GB2120299A

GB2120299A - Method for building

Info

Publication number: GB2120299A
Application number: GB08311145A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Cornelis Tadema
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-04-27
Filing date: 1983-04-25
Publication date: 1983-11-30
Also published as: IT1159567B; PT76594B; ES521888A0; AU1393583A; NO166548B; DK185583A; GB8311145D0; ZA832953B; NO831474L; PT76594A; AT380291B; GB2120299B; GR78543B; FR2525655B3; ES8405871A1; CA1205646A; ATA150883A; IT8367454A1; JPS59446A; DK185583D0

Abstract

Horizontal joint strips, vertical joint strips and floor strips 6a are used to build from block-shaped building stones, floors, window and door frames, lintels, roof trims and such like elements without using mortar or adhesive. The horizontal joint strips are positioned in horizontal joint grooves made in the building elements e.g. 20 and extending along the length of several building stones. The vertical joint strips are positioned in vertical joint grooves made in the building elements and having a length corresponding to the height of one building stone. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method for building houses and utility buildings The invention relates to a method for building houses and utility buildings from elements like block shaped building stones, floors, window frames, lintels, roof trims and such like, said elements being connected with each other to form a solid unit without the application of mortar or adhesive.

To connect building blocks, window frames, lintels and such elements by mortar or adhesive is an expensive time consuming method.

An object of the invention is to avoid this disadvantage and to this end for the connection of at least a part of said elements use is made of horizontal joint strips, extending along the length of several building stones, and vertical joint strips, said horizontal and vertical joint strips being inserted in grooves in certain building elements.

An important advantage of the building system according to the invention is that shrinkage is taken up by the vertical seams and strips between the building elements and that the sealing is completely maintained.

Essential elements in the building system according to the invention are block shaped building stones which are provided in the four joint planes with a uniform continuous longitudinal groove so that in stacking the building stones next and on each other, in each horizontal joint plane of all stones of a layer, a uniform joint groove is formed said groove extending between the layers of building stones as well as between the first layer of stones and the floors of the ground level and the upper levels. The horizontal joint groove between the first layer of stones and the floors consists of one single longitudinal groove, whereas the horizontal joint groove between the building stones consists of two opposite longitudinal grooves. These both horizontal joint grooves will be indicated as a single and a double horizontal joint groove respectively.In the vertical joint planes between the building stones there are joint grooves which are also double. Connecting elements are laid in the single or double horizontal joint grooves said connecting elements being strip shaped and extending along several building stones, each horizontal connecting elements co-operating with several strip shaped cbnnecting elements positioned in each vertical joint groove.

The horizontal connecting strips to be used in the grooves of stones on a floor are referred to as floor strips and the horizontal connecting strips to be used in the two horizontal joint grooves of two layers of stones are referred to as horizontal joint strips. The vertical connecting strips to be positioned in the vertical joint grooves are referred to as vertical joint strips.

To accomplish a rigid bond between the building elements without additional means, it is preferred that the horizontal joint strips at its upper and lower side and the vertical joint strips at both ends have such a section shape that in use they may hold each other by a clamping or snapping action.

For connecting the block shaped building stones with floors, use can be made of floor strips extending along the length of several building stones and comprising a long plate or flange to be connected to a floor and a horizontal joint strip being integral with said plate or flange and meant to be laid in a horizontal joint groove.

A less rigid bond can be obtained with rather simple strips when the horizontal and vertical joint strips have such a section shape that in use they contact each other in the horizontal and vertical joints.

In that case the bond between the building elements is made more solid by providing the outer surface of the outer walls with a layer of mortar.

The layer of mortar can be reinforced by fiber shaped, film shaped or net shaped material.

Preferably the horizontal joint strips, the floor strips and the vertical joint strips are made of plastic material.

To avoid unnecessary adaptation work in connection the window frames with the building stones, the height of the window frames is preferably a multiple of the height of the block shaped stones, whereas the width of the window frames is preferably a multiple of half the length of the block shaped stones.

When the building method of the present invention is applied to build a house or building with a sloping roof, use can be made of connecting strips anchored to the sloping side of the top fronts and made of metal, said strips are made so that an overhanging part and a roof gutter can be secured thereto.

In a building construction having a flat roof the principle of the present invention can be applied owing to the fact that the connecting of the roof trims and the block shaped building stones forming the frame of a flat roof is accomplished by using as roof trims oblong strips shaped connecting elements extending along several building stones and covering the upper side of the building stones entirely and comprising at the lower side a projection extending along the whole length thereof, said projection having such a dimension that it fits well in the horizontal joint groove of the upper row of building stones and having such a section shape that the strip shaped connecting elements may co-operate by snap action with vertical joint strips placed in the joint groove of these building stones to be held by said joint strips.

To connect thresholds, sills and posts of a window or door frame to walls and floors, a groove can be made in the thresholds, sills and posts and a connecting strip can be introduced in these grooves as well as in the horizontal and vertical joint grooves of building stones bordering the window or door frame.

The invention also relates to a house or building made according to the above method.

The invention will further be elucidated with reference to the drawings showing some preferred embodiments.

Figures 1, 2 and 3 show a cross section of some embodiments of horizontal joint strips to be employed in a building system according to the invention.

Figure 4 shows in perspective some embodiments of vertical joint strips to be employed in a building system according to the invention.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 show a cross section of some embodiments of floor strips.

Figure 8 shows the connection between a ground level floor and a wall thereon.

Figure 9 shows the connection between an upper floor and an inner or outer wall.

Figures 10-12 show the connection of window frames in a wall built in accordance with the invention.

Figure 1 3 shows the way of connection of roof plates to the top fronts of a building according to the invention.

Figure 14 shows the way of connection of a flat roof and an outer wall in a building system according to the invention.

Figures 1 5 and 1 6 show in cross section and front view respectively a lintel construction to be employed in a building system according to the invention.

Figures 17 and 18 show a plurality of top front shapes to prove the universal applicability of the building system of the invention.

In figures 8-1 6 a block shaped building stone of gas concrete is indicated by 20, a concrete floor by 21 and a gas concrete floor by 22.

The shape of the section of the horizontal joint strips to be laid in the double horizontal joint groove between the building stones can be different. By way of example in figures 1 a, 1 b and 2 some cross sections of suitable section shapes of these horizontal joint strips are shown.

The horizontal joint strips shown in figures 1 and 2 are open at their upper and lower sides and are able to receive in the space indicated by 1 the ends of the vertical joint strips. In the embodiment of figure 1 the upward and downward extending flanges confining the space are provided at their ends with additional clamping members 2 having the shape of barbs. In the embodiment of figure 2 the ends of the vertical joint strips are only held by friction.

The floor strips which take care for the connection of walls and floors are fixed by nails or screws to the upper sides of the floors, such as gas concrete floors for ground floors and upper floors, at the position where the outer and inner walls have to be made.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 show cross sections of floor strips for connecting walls and floors. The shown strips have a base plate to be connected to the floor and a horizontal joint strip 3 parallel to the base strip and integral therewith. The horizontal joint strip 3 has the shape of a section of one half of the horizontal joint strip to be used for the connection of the building stones. The width of the base plate of each floor strip shown in figures 5, 6 and 7 is about 1 9 cm, however, this width can be smaller or bigger dependent on the applied block shaped building stones. The horizontal joint strip has a thickness and a height equal to that of the longitudinal groove in the building stones, so that this strip preferably fits well. For nailing the strip to the floor the base plate has a number of holes indicated by 4 in figures 5, 6 and 7.

Further the base plate of the floor strip includes at its lower side some thin, about 1 mm high longitudinal ribs parallel to the longitudinal direction of the strip. These ribs are indicated by 5 in the cross sections of figures 5, 6 and 7. The main aim of the thin longitudinal ribs is to considerably increase the friction resistance between the lower side of a floor and a wall on which the floor rests.

The vertical joint strips have such a section that they preferably fit well in the longitudinal grooves of the horizontal joint strips and the floor strips, which longitudinal grooves are indicated by reference number 1 in figures 1 a, 1 b, 2, 5 and 6.

There are more possibilities to get a good connection between the block shaped building stones and the floor, such as the concrete floors, of the ground level and the upper levels by means of floor strips, horizontal joint strips and vertical joint strips.

To this end the horizontal joint strips and the floor strips can co-operate with the vertical joint strips in accordance with a so-called tongue and groove joint. In the most simple embodiment of such a connection the three kinds of strips have a cross section as indicated in figures 2, 6 and 4b.

Preferably the horizontal and vertical strips have such a section that these strips hold each other by snap action. For this purpose the longitudinal grooves of the horizontal joint strips and the floor strips are provided at the inner side with holding members 2 which may co-operate with complementary shaped members at both ends of the vertical joint strips by snap action.

These holding members preferably have the shape of teeth, for example the shape of shark teeth. The horizontal and vertical joint strips may also be provided with other complementary shaped protrusions which hold each other by snap action.

In figure 4a an example is shown of a vertical joint strip provided with holding members which may co-operate by snap action with horizontal joint strips and floor strips having for example the section shape as shown in figures 1 a, 1 b and 5.

In the last mentioned way of co-operation between the horizontal joint strips or floor strips and the vertical joint strips a very solid bond is obtained between the building stones of a wall and the floor. Nevertheless this wall maintains a certain small flexibility. This embodiment of the new building system is extremely suitable for those areas of the earth where earthquakes should be taken into account.

According to another embodiment of the building system according to the invention a practically sufficient rigid bond between the floor of the ground level and the upper levels and the building stones, as well as between the building stones mutually, can be obtained by positioning oblong strip shaped connecting elements in the horizontal joint grooves as well as in the vertical joint grooves, these strip shaped connecting elements having a simple shape. Cross sections of horizontal joint strips and floor strips of this kind are shown in figures 3a and 7 and an example of a vertical joint strip belonging to this system is shown in figure 4c.

To get a rigid bond between the parts to be connected in this embodiment it is important that the horizontal joint strips and the floor strips as well as the vertical joint strips fit well in the horizontal joint grooves and the vertical joint grooves respectively, whereas it is further important that the upper side and the lower side of the vertical joint strips are in contact with the horizontal joint strips and the floor strips.

Figures 8 and 9 show cross sections of the connection of an outer wall and inner wall respectively with the ground level floor and an upper level floor respectively.

The floor strip 6a of figure 8 is nailed to the concrete floor of the ground level with the aid of nails special for concrete. The floor strip 6a of figure 9 is anchored to the gas concrete floor of the upper level with the aid of nails 7 special for gas concrete. The floor 6b of figure 9 is laid in the single horizontal joint groove of an upper layer of building stones. The gas concrete floor of the upper level will rest thereon.

The floor strips shown in figures 8 and 9 are suitable to co-operate with vertical joint strips of the kind shown in figure 4a. Also floor strips according to figures 6 or 7 are applied in combination with vertical joint strips of the type of figure 4a respectively 4c.

According to another embodiment of the new building system of the present invention the rigid bond of the block shaped building stones with the floors of the ground level and the upper levels and of the building stones mutually is achieved by introducing strip shaped connecting elements extending along several building stones into the single or double horizontal joint grooves and thereafter applying a layer of mortar on one plane or preferably both planes of the wall. The application of a layer of mortar on one or both planes is normally not necessary for inner walls and these inner walls may usually be finished in a known manner, for instance with plaster of paper.

Although it is sufficient for this embodiment that only in both horizontal contact planes of each building system a uniform longitudinal groove is made, it is recommended to make such a longitudinal groove in both vertical joint planes of each building system as well. In that case vertical joint strips can be introduced into the vertical joint grooves if desired, said strips contacting the horizontal joint strips at their upper and lower side, so that the wall gets a better sound and heat isolation, whereas in the case of cracks in the layer of mortar a sufficient sealing is maintained.

Besides by placing the vertical joint strips during the building operations, draught through the seams between the building stones is prevented.

The horizontal joint strips, the floor strips and the vertical joint strips respectively can have the shape as shown in figures 3a, 7 and 4c respectively where they do not mesh into each other.

The main function of the horizontal joint strips and the floor strips in this embodiment is the orientation to get the desired position of the building stones with respect to the floors as well as with respect to each other. Another function is to counteract the shearing force in a direction perpendicular to the wall plane. The function of the layer of mortar at one or both sides of the wall is to seal and to counteract the flexural strain of the wall.

In this embodiment of the new building system mortars based on mineral binders can be used, such as portland cement, lime cement and plaster cement. However, it is preferred to use resin mortar being a mortar based on organic binder of natural and/or synthetic kind, such as caoutchouc, bitumen, polyvinyl acetate, polyacrylate and such like. The last mentioned substances may be latices including the additives usable for plastering and eventually mixed with coloring substances, however, they can also be applied in the form of dry powder or gains being redispersable in water. If desired the layer of mortar to be applied can be reinforced by means of fibres, film materials or net shaped materials.

Also gauze, such as hexagonal netting can be used for the same object. The resin mortars can comprise mineral binders.

Dependent on the specific properties the strength of the wall can be influenced by the choice of the resin mortar yes or not in combination with the thickness of the layer of the resin mortar. By a suitable choice of the resin mortar the usual layer thickness of about 3 to 6 mm can be enough.

The dimensions of the grooves to be introduced in the block shaped building stones having preferably the cross section shape of a narrow rectangle, may vary and may amount for instance 0.8 cm width and 2 cm depth. However, the width of the longitudinal grooves can be smaller or bigger than 0.8 cm and deeper or less deeper than 2 cm. Usually the longitudinal grooves will be applied in the middle portion of the contact planes of the building stones, however this is not necessary. It can be efficient to choose the position of the grooves eccentrically dependent on the distribution of forces to be expected in the final wall.

The shape of the strip shaped connecting elements can be elementary that is to say having the shape of a narrow rectangle in cross section.

As explained before the dimensions of the rectangle can be different dependent on the embodiment of the new building system.

The length of the horizontal joint strips and the floor strips should be such that they extend along at least two and preferably at least five block shaped building stones. A practically suitable length of these strips is six meters. If the block shaped building stones have a length of half a meter such a strip may extend along the length of twelve stones. It is preferred that the thickness of the strips and the width of the grooves are adapted to each other so that the strips fit into the grooves. Consequently the friction between the strips and the groove walls contributes to the strength of the bond of the stones stacked on each other.

The friction can obviously be influenced by increasing the height of the horizontal joint groove and/or the shape of the horizontal joint strip to be introduced into that groove. Further the friction between the horizontal joint strip and the horizontal joint groove can be increased by providing the strip with saw tooth shaped cuts as indicated in figure 3b. The dimensions of the height of the connecting elements and of the longitudinal grooves can be chosen effectively so that in stacking the building stones, the groove channel between the layers is substantially entirely filled by the Strips. To increase the stiffness of the bond between the building stones it is preferred to select the material thickness of the co-operating parts of the strip shaped connecting elements so that the horizontal and vertical connecting elements are clamped on each other with a certain tension.

A firm bond between two outer walls meeting each other in a corner as well as between an outer wall and an inner wall, is simply obtained by making an additional longitudinal groove in the block shaped building stones necessary for this connection, this additional groove extending parallel to a vertical joint plane at a distance therefrom equal to half the width of the building stone.

Further it is important for a rapid and efficient building that the thickness of the upper level floors is preferably so that this thickness together with the thickness of the floor strips at the lower and upper side of said floors is equal to the height of the applied building stones.

A firm connection of the frames for windows and doors with the walls and the floor is obtained by the horizontal joint strips, the floor strips and the vertical joint strips which are used for connecting the building stones mutually and for connecting the building stones and the floors. To this end longitudinal grooves are made in the frame sides bordering the building stones and these frame grooves have the same width and preferably also the same depth as the grooves in the stones.

It is advantageous during the building if the height of the frames is a multiple of the height of the building stones and the width of the frames is a multiple of half the length of the building stones.

The connection of sills and frame parts with the walls is illustrated in figures 10-12 showing a cross section of an upper sill and a lower sill as well as cross section of a frame post with the wall.

For reinforcing the connection of a frame post with the wall, the longitudinal groove in the frame can be made deeper if desired either locally or along the entire length so that the horizontal joint strips can be simply locked in the frame. This deepening of the groove and the locking is indicated in figure 11 by an interrupted line 8.

The connection of the roof plates to be employed for wainscoting the roof to the parallel top fronts of the outer and inner walls is also achieved by oblong strip shaped connecting elements extending along several building stones.

These elements are preferably made of steel and their length corresponds to the length of the slanting side of the top front. These steel strips can be provided with steel bolts 9 perpendicular to the plane of the strips and having a uniform distance dependent on the width of the roof plates.

Figure 1 3a shows a cross section of a steel connecting strip 11 the width and thickness dimensions being for instance 80 x 5 mm. The upper side of the steel connecting strip provided with a round opening and the upper bolt 9 mounted in a triangular concrete top piece 10 of the top front, extends through this round opening.

A concrete top piece is provided at its base side with a longitudinal groove similar to the groove in the building stones and this top piece is firmly connected to the top front by means of a horizontal joint strip in combination with a vertical joint strip. The steel strip 11 is secured on the slanting side of the top front for instance by nails.

The roof plates 12 (vide figure 1 3b) provided with holes preferably elongated holes, are laid over the bolts 9 with the longitudinal direction of the plates parallel to the top of the roof and these roof plates are fixed by a follower plate. In this way the necessary groove plates are simultaneously connected with the top fronts and with each other.

The roof boarding made of plates in this manner can be covered in a known manner, for instance with tiles. If desired the steel strips may be carried so that they also may serve for the connection of an overhanging part and of roof gutters as indicated by 13 in figure 1 3a. Iron roof gutters coated with zinc and sufficiently strong to be mounted from brace to brace, are preferred.

Figure 1 3a shows such a construction.

In case of flat roofs, the tightening or sealing of the upstanding edges is obtained by so-called roof trims. A firm bond between the roof trims and the walls is obtained in accordance with the new building system by the application of oblong strip shaped connecting elements extending along several building stones. The horizontal joint strip 1 5 of a roof trim element 14 preferably made of plastic is therefore put in the horizontal joint groove of the upper row of block shaped building stones surrounding the flat roof and preferably sawn off at the inner side to form a bevelled plane.

The horizontal strip 1 5, which forms one piece with the roof trim 14, is firmly anchored on the wall by means of snap action with the vertical joint strips positioned in the vertical joint grooves. As a consequence the upper side of the wall has a weather resistant closure.

Preferably the roof trim 14 is connected to the side wall by means of stainless steel brackets 1 6.

By way of example in figure 1 4a a flat roof made of gas concrete plates 1 7 is shown.

However the application of a horizontal joint groove in the block shaped building stones also other constructions of a flat roof are possible as may appear from figure 1 4b showing the connection between an outer wall and a flat roof made of a usual system of binders and joist 1 8 with roof boarding.

The strip shaped connecting elements in the building system according to the invention may be made of any suitable material. It is efficient to select a plastic material as articles may be made of such material by extrusion. This is especially true for the strip shaped connecting elements to be used for connecting the building stones mutually as well as for the connection of the building stones with the floors and the frames.

The block shaped stones to be used in the new building system are for instance gas concrete blocks, plaster blocks or sand lime blocks. Because this material is not burnt it can easily be provided with grooves and it has a great dimensional stability. The block shaped building stones may be made in various dimensions, for instance in the dimensions 50 x 25 x 25 cm or 40 x 20 x 20 cm.

The building system of the present invention has a number of advantages which make the building easier and consequentiy faster. An important advantage of the building system of the present invention is that the vertical seams between the stones mutually and between the stones and the frames form in fact the same number of expansion joints, so that shrinkage may be taken up without cracks and even in case of very long walls no separate measures are necessary to take up shrinkage. Further the grates for ventilation and for a hot air heating system may be previously mounted in the block shaped building stones so that these grates can be simply applied during the building.A sanitary block unit at the inner side provided with a cistern and water lines can be mounted in about the same way in a wall of a bathroom with the aid of horizontal and vertical joint strips if this sanitary unit block includes the same longitudinal grooves as the building stones and if this block has the same system of dimensions.

Also in case of big span lengths of support, for instance wide window frames, oblong angled profiles made of steel and extending along several building stones may be used; one flange of the angled profile is provided at its outer side with a longitudinal rib 1 9 having the dimensions (width and height) of the longitudinal grooves in the building stones.

By positioning the angled profile with the longitudinal rib 1 9 into the horizontal joint groove of the concerning layer of building stones or in the longitudinal groove of the upper sill of the frame 25 to be spanned and in the longitudinal groove of the bordering building stones, this profile can be simply anchored into the wall so that the use of a concrete lintel is superfluous.

This possibility of the new building system is elucidated by figures 15 and 16.

Figure 1 5 shows a cross section of a lintel 26 according to the invention. The lintel is L-shaped and the horizontal flange is provided with a rib 1 9 fitting into the groove of the building stones. Such a lintel is applied in the wall preferably at the height of an upper floor. If desired the lintel can be U-shaped, both flanges lying horizontal so that the floor is received in the U. In that case both flanges can be provided at their outer side with a rib.

However, also other conventional lintel shapes can be employed in the building system according to the invention, such as lintels of gas concrete.

Such lintels are for instance provided with longitudinal grooves which may co-operate with the grooves of the other building elements by strips.

A very important advantage obtained by the application of the horizontal and especially the vertical connecting strips of the new building system, is that the wa!ls in case of shrinkage as a consequence of the hardening of the block shaped building stones, maintain an excellent tightening and sealing.

Another advantage of the new building system is that during the building of a house no wall ties, cavity ties and frame ties are required.

With respect to the shape of the fronts the new building system has a great flexibility (compare figures 17 and 1 8). Further there is no or substantially no loss of material.

In the above the new building system of the present invention is described for building a house, however, the system is also suitable for building machine shops, sheds, barns, schools and such like utility buildings.

Figure 1 7 successively shows the shape of a saddle roof having a top angle of 45 , a mansard roof and a so-called A-roof of 45 . Figure 18 illustrates successively the shape of a saddle roof diagonally flat, a saddle roof diagonally standing and a saddle roof diagonally two stones length.

Claims

1. A method for building houses and utility buildings from elements such as block shaped building stones, floors, frames for windows and doors, lintels, roof trims and such like elements which are connected with each other to a firm unit without the application of mortar or adhesive, characterized in that for the connection of at least a part of said elements use is made of horizontal joint strips extending along the length of several building stones, and vertical joint strips, the horizontal and vertical joint strips being applied into grooves in certain building elements.

2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the horizontal joint strips at the upper and lower sides and the vertical joint strips at both sides have such a section that in use they hold each other by means of a clamping or snapping action.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that for the connection of block shaped building stones with the floors use is made of floor strips extending along the length of several building stones and comprising a long plate to be connected to a floor and a horizontal joint strip to be applied in a horizontal joint groove and forming a unit with the plate.

4. A method according to one of the preceding claim, characterized in that the horizontal joint strips, the floor strips and the vertical joint strips are made of plastic.

5. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the horizontal joint strips and the vertical joint strips have such a section that in use they are in contact with each other in the horizontal and vertical joint grooves.

6. A method according to claim 5, characterized in that at least the outer plane of the outer walls is provided with a layer of mortar.

7. A method according to claim 6, characterized in, that the layer of mortar is reinforced with fibrous material, fill material or net shaped material.

8. A method according to claim 1, characterized in, that the height of the frames is a multiple of the height of the applied block shaped building stones and the width of the frames is a multiple of half the length of the applied block shaped building stones.

9. A method according to one of the preceding claims to be applied in building a house of building with a slanting roof, characterized in that connecting the roof plates for roof boarding the slanting roof with the walls, used is made of metal connecting strips anchored on the slanting sides of the top fronts said strips having such a shape that also an overhanging part and a roof gutter can be secured thereto.

10. A method according to claim 1 to be applied for a house or building having a flat roof, characterized in, that the connection of the roof trims and the block shaped building stones surrounding the flat roof is achieved by using as roof trims oblong strip shaped connecting elements extending along several building stones and having such a construction that they cover the upper side of the building stones entirely and comprise at their lower side a parallel protrusion extending along the entire length of the elements, said protrusion having such dimensions that it fits into the horizontal joint groove of the upper row of building stones and having such a section that the strip shaped connecting elements may co-operate with the vertical joint strips positioned in the vertical joint grooves of the building stones by means of snap action to hold the horizontal joint strips by the vertical joint strips.

11. A method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in, that for the connection of sills and posts of a frame of a door or window to walls and floors, a groove is made in the sills and posts and in that groove as well as in the horizontal joint grooves and the vertical joint grooves of the building stones bordering the frame, the connecting strips is put.

12. House or building built according to the method of one of the preceding claims.

13. Horizontal joint strip to be employed in the method of one of the claims 1-11, and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

14. Vertical joint strip to be employed in the method of one of claims 1-11, and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to andes illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

15. Floor strip to be employed in the method of one of claims 1-11, and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.