GB2496865A

GB2496865A - Lining board mounting which accommodates movement in the plane

Info

Publication number: GB2496865A
Application number: GB1120187.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kevin Skillin; Kenneth Paul Poberenzy
Original assignee: IMP CONSULTANTS Ltd
Current assignee: IMP CONSULTANTS Ltd
Priority date: 2011-11-23
Filing date: 2011-11-23
Publication date: 2013-05-29
Anticipated expiration: 2031-11-23
Also published as: EP2783054A1; WO2013076494A1; GB201120187D0; GB2496865B

Abstract

A spacing means for attaching a drywall panel to a wall allows lateral, but not normal movement between the wall and the drywall panel. This allows drywall panels to be attached to internal faces of structural wails repaired following subsidence damage whilst further settlement of the structural wall is still happening. The spacing means take up the relative movement arising from post-repair settlement such that cracking and damage to the drywall is minimised. The spacer may be fitted in an aperture of the plasterboard panel and may comprise two parts, such as a collar fitted into the board aperture and a fixing part which fits inside the collar with play.

Description

Method and Apparatus for Repair of Subsidence Damage.

Field

The present invention relates to spacing means for use in attachment of facing panels such as drywall panels to structural walls, in particular to brick or masonry structural walls of commerciaf or domestic buildings. The invention also relates to methods for providing facing panels such as drywall panels on structural walls, particularly structural walls that may be subject to settlement following repair of subsidence damage.

Background

Damage to brick or masonry walls, particularly crack formation, may arise from subsidence of the ground supporting a wall or its foundations. Following repair of such damaged wails, for instance by strengthening of foundations by pumping of grout into the ground below the wall, and/or application of ties to the wall itself, further settlement or movement of the wall may still occur as the repaired ground settles or dries out. Typically, such further settlement following repair of the structural wall may lead to significant movement over several years following repair.

Interior rooms, particularly in domestic dwellings, are typically lined with plaster. It is now conventional to provide a facing panel such as a drywall, which may be skimmed with plaster to give a smooth finish, as the internal wall surface for domestic or commercial buildings. For structural walls, wooden studding is usually affixed to the brick or masonry of the structural wall to form a skeleton or framework to which drywall panels are then fastened.

When structural damage arises due to subsidence, such internal drywalls may become damages and cracked because of stresses arising from the settlement of the structural wall to which they are affixed. Such drywall panels are usually stripped away when the structural damage to the brick or masonry wall is repaired1 and then must be replaced.

If the facing panel is replaced too soon after repair of subsidence damage has taken place, the new drywall may be damaged and cracked by post-repair settlement of the structural wall. To avoid such damage, it may necessary to monitor the settlement of the structural wall at regular intervals following repair, and to only affix new facing panels once the post-repair movement has become negligible.

This presents a number of problems both for any occupant of the building and for the person responsible for effecting repairs. Until facing panels are applied, the wall without the facing panel will present a rough and dirty face to the interior of the room -masonry dust may be present. Lack of insulation provided by the drywall may mean increased heat loss and reduced energy efficiency for the building. Internal fittings such as wall-mounted cupboards, electrical lights and sockets, sewerage piping etc. cannot be replaced in a permanent manner. Furthermore, it is necessary to employ trained staff and to have sophisticated equipment to hand in order to accurately measure the post-repair settlement and to determine when facing panel such as drywall can be finally replaced.

Hence, there is a need for a panelling or drywalling method, following subsidence repair, which addresses these aforementioned problems.

Summary of the Invention

It is one object of the invention, amongst others, to provide methods and equipment which will enable fastening of facing panels such as drywall to waIls repaired following subsidence, wherein the facing panel may be put in place shortly after subsidence repair without excessive risk of subsequent damage to the drywall caused by post-repair settlement, A further object of the invention is to obviate the need for post-repair monitoring of settlement. A further object of the invention is to enable full repair, including structural repair, drywall replacement and replacement of interior fittings and fixtures, to be effected more rapidly, after subsidence damage to a building has occurred.

A first aspect of the invention provides a spacing means for holding a facing panel substantially parallel to a face of a wall, wherein the spacing means comprises a first member adapted for fixing the spacing means to said face and a second member adapted for fixing the spacing means to said facing panel, wherein when the first member is fixed to said face and the second member is Fixed to said facing panel, the first and second members are arranged to hold said facing panel at a substantially fixed distance measured normally from said face, yet to permit relative movement of the second member, from a starting configuration to displaced configuration relative to the first member, the relative movement being in a direction substantially parallel tosaidface.

A second aspect of the invention provides a method for attaching a facing panel substantially parallel to a face of a wall, wherein spacing means attaching the facing panel to the wall are arranged to hold the facing panel at a substantially fixed distance from the face yet to permit relative movement between the wall and the drywall in a direction substantially parallel to the face.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Throughout this specification, the term "comprising" or "comprises" means including the component(s) specified but not to the exclusion of the presence of others. The term "consisting essentially or or "consists essentially of" means including the components specified but excluding other components except for materials present as impurities, unavoidable materials present as a result of processes used to provide the components, and components added for a purpose other than achieving the technical effect of the invention.

Whenever appropriate, the use of the term "comprises" or "comprising" may also be taken to include the meaning "consists essentially or or consisting essentially of', or "consists of' or "consisting of.

The first member will typically be attachable to the face of the wall by a fastener such as a nail or screw. Conventional methods for attachment to a wall may be employed, such as drilling and plugging the wall to improve the effectiveness of the fastener. As for conventional drywalling methods, the wall may be provided with studding, typically wooden studding, and the first member attached to the studding by a fastener. The method of attachment of the first member to the face of the wall is such that the first member is suitably rigidly mountable to the wall such that relative movement between the wall and the first member, in any direction, is prevented.

The second member is adapted to fix the spacing means to a facing panel such as a drywail panel, such that an outer face of the facing panel is held, by the spacing means, substantially parallel to, and facing, the face of the wall.

The second member is suitably rigidly mountable to the facing panel such that relative movement between the facing panel and the second member is prevented, in any direction. Any suitable fastener extending between the facing panel and the second member may be used to fasten the two together.

For instance, as for conventional drywallincj methods, a dab of p!aster or adhesive may be used to glue the drywall panel to the second member. The second member may, for instance, be attached to the facing panel by means of the second member being located in an aperture passing through the facing panel. For instance the second member may be arranged to clip into such an aperture so that the second member is firmly held by the facing pane!.

The first and second members of the spacing means are interconnected in such a manner that, when the spacing means is in place with the first member rigidly attached to the wall and the second member rigidly attached to the facing panel, relative movement between the first and second members, from a starting configuration to displaced configuration of the spacing means is permitted, the relative movement being in a direction substantially parallel to said face of said wall (also referred to as laterat movement). Preferably, relative movement between first and second members is permitted in any direction substantially parallel to the face of the wail. By substantially parallel is meant within 100 of parallel, preferably within 50, more preferably within 2° of parallel. Typically, the amount of relative movement may be limited, for instance to less than 2cm, typically less than 1.5 cm, preferably less than 1.0 cm and more preferably less than 0.5 cm of displacement between the starting configuration and the dFsplaced configuration.

The first and second members are arranged to hold the facing panel at a substantialiy fixed distance or gap from the wall face measured normally from the face (i.e. measured at right angles to the face). By this it is meant that the facing panel may not move more than +/-3mm normal to the face, preferably not more than +\-1mm, even though displacement substantially parallel to the face may be taking place. The non-allowed movement in direction normal (i.e. at about 900 to the plane of the wall face) is referred to herein as anormal movement".

The first member may comprise a neck and the second member comprise a collar wherein the neck is located within the collar. The relat?ve movement between the first and second members may then arise because the neck fits loosely within the opening of the collar. For instance, if the neck and collar are both circular in cross section (i.e. an annular collar with a circular opening), the neck may have an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of the circular opening of the collar.

The first member comprises a bobbin having the neck extending along an axis between first and second end plates, the first and second end plates arranged to hold the neck within the collar whereby relative movement of the collar and bobbin is permitted normal to the axis but not parallel to the axis. The end plates will suitably hold the bobbin or reel-shaped first member so that the neck is held within the collar, with the end plates located at opposed sides of the collar, preventing the neck from moving parallel to the axis, relative to the collar, by the end plates being larger than the internal diameter of the collar and so contacting the collar. The first member may have a bobbin formed of two parts which are fastened together to locate the bobbin in the collar, or, for instance, the collar may be formed of two parts which are fastened together to encircle the neck of the bobbin to form the collar. Hence, the resulting arrangement has the bobbin with its neck locked inside the opening of the collar and prevented from removal by the end plates of the bobbin contacting the opposed outer faces of the collar.

The second member may comprise a housing adapted for fixing to a facing panel, with the collar is arranged to be fixed into the housing.

The collar and housing may be arranged for the position of the collar held in the housing to be adjustable relative to the housing, so that the collar may be fixed at one of a plurality of positions relative to the housing.

For instance, the collar may have a threaded outer edge and the housing may comprise a tapped hole arranged to accept the threaded outer edge of the collar, whereby the position of the collar held in the housing is adjustable by screwing the collar into or out of the housing.

Typically, the housing of the second member will comprise a hole passing therethrough with the collar adapted to be fixed in the hole. The housing will suitably be arranged so that when it is fixed to a facing panel, the hole passes through the facing panel, hence the housing may be arranged to be fixed into an aperture passing through a facing panel.

For instance, the collar may have a threaded outer edge and the housing may comprise a tapped hole arranged to accept the threaded outer edge of the collar, whereby the fixed position of the collar in the housing is adjustable by screwing the collar into or out of the housing. The collar may be provided with lugs or recesses arrange to mate with corresponding features of a tool, the tool being usable to screw the collar into or out of the tapped hole in the housing. Hence, the positioning of the collar in the housing may be used to adjust the spacing of the facing panel from the wall face.

The neck of the first member may have a bore extending therethrough, substantially parallel to the axis of the neck, whereby the neck is adapted for fixing to said wall by a fastener extending though the bore and into said wall.

In other words, the neck may be in the form of a rigid tube with its long axis substantially normal to the wall face when fixed to the wall be a fastener extending along the bore of the tube and fastened into the wall.

When the wall face is uneven, suitable spacers or washers may be used between the face and the first member.

Suitably, the spacing means may comprise a resilient means adapted to urge the second member from the displaced configuration towards the starting configuration.

This is useful when fitting the spacing means and the facing panel to a wall face, to ensure that the spacing means starts out in a starting configuration allowing lateral movement evenly and to a similar extent in all directions.

For instance, the resilient means comprises a plurality of springs arranged between the neck of the first member and the collar of the second member as set out hereinbefore. The springs may, for instance, be in the form of s-or z-shaped resilient sheets, arranged between the neck and the collar. For instance the first member may have a central neck connected to an outer rim by such resilient sheets, with the outer rim arranged to engage with the inner perimeter of the collar.

The resilient means may comprise, for instance, a resilient block such as a block of elastomeric material, e.g. rubber, located between the neck and the collar.

In another arrangement according to the first aspect of the invention, the first and second members may be constructed to be mutually separable and interlockable having an interlocked configuration which, when the first member is fixed to said face, is adapted to permit relative movement between the first and second members in a direction substantially parallel to, but not normal to, said face. This allows the first member may be fastened to said wall prior to attachment of the second member to the first member, which may facilitate the attachment process. For such a spacing means, the first and second members may be constructed to be interlocked by mutual relative rotation about an axis. For instance, one of the first or second members may comprise a disc having a plurality of radial slots relative to the axis and the other of the first or second members comprises an axle holding a plurality of radial spokes relative to the axis, the spokes being adapted to mate with the slots by alignment along, and relative rotation about, the axis.

With this arrangement, the first member may be fastened to a wall face using e.g. screws passing through suitable apertures in the first member into wall-plugs sited in the wall. The second member is then offered up to the first member, with the axes aligned, and mated with it by rotating the second member to engage the arms with the slots. A portion of adhesive may then be applied to the second member and the facing pane! offered up to the adhesive and held in place whilst the adhesive sets. Once the adhesive has set, the presence of the adhered drywall panel prevents the rotation of the second member so that it can no longer be disengaged from the first member.

A second aspect of the invention provides a method for attaching a facing panel substantially parallel to a face of a wall, wherein spacing means holding the facing panel to the wall are arranged to hold the facing panel at a substantially fixed distance from the face yet to permit relative movement between the wall and the facing panel in a direction substantially parallel to the face. The spacing means are suitably spacing means according to the first aspect of the invention.

The wall may be a structural wall of a building, in particular a wall which has been repaired following subsidence damage to the building. In this case, the facing panel may form an interior facing wall of a room such as domestic room.

The facing panel may comprise a plurality of interconnected facing panels (e.g. plasterboard such as GyproctM plasterboard as supplied by British Gypsum -BPB Ltd). Suitable connectors may be used to join sheets of plasterboard in order to provide a substantially rigid facing panel in drywall form, comprising a plurality of pre-made facing panels, ready for offering up to the wall face as a single unit. Alternatively, the facing panel may be put together by fixing individual panels sequentially to the wall, with each butt-jointed at the edge to an adjacent panel using, for instance, H-section channelling.

Typically, a wall whose face is to have a facing panel attached to it using the invention will have two adjacent walls, an adjacent ceiling and an adjacent floor. The facing panels will suitably be dimensioned to provide a small gap (of say 10mm or less, preferably 5mm or less) between the facing panel edges and the floor, ceiling and adjacent walls when attached to the wall face.

Suitably, when fixed to the wall, the facing panel is at least partly supported by the floor adjoining the wall. Suitably the facing panel may be supported by a support means situated on the floor. For instance, a section of resilient beading may be attached to the floor to provide a support for the bottom edge of the facing panel. Gaps between the edges of the facing panel and the adjacent walls, floor and ceiling may be left visible, or may be masked from view by means of e.g. flexible coving or beading adhered to the facing panel's visible face (i.e. the face of the facing panel opposite the face facing the wall) and to the adjacent structural surfaces.

Preferably, the facing panel is a drywall panel.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a drywall fixed to a brick wall using the method of the second invention by a spacing means according to a first embodiment of the first aspect of the invention.

Figure 2 shows a schematic cross sectional side view through the spacing means of the first embodiment holding the drywall to the brick wall as in Figure I. Figure 3 shows a plan view of the first embodiment located in a drywall panel.

Figure 4 shows a schematic perspective cross sectional view of the first embodiment as in figure 3, with a cross section through a vertical plane passing through the centre of the spacing means.

Figure 5 shows a schematic exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of a spacing means according to a second aspect of the invention.

Figure 6 shows a schematic exploded perspective view of a third embodiment of a spacing means according to a second aspect of the invention.

Figure 7 shows a detailed exploded perspective view of the first and second members of the spacing means of the third embodiment.

Figure 8 shows a side view of a drywall panel 1 held spaced from a wall 2 by the spacing means of the third embodiment.

Figure 9 shows a perspective view of a drywall panel 1 held spaced from a wall 2 by the spacing means of the third embodiment.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

Turning first to the first embodiment of the spacing means of the invention as shown in figures 1 to 4, a drywali panel 1 is shown in Figures 1 and 2, fastened to a masonry wall 2 by the spacing means 3. The drywaJl panel I is partially supported by the floor 4 on a semicircular beading strip 5 which is attached to the floor by nails (not shown).

There is a gap 6 between the walL 2 and the wall face 7 when the drywall panel 1 is fixed in place.

The spacing means 3 has first member in the form of a cylindrical member having an outer rim 8 with a threaded outer face which screws into the second member 9 which is a collar in the form of a tapped bush extending through an aperture 10 in the drywall panel 1. A cylindrical neck Ills situated at the centre of the first member 8 and a countersunk bore 12 extends along the length of neck 11. A hole 13 drilled in the wall 2 is fitted with a wall-plug 14 into which a screw 15 is tightened, passing through the bore 12 to fix the neck 11 rigidly to the wall 2.

The neck 11 and outer rim 8 are formed as a unitary moulding, interconnected by a plurality of s-springs 16. A cover 17 is shown held in place by Jugs 18 in figure 2 and lifted away from the spacing means 3 in Figure 1 for greater clarity.

In use, a through aperture 10 is cut in the drywall 1 and the second member 9 filled into the aperture and glued in place (or held by friction). The outer rim 8, integrally formed with neck 11 and s-springs 16 of the first member, is screwed into the tapped bush of second member 9 so that the countersunk end of the bore 12 is located about 2mm below the inner face 18 of the drywall 1 as shown in figure 2. The exact position of the first member within the second member 9 is adjustable, depending upon how far the first member's outer rim 8 is screwed into the taped bush of second member 9.

Where a plurality of spacing means 3 are to be used to hold the drywall panel 1 to the wall 2, this process is repeated for each spacing means (e.g. there may be 5 spacing means, one towards each corner of the drywall panel I panel and one at its centre).

The bead 5 is nailed to the floor at the correct distance from the wall face 7 such that the drywall panel 1 when fixed will be substantially parallel to the wall face 7. The drywall panel is cut to a size appropriate to the wall so that there will be a 5 mm gap between the top of the panel and the adjacent ceiling when the drywall panel 1 is fixed to the wall mounted on the beading strip 5.

(In this example, the drywall panel 1 is of a length grater than the wall 2 height).

The drywall panel 1 is than offered up to the wall, with its bottom edge on the beading strip 5, and the wall face 7 is marked where holes 13 are to be drilled for fixing. The panel 1 is put to one side whilst the required holes 13 are drilled and fitted with wall-plugs 14, and then the panel is offered up again and screwed into place using screws 15 passing through the bores 12 in the neck 11 and into the plugged holes 13. The neck 11 extends further towards the wall than the collar 8, such that the collar B is not in contact with the wall face 7 when the neck 11 is fixed firmly in place by the screw 13.

Further drywall panels 1 are cut to size are attached to the wall 2, each butt-jointed to the adjacent panel (for instance by means of an H-section joining strip (not shown)), until a complete drywall is in place covering the face 7 of the wall 2 save for small gaps at the edges.

Covers 17 are then put in place to cover the spacing means 3. OptiQnally, the edges may be masked by flexible coving adhered to the drywall 1 and the adjacent wall or ceiling, and the drywall panels 1 may be skimmed with a layer of plaster to mask the covers 17 and H-section joinIng strips to provide a flat surface.

Turning to figure 5, this shows a second embodiment of a spacing means according to the first aspect of the invention.

A first member 30 has a central disk 34 from which three spokes or arms 35 extend radially. There is a stop 36 at one side of each arm. A second member 311s also in the form of a disk, and has a central hollow 38 which is configured to mate with the first member 30 when the relative rotational configuration alignment of the first member 30 and second member 31 is correct. Slots 39 are provided in the perimeter of the second member defined by a peripheral shelf 41 with cut-outs 42 to allow the arms to fit into the hollow 38, and each slot 39 has a shoulder 40 at its end. Following mating of the first member 30 into the hollow 38 of the second member 31, the first 30 and second 31 members may be rotated such that the arms 35 engage with the slots 39 until the stops 36 abut the shoulders 40 preventing any further rotational engagement.

When the two members 30, 31 are in this fully engaged configuration, the slots and arms are tightly engaged so as to prevent motion along the axis of the disks. However, the diameter of the central disk 34 is less than the internal diameter of the hollow 38 by about 5mm. Similarly, the length of the arms 35 is about 5mm less than the depth of the slots 39. This allows +\-5mm lateral movement of the first member 30 relative to the second member 31 when the first and second members 30,31 are in the engaged configuration.

The second member 31 has a card cover 32 bonded to its outer face (i.e. the face opposite the hollow 38). The first and second members 30, 31 are rigid polymer mouldings.

In use, the first member 30 is offered up the face 7 of the wall 2 and fastened in place on the face 7 of the wall 2 using a screw or masonry nail by conventional means (such as detailed above for the first embodiment where a screw 15 engaging with a plugged hole 13 was employed).

The second member 31 is then offered up to the first member 30 oriented so that the arms 35 mate into the cut-outs 42. The second member 31 is then rotated (clockwise viewed facing the wall) in order to interlock the first 30 and second 31 members.

Where a plurality of spacing means of the second embodiment are to be used to hold the drywall panel 1 to the wall 2, this process is repeated for each spacing means (e.g. there may be 5 spacing means, one towards each corner of the drywall panel 1 panel and one at its centre).

As for with the first embodiment,a bead 5 is nailed to the floor at the correct distance from the wall face 7 such that the drywall panel 1 when fixed will be substantially parallel to the wall face 7. The drywall panel is cut to a size appropriate to the wall so that there will be a 5 mm gap between the top of the panel and the adjacent ceiling when the drywall panel I is fixed to the wall mounted on the beading strip 5. (In this exampre, the drywall panel 1 is of a length grater than the waIl 2 height).

A portion of adhesive or bonding plaster is put on the card cover 32 of each spacing means and the drywall panel 1 is than offered up to the wall and spacing means with its bottom edge on the beading strip 5 and pushed into the adhesive or bonding plaster and held in place until fixed.

Turning to Figures 6 to 9, the third embodiment of the invention, and its use, are shown in detail in these figures.

For this third embodiment, the first member 50 is a bobbin or reel-shaped member having circular end faces 70 joined together by a cylindrical neck 67 extending between them (see Figure 7). A bore hole 66 is provided centrally extending along the axis of the neck 67. This bore hole may be tapped or may be untapped.

The second member has a collar 52, 53 with an opening 71 which is arranged to enclose and trap the neck 67 of the first member 50. The collar 52, 53 is formed of two semi-annular parts 52, 53 which are provided with lugs 68 and recesses 69 arranged to engage to enable the two parts 53, 53 to be brought together to form the collar 52, 53 with opening 71 encircling the neck 67 so that the first member 50 is trapped within the opening 71 by the end plates 70 abutting the opposed faces of collar 52, 53 on either side of the collar 52, 53.

The neck 67 has a smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of the collar 52, 53 so that the first member 50 can be displaced within the opening 71 in a direction normal to the long axis of the neck 67, but not parallel to the long axis. The two parts of the collar 53, 53 may be glued together once they have been brought together around the neck 67.

The second member also has a housing 51 adapted for fixing to a facing panel. The housing of the second member has a tapped hole 56 extending through it, arranged to accept the outer, tapped edge 55 of the collar 52, 53.

The collar 52, 53 has recesses 54 which can be used for engagement with a screwing tool for screwing the collar 52, 53 holding the first member 50 into the housing 51.

The housing 51 is arranged to be clipped into an aperture 63 passing through a drywall panel 1 by means of resilient clip arms 57, biased outwards from the housing 51 and provided with tapered engagement teeth 58. As the housing 51 is offered up to the aperture 63 as shown in Figure 6, the tapered teeth 58 engage with the edge of the aperture 63 and force the clip arms 57 inwards so that the housing 51 can enter the aperture 63. The clip arms 51 and engagement teeth 58 are dimensioned so that as the flange 65 of housing 51 abuts the visible face of drywall panel 1, the engagement teeth 58 are just free of the aperture 63 at the opposing face of drywall panel 1, allowing the clip arms 57 to spring outwards so that engagement teeth 57 lock the housing into aperture 63 with the tapped hole 56 extending through the drywall panel 1.

A cover plate 64 is arranged to cover the tapped hole 56 of the housing 51 after the first member 50 is in place and fixed to the wall and installation is completed.

In use of the third embodiment, the drywall panel 1 is first drilled to provide aperture 63 then the housing 51 of the second member is locked into the aperture 63 as set out above. The collar 52, 53 of the second member, with first member 50 trapped therein, is then screwed into the tapped hole 56 of housing 51.

Where a plurality of spacing means are to be used to hold the drywall panel I to the wall 2. this process is repeated for each spacing means (e.g. there may be 5 spacing means, one towards each corner of the drywall panel 1 panel and one at its centre).

As for the first embodiment, a bead S is nailed to the floor at the correct distance from the wall face 7 such that the drywall panel 1 when fixed wilt be substantially parallel to the wall face 7. The drywall panel is cut to a size appropriate to the wall so that there will be a 5 mm gap between the top of the panel and the adjacent ceiling when the drywall panel 1 is fixed to the wall mounted on the beading strip 5.

The drywall panel I is than offered up to the wall, with its bottom edge on the beading strip 5, and the wall face 7 is marked where holes 62 are to be drilled for fixing. The panel 1 is put to one side whilst the required holes 62 are drilled and fitted with wall-plugs, and then the panel is offered up again and screwed into place using screws 81 passing through the bores 66 through the neck 67 of first member 50 and into the plugged holes 62. Washers 59, 60 are used to provide an even surface against the wall face 7. The first member 50 extends further towards the wall than the housing of the second member 51, such that the second member is not in direct contact with the wall face 7 when the first member 50 is fixed firmly in place at the wall by the screw 61. Prior to final fixing, spacing adjustments may be made by screwing the collar 52, 53 into or out of the housing 51.

S Further drywall panels 1 are cut to size are attached to the wall 2. each butt-jointed to the adjacent panel (for instance by means of an H-section joining strip (not shown)), until a complete drywall is in place covering the face 7 of the wall 2 save for small gaps at the edges.

Covers 64 are then put in place to cover the housing openings 56. Optionally, the edges may be masked by flexible coving adhered to the drywall 1 and the adjacent wall or ceiling, and the drywall panels 1 may be skimmed with a layer of plaster to mask the covers 64, flanges 65 and H-section joining strips to provide a flat surface.

For each of the embodiments as set out above, once in place, the resulting drywall may be treated and used in the same manner as a conventional drywall. As it is firmly affixed to the waIl 2 such that no normal movement is permitted, wall cupboards and the like may be fixed to the drywall or to the wall 2 through the drywall by conventional means. Because the spacing means 3 allow relative lateral movement between the drywall 1 and the wall 2 in the plane of the face 7, any settlement or movement of the wall 2 can be taken up by the relative movement permitted between the first and second members of the spacing means of the invention so that such settlement or movement should not lead to cracking or deformation of the drywall 1.

It will be appreciated that numerous modifications to the above described embodiment may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, in the first embodiment, the first and second members may be linked by a rubber block rather than by 5-springs. In the second embodiment, the first and second members may be interlocked prior to filling to the wall, with a fastening screw 15 passing through apertures 43, 44 in the centre of the second member and the card cover 32 respectively to permit fixing of the first member 30 to the waIl 2.

The described and illustrated embodiments are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the inventions as defined in the claims are desired to be protected. It should be understood that while the use of words such as "preferable" "preferably", "preferred" or more preferred" in the description suggest that a feature so described may be desirable, it may nevertheless not be necessary and embodiments lacking such a feature may be contemplated as within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. In relation to the claims, it is intended that when words such as "a," "an," "at least one," or "at least one portion" are used to preface a feature there is no intention to limit the claim to only one such feature unless specifically stated to the contrary in the claim. When the language "at least a portion" and/or "a portion" is used the item can include a portion and/or the entire item unless specifically stated to the contrary.

Claims

<claim-text>Claims 1. A spacing means for holding a facing panel substantially parallel to a face of a wall, wherein the spacing means comprises a first member adapted for fixing the spacing means to said face and a second member adapted for fixing the spacing means to said facing panel, wherein when the first member is fixed to said face and the second member is fixed to said facing panel, the first and second members are arranged to hold said facing panel at a substantially fixed distance measured normally from said face, yet to permit relative movement of the second member, from a starting configuration to displaced configuration relative to the first member, the relative movement being in a direction substantially parallel to said face.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A spacing means according to claim 1 wherein the first member comprises a neck and the second member comprises a collar and wherein the neck is located within the collar.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A spacing means according to claim 2 wherein the first member comprises a bobbin having the neck extending along an axis between first and second end plates, the first and second end plates arranged to hold the neck within the collar whereby relative movement of the collar and bobbin is permitted normal to the axis but not parallel to the axis.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A spacing means according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the second member comprises a housing adapted for fixing to said facing panel, and the collar is arranged to be held in the housing.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A spacing means according to claim 4 wherein the collar and housing are arranged for the position of the collar held in the housing to be adjustable relative to the housing.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. A spacing means according to claim 5 wherein the collar has a threaded outer edge and the housing comprises a tapped hole arranged to accept the threaded outer edge of the collar, whereby the position of the collar held in the housing is adjustable by screwing the collar into or out of the housing.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. A spacing means according to any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the neck has a bore extending therethrough, substantially parallel to the axis, whereby the neck is adapted for fixing to said wall by a fastener extending though the bore and into said wall.9. A spacing means according to any preceding claim comprising a resilient means adapted to urge the second member from the displaced configuration towards the starting configuration.10. A spacing means according to claim 9 wherein the resilient means comprises a plurality of springs arranged to interconnect the neck and the collar.11. A spacing means according to any one of claims 9 wherein the resilient means comprises a resilient block located between the neck and the collar.12. A spacing means according to claim I wherein the first and second members are constructed to be mutually separable and interiockable having an interlocked configuration which, when the first member is fixed to said face, is adapted to permit relative movement between the first and second members in a direction substantially parallel to, but not normal to, said face.13. A spacing means according to claim 12 wherein the first and second members are constructed to be interlocked by mutual relative rotation about an axis.14. A spacing means according to claim 13 wherein one of the first or second members comprises a disc having and a plurality of radial slots relative to the axis and the other of the first or second members comprises an axle holding a plurality of radial spokes relative to the axis, the spokes being adapted to mate with the slots by alignment along, and relative rotation about, the axis.15. A method for attaching a facing panel substantially parallel to a face of a wall, wherein spacing means holding the facing panel to the wall are arranged to hold the facing panel at a substantially fixed distance from the face yet to permit relative movement between the wall and the facing panel in a direction substantially parallel to the face. I016. A method according to 15 wherein the spacing means are spacing means according to any one of claims ito 14.iT A method according to claim 15 or claim 16 wherein the wall is a structural wall of a building.18. A method according to any one of claims 15 to 17 wherein the wall is a wall repaired following subsidence damage.19. A method according to any one of claims 15 to 18 wherein the facing panel forms an interior facing wall of a domestic room.20. A method according to any one of claims 15 to 19 wherein the facing panel comprises a plurality of interconnected panels.21. A method according to any one of claims 15 to 20 wherein the facing panel is at least partly supported by a floor adjoining the wall 22. A method according to claim 21 wherein the drywall is supported through a support means situated on the floor.23. A method according to any one of claims 15 to 22 wherein the facing panel is a drywall panel.24. A method or spacing means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying figures.</claim-text>