in conjunction with, the components and systems disclosed in GB0203179.7, GB0221814.7, GB0221816.2, GB0224895, and EP03250445.8, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by way of reference. There is a constant drive in house building to reduce costs. A large part of the cost of building a house is labour. Further, the more skilled a labourer is, the more expensive his or her time on site will be. Therefore, any way of reducing the time that is spent onsite by skilled labourers or craftsmen is of interest to a site or project manager. Systemising house construction can make big savings to the overall cost of building, modifying, converting or decorating a house or building. Traditional methods of building, however, do not lend themselves to using such systems. Tolerances cannot be kept close enough for the architectural finishing components to be fitted as supplied. Further, they will generally need to be nailed to the walls, or elsewhere, thereby ruining any surface finish that might have been provided for it. For this reason, the components generally are supplied without a surface finish. Traditional building methods involve three essential steps: Step 1. The construction of a structural skeleton for the building, formed of various structural elements such as walls, floors and ceilings. These structural elements are constructed of general-purpose building materials such as bricks or concrete blocks in the case of walls or concrete that is cast in situ in the case of floors. These building materials are general-purpose in the sense that they are not designed for the construction of buildings or features of set dimensions, e.g. length or width. They can be and are used to construct buildings or features to any design. This first step is performed by relatively unskilled labour. Step 2. The application of general-purpose finishing materials to the structural elements, for example to finish off the walls, the floors or the ceilings. Such generalpurpose building or finishing materials include plaster (for the walls and ceilings) and flooring materials such as floor screed, floorboards or tiles, although these latter could also be regarded as structural building materials, since they are designed to be load-bearing in use. This step is also performed by relatively unskilled, but perhaps more skilled, labour. Step 3. Onto these "finished" walls, floors or ceilings, architectural finishing components are installed to give the room a "designed" look. With commonly available components, this is done by the skilled craftsmen such as joiners or carpenters. Architectural finishing components are those items of a building that are positioncritical, i.e. need to be installed in a building in exactly the correct position, or to within very small tolerances, in order to achieve their function or to look right. Such items include, but are not limited to, door frames, trims, skirting boards, architrave, dado rails, picture rails and cornices. Masonry items, such as stone fireplaces, can also be architectural finishing components. Generally, architectural finishing components are supplied with at least one dimension, e.g. length, width or height, or a room-facing surface already finished. A typical example of an architectural finishing component is a skirting board. A skirting board must be horizontal, or generally parallel to the floor. It also must be positioned correctly relative to the floor for fitting a carpet underneath it (or on the floor for non-carpeted rooms), otherwise it will look wrong or leave unsightly gaps between the floor and the bottom edge of the skirting board. It also generally comes in its finished width; it only needs to be cut to length. Skirting boards are generally supplied as long, uncut blanks for nailing in place against a finished (or perhaps unpainted but otherwise finished) wall. Achieving the correct positioning of the skirting board is difficult since they are long and awkward. To fit a skirting board, it will typically be nailed in place to the wall, thereby damaging the room-facing surface of the skirting board. Installed skirting boards, therefore, generally need to be finished by a decorator to hide the nails or to repair any damage otherwise caused to the room-facing surface of the skirting board. Similar problems occur with other architectural finishing components. It would be desirable to provide a means for installing architectural finishing components in a building, such as skirting boards, which requires little skill to use with an immediate, acceptable finish, i.e. generally requiring no additional decoration. According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of installing an architectural finishing component in a building comprising: a) installing a locating component on or in a wall, the locating component being adapted to receive the architectural finishing component for attachment of it at a predetermined relative position on the locating component; and b) attaching the architectural finishing component to the locating component at the said predetermined relative position;wherein the locating component comprises first and second components of an attachment means, the architectural building component comprises third and fourth components of the attachment means, the iirst and third components forming a locating pair of components and the second and fourth components forming a gripping pair of components, the attaching of the architectural finishing component to the locating component comprising first locating together the pair of locating components and then pushing together the pair of gripping components. The locating pair of components may double as a further gripping pair of components. The gripping pair of components may double as a further locating pair of components. Preferably the locating component is installed in or on the wall. The locating component may be used as a locating reference for the application of a general-purpose building or finishing material when constructing or finishing a structural element of the building. Preferably the architectural finishing component is attached to the locating component using a press-fit. Preferably the gripping and/or locating pair or pairs of components can be press-fitted together. Preferably at least one of the components of the attachment means is integral with the architectural finishing component and/or the locating component. Preferably the attachment is made without the need for any additional components. All of the locating and gripping components of the attachment means are preferably integral to one of either the architectural finishing component or the locating component. Preferably the architectural finishing component is one of a skirting board, a dado rail, a picture rail, an architrave or coving. Multiple locating components may be used for each architectural finishing component. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a locating component for installing an architectural finishing component in a building comprising a back, adapted, in use, to rest against a part of a wall in a room or a building and a gripping means formed of gripping pins for gripping the architectural finishing component. Preferably there is provided a strip of gripping pins. Preferably the strip extends along an edge of the locating component. Preferably there are two strips. Preferably the strips are spaced apart. Preferably the two strips extend along two edges of the locating component. Preferably the two strips are paired strips, having pins that oppose each other. Preferably the pins face away from each other. Instead of two long strips of gripping pins, there may be one or two (or more) gripping pins on each edge of the locating component. The locating component is then not a long length, but instead a short length and multiple locating components are used for each architectural finishing component to be fitted. Preferably the part of the wall is a general-purpose building component used to form the wall. The part of the wall may, however, be a spacing component fitted, for example, between a structural element of the wall and the locating component. Preferably the gripping pins are integral to the locating component. Preferably the locating component comprises a foot for locating the architectural finishing component relative to the gripping means. Preferably the locating component also comprises a top, in use forming a guide for the application of general-purpose finishing materials to the general-purpose building components. Preferably the locating component also comprises a bottom for seating the locating component on the floor of the room or building for installing a skirting board. However, the locating component may be used such that it does not rest on the floor of the room. This will be useful if the skirting board is to be spaced from the floor, for example for fitting carpets properly, or if the architectural finishing component is an architrave, a dado rail or a picture rail. For this purpose, nail slots preferably are provided in the back of the locating component, which nail slots allow the locating component to be fixed to the wall with nails or the like such that, for example, its height can be adjusted relative to the floor. This is preferably done prior to the application of the general purpose finishing materials such as plaster using the guide.Once the height or the like has been adjusted, the nails, or the like, fixing the locating components to the wall can be hit home or set to secure the locating component in the adjusted or correct position. The locating component may be used upside down, for example for the installation of coving. The locating component may be symmetrical for use either way round.

Preferably the locating component has a generally E, C or g shaped section. Preferably the locating comprises a box section or a fold or a groove for providing stiffness along its length or its width. Preferably the locating component is formed from a single sheet of material, preferably by roll-forming or otherwise folding it into its final shape. However, it may be extruded, for example. The locating component, rolled or otherwise, may be formed from steel. It may, however, be formed from some other stiff material or a thermoplastic material. Preferably the locating component is formed of glass filled nylon. Most preferably it is formed of 20% glass filled nylon. Preferably the nylon is injection moulded, with the locating component being made of a short length. The short length may be less than the width of the locating component. Preferably the length is less than half the width. Preferably, the gripping pins are formed on a flange between the top and the bottom of the locating component. Preferably the flange extends further forwardly from the back of the locating component than the top of the locating component. Preferably the flange extends forwardly substantially the same distance as the bottom of the locating component. Preferably the bottom of the locating component is the foot of the locating component. Preferably the flange is integrally formed with the locating component. Preferably the locating component is formed from a sheet folded into a generally g shaped section, the vertical element of the g forming the back of the locating component, the tail forming the foot and the top of the g forming the guide. The gripper pins are preferably formed in the middle horizontal element of the g, more preferably on a flange extending forwardly therefrom. Preferably the top of the g is generally flat with a squared forward edge to provide a more precise guide for the application of the general-purpose finishing material, such as plaster. The locating component may, alternatively, comprise an E shaped section, the three horizontal elements thereof forming or providing thereon the guide, the foot and the flange of the locating component. The upright element of the section forms the back of the locating component. Preferably the locating component has a substantially constant cross section along its whole longitudinal length. The gripping or locating means, however, can interrupt this constant cross section. Preferably the gripper pins are barbs which are stamped into or formed in the locating component. Preferably the barbs point inwardly, i.e. downwardly and towards the back of the locating component, so that they are unlikely to catch a fitter's hand or fingers when the fitter is carrying the locating component or otherwise handling the outer extremities of the locating component. However, they may also point outwardly. Preferably the locating component comprises a channel extending along the longitudinal length of the locating component. In use, the channel forms, for example, a cable channel that extends between the locating component and the architectural finishing component. The locating component of the present invention can be fitted to the generalpurpose building components of the wall using or in conjunction with traditional construction methods, e.g. using nails, screws, glue or the like. Alternatively a spacing component may be positioned between the locating component and the wall. A nail or screw may then extend through both the locating component and the spacing component and into the wall. The spacing component may be a pair of wedges for providing thickness adjustability.The facing surfaces of the wedges may be stepped or otherwise made to grip together once adjusted to a desired thickness According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a skirting board blank comprising a room facing surface and a wall-facing or rear surface, wherein the wall facing surface comprises a slot extending generally longitudinally along a substantial part of the length of the skirting board blank.

Preferably, the slot extends along the entire length of the skirting board blank. The slot preferably forms a first component of a locate and fit system for the skirting board blank for fitting the skirting board blank to a locating component as defined above. This is for attaching the skirting board to a wall. Preferably the skirting board blank comprises also a second element of the locate and fit system. Preferably the second element is a locating component comprising a groove or notch or a second slot. Preferably the groove or notch is in the base surface of the skirting board blank. It (or the slot) may, however, be in the wall-facing surface of the skirting board blank. The second element may comprise a rabbet at the juncture between the base surface and the wall-facing surface of the skirting board blank. The second element may comprise the groove or notch and the rabbet.Preferably they together form an L shaped section of lost material at the juncture between the base surface and the wall-facing surface of the skirting board blank. Preferably the rabbet and the groove or notch extend substantially the entire longitudinal length of the skirting board blank. More preferably, the groove or notch and the rabbet extend the entire length of the skirting board blank. Most preferably the second element is the second slot. Preferably the slot extends substantially the entire longitudinal length of the skirting board blank. Most preferably, the slot extends the entire length of the skirting board blank. Preferably the room-facing surface and the wall-facing surface are generally parallel to each other, although the room-facing surface may comprise a decorative feature, such as a bull nose or chamfer. The wall-facing surface may be generally flat other than the slot (and the notch, groove, second slot or rabbet). The wall facing surface may, however, be stepped. The step can provide a location for the locating means of the second aspect of the invention to be fitted into with its back flush with the remainder of the skirting board. For fitting the blank to the wall, the blank may need to be cut to length. Preferably the skirting board blank is formed of MDF. Preferably the material of the blank has a grain line extending substantially parallel to the wall facing surface of the skirting board blank. Preferably the skirting board blank has a surface finish on its room facing surface, thereby requiring no further decoration upon attaching it to a wall. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a kit of building components comprising at least one locating component and at least one architectural finishing component, the or each architectural finishing component comprising a groove, notch or rabbet along one side and a slot in an adjoined side, the groove, notch or rabbet forming a part of a locating component of a locate and fit system for attaching the architectural finishing component to the locating component and the slot forming a part of a gripping component of the locate and fit system. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit of building components comprising at least one locating component and at least one architectural finishing component, the or each architectural finishing component comprising two slots on a back surface thereof, the locating component comprising two gripping components for insertion into those slots, the slots and gripping components forming a locate and fit system for attaching the architectural finishing component to the locating component. Preferably the locating component and the architectural finishing component of either the fourth or fifth aspects of the present invention are adapted to join together with a press-fit, a snap fit or a clip-on connection. Preferably the locating component comprises a locating element for fitting in the groove, notch, second slot or rabbet. Preferably the locating component comprises gripping pins for gripping in the or each slot. Preferably the locating component is in accordance with the second aspect of the present invention, as described above. Preferably the at least one architectural finishing component is one of a skirting board, a dado rail, a picture rail, an architrave or coving. Preferably the at least one architectural finishing component comprises features corresponding to the various features of the skirting board blank described above. More preferably the at least one architectural finishing component is a skirting board blank in accordance with the third aspect of the present invention, as described above. Preferably the architectural finishing component has a surface finish on its finally visible parts, thereby requiring no further decoration upon attaching it to the locating component. These various aspects of the present invention enable the fitment and potentially the refitment of architectural finishing components, such as skirting boards, dado rails, architrave, coving and picture rails by an ordinarily skilled builder, rather than requiring a craftsman such as a joiner. Generally, only the length of the architectural finishing component will need to be cut carefully. The locating component can be cut, safely, to only rough lengths for fitting to the walls of the room since it will be hidden by the architectural finishing component. A skilled person will appreciate that certain standard components for fitting to the surface of walls, for example skirting boards, may require mitre cuts on one or both ends thereof, e.g. for providing neat corners wherever they meet. Butt joints may alternatively be used, if preferred. Such joints, however, if not too frequent, will not require highly skilled labourers. As a result of use of the present invention, a later purchaser of the house to which the architectural finishing components are fitted can easily change the architectural finishing components to match his or her tastes, or as and when the architectural finishing components become shabby. To remove the architectural finishing components, they are pulled off the locating component. The locating component is built into the wall or firmly attached thereto. Therefore the architectural finishing component should pull off the locating component leaving the locating component in tact on the wall. New architectural finishing components with appropriate attachment means such as slots or notches can then be fitted in the place of the old architectural finishing components also without the need for a skilled craftsman. Use of locating components in accordance with the present invention allows the architectural finishing components to be prepared and finished off-site. They can therefore be prepared to match one another. The architectural finishing components for a room or a house can then be supplied as a set, all matching throughout the room or house. Further, sophisticated finishes, such as exotic wood grain effects, can also be provided, which effects are difficult to create on the architectural finishing components once they have been installed in a room or building. Use of locating components in accordance with the present invention also allows the architectural finishing components to be installed or fitted right at the end of the building process. This will save construction time by skilled labourers. It will also reduce the risk of damage to the architectural finishing components being caused by the decorators putting in the final touches. Yet further it will also allow, for example, painters to spray finish walls and ceilings without having to mask off the architectural finishing components - they will not have been installed at that time. Spray finishing walls is faster than painting with a brush or a roller and usually gives a better finish. Therefore the plastering and painting of the walls is able to be completed in advance of installation of the architectural finishing components. Two preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure I shows a section through a fitted skirting board using a locating component and skirting board blank in accordance with the second and third aspects of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the locating component; Figure 3 show a sectional detail of the gripper pins of the locating component; Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention being used as a skirting board fixation device in a metal stud partition; Figure 5 shows the locating component of Figure 4 being used in a timber stud partition; Figure 6 shows the locating component of Figure 4 being used in a plastered or drylined block wall construction;Figure 7 is an end view of a preferred locating component similar to the one shown in Figure 4; Figure 8 shows in plan a preferred embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention, as used in Figure 4, 5 and 6; Figures 9A, 9B and 9C show three configurations of a spacing component, as used in the construction shown in Figure 6; Figure 10 shows a schematic plan view of a spacing component; and Figure 1 shows a variant of a component of a spacing component. Referring to Figure 1, a skirting board (11) is shown attached to a locating component (13), which is fitted to a wall (17) by conventional methods, such as by using masonry nails or adhesive (not shown). The skirting board (11) has a room-facing surface (23) and a wall-facing surface (27). A top portion (19) of the skirting board (11) rests its room-facing surface against a painted plaster surface (15) of the wall (17). The room-facing surface (23) of the skirting board (11) has a generally standard appearance, with a bullnose feature (21) being provided for it at the top portion (19) of the skirting board (11). A base (25) and the wall-facing surface (27) of the skirting board (11) comprise elements of a locate and fit system for the skirting board (11) for attaching the skirting board (11) to the locating component (13). The base (25) of the skirting board (11) comprises a notch (29) and a rabbet (31) defining an L shaped section of lost material. The material may have been removed from a previously rectangular blank or the skirting board could have been formed in that shape, for example by extruding or moulding such a section. Spaced from the base (25) towards the top portion (19), a second component of the locate and fit system is provided. It comprises a slot (33) provided in the wall-facing surface (27) of the skirting board (11). The slot (33) is square sided and square bottomed. However, it could have a round bottom or non square sides, for example serrated. Otherwise, the rear surface (27) is generally flat, as is conventional in skirting boards. It may, however, be stepped. Preferably the top (26) and the room-facing surface (23), and the bull nose (21), are provided with a surface finish, for example by being painted. The material used for the skirting board has a grain (not shown) that runs parallel to the rear surface 27 of the skirting board (11). This, however, can be optional. Its advantage, however, will be described later. Referring now to Figure 2, the details of the locating component (13) will now be described. The locating component (13) comprises a rolled steel sheet having a generally continuous section along its longitudinal length. However, certain repeating features are provided along its length, such as cut out nail slots (35) and stamped barbs (37) to disturb the continuous section. A sectional detail of the barbs (37) is shown in Figure 3 and will be described later. The locating component (13) comprises a back (39), a leg (41), a foot (43), a head (45), an arm (47) and hands in the form of the barbs (37). The shaped section of the locating component (13) is formed by roll folding a generally straight sheet in, for example, a calendar press. Its section comprises multiple straight sections interconnected by sharp bends of either 90 degrees or 180 degrees. Starting at a first edge (42), the foot (43) is formed of a short straight section which is connected at a right angle bend to a longer straight section, which is the leg (41). The leg (41) is connected by another right angle bend to the back (39). This forms a shallow U section at the bottom of the section with the leg (41) forming the base of the U section. The back (39) is the longest straight section of the section of the locating component (13). It extends to the top of the head (45). It has multiple nail slots (35) provided in it regularly spaced longitudinally along the length of the locating member (13). The slots (35) run parallel to the section. The head (45) is formed from three straight sections (55, 57, 75) of equal lengths. They are connected together by right angle bends to form a box section (51) with the top portion (53) of the back (39) forming the fourth side of the box section (51). The box section (51) provides stiffness to the locating component ( 13). Below the head (45), between the head (45) and the leg (41), an open section or channel (77) is provided. This open section (77), in use, forms a channel, for example for cables, between the locating component (13) and the skirting board (11). A top wall (55) and a face wall (57) of the head (45), as previously described, are connected to each other by a right angle bend. This bend defines a leading edge (59) for the locating component (13). As shown in Figure 1, with the locating component fitted to the wall (17), plaster (15) is applied to the wall (17) above the locating component (13) up to the leading edge (59). The face wall (57) of the head (45) and the leading edge (59) therefore provide a guide for the plasterer, up against which the plaster should be maid flush. In this way, the skirting board (11), when fitted to the locating component (13), has its rear surface (27) resting against the plaster or paint (61) thereon and the face wall (57) of the head (45) of the locating component (13). This provides a clean or tidy finish for the skirting board (11) relative to the plaster (15). At a neck (63) of the head (45) of the locating component (13), the sheet of material forming the locating component (13) is sharply bent through 180 degrees to form an arm (47) which extends generally parallel to and for a substantially identical length as the leg (41). The end of the arm (47) defines the second edge (65) of the sheet of material forming the locating component (13). Towards that edge (65), the hands in the form of barbs (37) are formed by press cutting or stamping the sheet. Referring to Figure 3, the barb (37) comprises a first section (67) extending generally perpendicularly downwards from the arm (47) and a second section (69) defining a sharp point (71) pointing towards the back (39) of the locating component (13). The arm (47) is otherwise a generally straight section. Multiple barbs (37) are provided in the arm (47). They are similar to barbs that can be formed on a carpet gripper strip. They are regularly spaced along the longitudinal length of the locating component (13). They could, however, be formed on a separate strip and may be joined to the locating component (13). They are formed to extend downwardly and backwardly from the arm (47), however, so that they are less likely to injure a fitter handling the locating component (13). The barbs are shown to be depending from a flange (73) - part of the arm (47) extending forwardly from the face wall (57) of the head (45) of the locating component (13). However, with a stepped wall-facing surface (not shown) being provided on the skirting board (11), the barbs (37) could be provided underneath the head (45) of the locating component (13), thereby removing the need for a flange (73) or even the arm (47). The barbs (37) instead could be provided in a chin section (75) of the head (45) of the locating component (13). The foot (43) of the locating component (13) is used as a locator for the fitting of the previously described skirting board (11) to the locating component (13). As shown in Figure 1, the notch (29) and rabbet (31) of the skirting board (11) engage over the foot (43) of the locating component (13). The slot (33) of the skirting board (11) then can be pushed over the edge (65) of the arm (47) to move the barbs (37) into the slot (33). The points (71) of the barbs (37) are resilient and will flex so that they are forced to engage against a side wall of the slot (33) as the slot (33) is pushed over them. This locks the skirting board (11) to the locating component (13). The depth of the slot (33) is such that the skirting board can be pushed sufficiently over the arm (47) so that the wall-facing surface (27) of the skirting board (11) will rest against the face wall (57) of the head (45) of the locating component (13).

Prior art skirting boards are generally formed from a plank of wood. Preferably, however, the skirting board (11) of the present invention is instead formed from a sheet of MDF material. However, the skirting board can be made of wood, medium density fibreboard (MDF), glass reinforced plastic or a ceramic, plaster or mortar based material, or some other commonly used building material so that the appearance or feel of the component is conventional in the finished building. It should, however, still have a surface finish, be that a polished or painted finish, for example. As previously described, the grain, if any, of the skirting board (11) is preferably arranged parallel to the wall-facing surface (27) of the skirting board (11). This is so that upon locking the skirting board (11) to the locating component (13) with the barbs (37), any attempt to remove the skirting board (11) therefrom will result in the skirting board (11) splitting along the grain of the material. Therefore, the skirting boards (11) are designed only to be for a single use. This has the advantage of guaranteeing a perfect surface finish for the skirting board (11) since, even without this feature, any attempt to remove a skirting board (11) will most probably cause damage to the visible surfaces of the skirting board. There is also the advantage of the increased potential sales due to nonreusability. Referring now to Figures 4 to 6, an alternative locating component (13) for an architectural finishing component (11) is shown attached to various walls (17). In Figure 4, the wall (17) is of a metal stud partition type. In Figure 5, the wall (17) is of a timber stud partition type. In Figure 6, the wall is of a plastered or a dry lined block wall type. In Figures 4 and 5, the locating component (13) is attached directly to a sheet of plasterboard. In Figure 6, the locating component (13) is attached to the wall (17) via an adjustable spacer (100). The adjustable spacer (100) will be described in more detail with reference to Figures 9a to 11, below. As with the first embodiment, the architectural finishing component is a skirting board (11). In Figures 4 and 5, the tops of the skirting boards (11) are not shown for simplicity. In all three of these embodiments, the skirting board (11) is fitted directly adjacent to the floor. However, it could easily be spaced away from the floor by fitting the locating component (13) higher up on the wall (17). The skirting board (11) comprises a finished room facing surface (23) (see Figure 6), and a rear surface (27). The rear surface (27) rests against a plastered (15) part of the wall (17) at the top (19) of the skirting board (11). The rear surface (27) additionally comprises two slots (33, 133) and a stepped-down surface (127). The first slot (33) corresponds with the slot in the skirting board (11) of the first embodiment. The second slot (133) is substantially similar to the first slot (33). However, it is placed towards the bottom (119) of the skirting board (11). The stepped-down surface (127) extends between the two slots (33, 133). Multiple short locating components (13) are used for attaching each skirting board (11) to the wall. However, a long strip, as with the first embodiment could instead be manufactured and used using the same section as shown in Figures 4 to 6. However, the shorter length reduces manufacturing cost without reducing the system's effectiveness. Each locating component (13) of this second embodiment again comprises a single sheet of material. However, it is formed from an injection moulded, 20% glass filled nylon. It has a first gripping means in the form a barb (37) corresponding with barb (37) of the locating component (13) of the first embodiment. However, it additionally comprises a second gripping means in the form of an opposed barb (137) on a second, opposed, edge of the locating component (13). A locating component (13) of the second embodiment is shown in more detail in Figures 7 and 8. The locating component (13) comprises a short length (102) and a longer width (104). The length (102) is shown to be 20mm and the width (104) is shown to be 51mm. Extending outwardly from each end of that width (104), however, are two gripper pins (37, 137). These gripper pins (37, 137), are formed as paired, opposing, outwardly extending triangular protrusions. They are integrally formed with the rest of the locating component (13). The protrusions extend outwardly yet backwardly from flanges (106) provided at each end (108) of the locating component (13). The flanges (106) are perpendicular to the back (112) of the locating component (13). Grooves (110) are provided in a back (112) of the locating component (13). These grooves (110) are provided merely to assist in the handling of the locating components in the manufacturing process and are optional. A slot (114) is also provided in the middle of the back (112) of the locating component (13). This slot is elongated. It is for a nail or a screw to pass through the locating component for attaching the locating component to the wall (17). By being elongated, the position or height of the locating component (13) on the wall can be adjusted once the nail or screw has been driven through the slot (114) and into the wall (17) prior to driving or screwing the nail or screw all the way home. The gripper pins (37, 137) extend at an angle of approximately 15 degrees from the flanges (106). However, this angle can be changed, for example, to increase the gripping force by increasing the angle. 'I'he gripper pins (37, 137) have a gripping point (116) which will engage into the side of the slots (33, 133) provided in the skirting board (11). The locating component (13) of this second embodiment may be used in applications other than for attaching skirting boards, such as for attaching dado rails and the like to walls. By making the locating component (13) of this second embodiment short, multiple locating components are used for each architectural finishing component. The short components enable them to be injection moulded, which is an inexpensive method of manufacture for small components. Additionally, less material is required than with a long length of locating component (13). Accordingly, the unit costs are reduced. While this component has been described as being injection moulded from glass filled nylon, it could also be manufactured from other materials and by other methods, for example by extrusion, pressing or folding techniques, amongst others, as would be readily appreciated by a person skilled in the art of manufacturing. The material used at least for the gripper pins, however, needs to be stiff so that they will grip in the slots. Referring now to Figures 9A to 9C, a spacing component for use as the adjustable spacer 100 in the construction shown in Figure 6 is shown in detail. The spacing component comprises two wedge shape components (120, 122). The wedges' angles are equal. Further, the wedges are shaped as truncated right-angle triangles. Accordingly, when they are fitted together with their hypotenuse faces facing each other, the two adjacent faces of the wedges provide parallel sides (124, 126) for the spacing component, one being for placing against the wall (17) and the other being for receiving the locating component (13). The hypotenuse faces of the two wedges are stepped (128) so that the two faces will not slip relative to each other when compressed together. Such compression will occur when a nail or a screw is used to attach the locating component to the wall with the spacing component between the locating component and the wall. As can be seen in Figures 9A, 9B and 9C, different spacings (20mm, 16mm and 14mm, respectively) can be provided with this spacing component by differently positioning the two wedges relative to each other. Referring now to Figure 10, the width of each spacing component is 20mm. This conforms with the width of the locating components of the second embodiment. Further, a slot (130) is also provided in the middle of each spacing component. This slot (130) is more elongated than the slot (114) provided in the locating component (13) of the second embodiment. This is because the two slots need to allow for relative displacements of the two components (120), (122) of the spacing component for providing the most appropriate spacing distance for the occasion of use. The wedges of the embodiment of Figure 10, and also of Figure 11, have a non-flat hypotenuse face. Each face comprises three separate surfaces: a first outer surface (134), an identical second outer surface (136) on an opposite side of the wedge's hypotenuse face and a third recessed surface (138). The recessed surface (138) is provided between the two other surfaces (134, 136). At an end of the recessed surface (138), there is provided a stepped-up surface (132) which extends above the two outer surfaces (134, 136). This stepped-up surface (132) extends upwardly from the two outer surfaces (134, 136) by the same distance as the recessed surface extends downwardly from those outer surfaces. The two wedges used to form the spacing component are identical. One is inverted relative to the other. The raised surface (132) of the two components, therefore, will engage into the recessed area of the other wedge. This prevents sideways relative movement of the two wedges. Additionally, as a result of the raised potions, the two components will not be able to slide longitudinally relative to each other beyond a certain limit. The previously described stepped surface (128) is shown in part in Figure 10. It extends over all of the two outer surfaces (134, 136). Figure 11 also shows a stepped surface (128) on both the recessed surface (138) and the stepped-up surface (132). However, the stepped surfaces are preferred to be only on the two outer surfaces (134, 136) since that is sufficient to prevent slippage and it simplifies the design. As described above and as clearly shown in the drawings, the spacing component is an optional addition to the present invention and may additionally be included in the kits described above and as claimed. There are therefore many notable features of the present invention: 1. Both the skirting board and the locating component are simple and easy to make. Therefore they are highly suitable for mass or volume production. 2. The application of the skirting board to the locating component is straightforward or foolproof; the use of carpet gripper type technology, i.e. the barbs, is very effective and is also customer friendly. 3. The box section formed at the head of the locating component forms a strong or stiff section that keeps the section straight while the locating components are being stored or transported or even while they are being fitted. This therefore gives the walls an accurate plaster line; a straight wall is important when using pre-finished skirting boards. 4. The gripper pins or barbs, due to them being bent downwardly and inwardly, end up being underneath the arm (47). Therefore they are protected or less likely to be responsible for damaging hands or fingers of a fitter. 5. The small locating components of the second embodiment are suitable for injection moulding with a plastics material and therefore can be made very inexpensively. The present invention therefore provides methods and components for facilitating in the fitment of architecturally finished building components such as skirting boards in existing buildings or in new builds. The various aspects of the invention have been described above purely by way of example. Modifications in detail may be made to the invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A method of installing an architectural finishing component in a building comprising: a) installing a locating component on or in a wall, the locating component being adapted to receive the architectural finishing component for attachment of it at a predetermined relative position on the locating component; and b) attaching the architectural finishing component to the locating component at the said predetermined relative position; wherein the locating component comprises first and second components of an attachment means, the architectural building component comprises third and fourth components of the attachment means, the first and third components forming a locating pair of components and the second and fourth components forming a gripping pair of components, the attaching of the architectural finishing component to the locating component comprising first locating together the pair of locating components and then pushing together the pair of gripping components.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the locating component is installed in the wall, the locating component being used as a locating reference for the application of a generalpurpose building or finishing material when constructing or finishing a structural element of the building.

3. The method of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the locating pair of components double as a further gripping pair of components.

4. The method of claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the gripping pair of components double as a further locating pair of components.

5. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the architectural finishing component is attached to the locating component using a press-fit.

6. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the components of the attachment means is integral with the architectural finishing component and/or the locating component.

7. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the attachment is made without the need for any additional components, all of the locating and gripping components of the attachment means being integral to one of either the architectural finishing component or the locating component.

8. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the architectural finishing component is one of a skirting board, a dado rail, a picture rail, an architrave or coving.

9. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein multiple locating components are used for installing the or each architectural finishing component.

10. A locating component for installing an architectural finishing component in a building comprising a back, adapted, in use, to rest against a part of a wall in a room or a building and a gripping means formed of gripping pins for gripping the architectural finishing component.

11. A locating component according to claim 10, wherein the part of the wall is a general-purpose building component used to form the wall.

12. A locating component according to claim 10, wherein the part of the wall is a spacing component for fitting between a structural element of the wall and the locating component.

13. A locating component according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein a strip of gripping pins is provided.

14. A locating component according to claim 13, wherein there are two strips.

15. A locating component according to claim 14, wherein the strips are spaced apart.

16. A locating component according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the two strips are paired strips, having pins that oppose each other.

17. A locating component according to claim 14, 15 or 16, wherein the pins of each strip face away from each other.

18. A locating component according to any one of claims 13 to 17, wherein the or each strip extends along an edge of the locating component.

19. A locating component according to any one of claims 10 to 18, wherein the gripping pins are integral to the locating component.

20. A locating component according to any one of claims 10 to 19, wherein the strips each comprise only two gripping pins.

21. A locating component according to any one of claims 10 to 20, wherein the width of the locating component is greater than the length of the locating component.

22. A locating component according to any one of claims 10 to 21, wherein the locating component comprises a foot for locating the architectural finishing component relative to the gripping means.

23. A locating component according to any one of claims 10 to 22, wherein the locating component comprises a top, which, in use, forms a guide for the application of general-purpose finishing materials.

24. A locating component according to any one of claims 10 to 23, wherein the locating component comprises a bottom for seating the locating component on the floor of the room or building for installing a skirting board.

25. A locating component according to any one of claims 10 to 24, wherein nail slots are provided in the back of the locating component.

26. A locating component according to any one of claims 10 to 25, wherein the locating component has a generally E, C or g shaped section.

27. A locating component according to any one of claims 10 to 26, wherein the locating comprises a box section for providing stiffness.

28. A locating component according to any one of claims 10 to 27, wherein the locating component is formed from a single sheet of material.

29. A locating component according to any one of claims 10 to 28, wherein the locating component is injection moulded.

30. A locating component according to any one of claims 10 to 29, wherein the gripping pins are formed on a flange between the top and the bottom of the locating component.

31. A locating component according to claim 30, wherein the flange extends further forwardly from the back of the locating component than the top of the locating component.

32. A locating component according to claim 30 or claim 31, wherein the flange extends forwardly substantially the same distance as the bottom of the locating component.

33. A locating component according to any one of claims 30 to 32, wherein the flange is integrally formed with the locating component.

34. A locating component according to any one of claims 10 to 33, wherein the locating component has a substantially constant cross section along its whole longitudinal length.

35. A locating component according to any one of claims 10 to 34, wherein the gripper pins are barbs which are stamped into or formed in the locating component.

36. A locating component according to any one of claims 10 to 35, wherein the barbs point inwardly or downwardly towards the back of the locating component.

37. A locating component according to any one of claims 10 to 35, wherein the barbs point outwardly.

38. A locating component according to any one of claims 10 to 37, comprising a channel extending along its longitudinal length.

39. A skirting board blank comprising a room facing surface and a wall-facing or rear surface, wherein the wall facing surface comprises a slot extending generally longitudinally along a substantial part of the length of the skirting board blank.

40. A skirting board blank according to claim 39, wherein the slot forms a first component of a locate and fit system for the skirting board blank.

41. A skirting board blank according to claim 40, wherein the skirting board blank comprises a second element of the locate and fit system.

42. A skirting board blank according to claim 41, wherein the second element is a locating component comprising a groove or notch.

43. A skirting board blank according to claim 41, wherein the second element is a second slot.

44. A skirting board blank according to claim 41, wherein the second element comprises a rabbet at the juncture between the base surface and the wall-facing surface of the skirting board blank.

45. A skirting board blank according to any one of claims claim 39 to 44, wherein the skirting board blank is formed of MDF.

46. A skirting board blank according to any one of claims claim 39 to 45, wherein the material of the blank has a grain line extending substantially parallel to the wall facing surface of the skirting board blank.

47. A skirting board blank according to any one of claims claim 39 to 46, wherein the skirting board blank has a surface finish on its room facing surface, thereby requiring no further decoration upon attaching it to a wall.

48. A skirting board blank according to any one of claims claim 39 to 47, wherein the wall-facing surface is stepped.

49. A kit of building components comprising at least one locating component and at least one architectural finishing component, the or each architectural finishing component comprising a groove, notch or rabbet along one side and a slot in the same or an adjoined side, the groove, notch or rabbet forming a part of a locating component of a locate and fit system for attaching the architectural finishing component to the locating component and the slot forming a part of a gripping component of the locate and fit system.

50. The kit of claim 49, wherein the locating component comprises a locating element for fitting in the groove, notch or rabbet.

51. A kit of building components comprising at least one locating component and at least one architectural finishing component, the or each architectural finishing component comprising two slots on a back surface thereof, the locating component comprising two gripping components for insertion into those slots, the slots and gripping components forming a locate and fit system for attaching the architectural finishing component to the locating component.

52. The kit of any one of claims 49 to 51, wherein the locating component and the architectural finishing component are adapted to join together with a press-fit, a snap fit or a clip-on connection.

53. The kit of any one of claims 49 to 52, wherein the locating component comprises a gripping means for gripping in the or each slot.

54. The kit of any one of claims 49 to 53, wherein the locating component is in accordance with any one of claims 10 to 38.

55. The kit of any one of claims 49 to 55, wherein the at least one architectural finishing component is one of a skirting board, a dado rail, a picture rail, an architrave or coving.

56. The kit of any one of claims 49 to 55, wherein the at least one architectural finishing component is a skirting board blank in accordance any one of claims 39 to 48.

57. The kit of any one of claims 49 to 56, wherein multiple locating components are provided for the or each architectural finishing component.

58. A locating component substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

59. A locating component substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 4 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.

60. A skirting board blank substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

61. A skirting board blank substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 4, 5 or 6 of the accompanying drawings.

62. A method of installing an architectural finishing component substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

63. A method of installing an architectural finishing component substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 4, 5 or 6 of the accompanying drawings.