Abstract:
In a method of splitting a base block to form brick, block or paver units, a cementitious or stone base block having a first side, an opposed second side and a plurality of perforations is provided. Each perforation extends through the base block from the first side to the opposed second side, the plurality of perforations creating a splitting path in the base block. The splitting path has a cross-section consisting of from 70-50% by area of perforated regions and from 30-50% by area of unperforated regions. The base block may be split along the splitting path by a light shock to produce the brick, block or paver units. A wide variety of consistent and reproducible facing surfaces on brick, block and paver units may be produced that integrate texture, pattern, configuration and shape.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is related to building units, particularly to brick, block and/or paver units. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Brick, block and paver units are typically made by various known methods from stone, cement or other stone-like materials. Such units are useful in the construction of various structures, for example, walls, driveways, etc., and may be molded from processed or reprocessed materials or cut from natural stone. Since the available supply of good grade natural stone is diminishing, there is considerable interest in the art for producing high quality, natural looking products from molded materials. However, the ones presently available on the market have a rough unfinished appearance resembling broken stone or concrete due to the detailing processes. Detailing processes generally involve splitting and pitching of the unit to produce faces having unpredictable and uneven surfaces. The lack of reproducibility and unpredictability of surface appearance greatly limits the attractiveness, versatility and usefulness of such products. 
         [0003]    U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,802,320, D297,464, D295,788, D311,444, D391,376, D461,567, D237,704 and 1,222,061 all illustrate blocks having a variety of shapes and having facing surfaces with vertical striations. None of these documents describe how the features of the facing surfaces were obtained. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. Nos. 20,885, 1,872,522, 4,335,549, 1,534,353, 6,178,704, 6,029,943 and 5,622,456, Japanese patent publication 2004223796, Japanese patent 11262916 and Italian patent 1212006 all describe processes for splitting stone in which a fracture line is guided by spots, holes or grooves. None of these documents describe a correspondence between the arrangement of spots, holes or grooves and the detailed appearance of the facing surfaces of the resultant units. Further, none of these documents describe the creation of a splitting path having a cross-section with an advantageous balance between perforated and unperforated regions for ease of splitting the block with a light shock. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,918,715, 6,874,494, 6,886,551, 4,186,166, 6,827,073, 156,274 and 332,999 all describe processes and machines for splitting stone. 
         [0006]    There remains a need in the art for a versatile and easy method of creating reproducible facing surfaces on brick, block and paver units to provide a greater variety of appearances to choose from while providing greater consistency of appearance of individual units within the same variety. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    There is provided a method of producing brick, block or paver units comprising: providing a cementitious or stone base block having a first side, an opposed second side and a plurality of perforations, each perforation extending through the base block from the first side to the opposed second side, the plurality of perforations creating a splitting path in the base block, the splitting path having a cross-section consisting of from 70-50% by area of perforated regions and from 30-50% by area of unperforated regions; and, providing a shock to the base block to split the base block along the splitting path. 
         [0008]    There is further provided a cementitious or stone base block comprising a first side, an opposed second side and a plurality of perforations, each perforation extending through the base block from the first side to the opposed second side, the plurality of perforations creating a splitting path in the base block, the splitting path having a cross-section consisting of from 70-50% by area of perforated regions and from 30-50% by area of unperforated regions. 
         [0009]    There is yet further provided a brick, block or paver unit comprising a striated facing surface produced by the method of the present invention. Products produced by the present method may find application in indoor, outdoor, residential, commercial and/or industrial environments. Some particular products that can be produced include, but are not limited to, veneer fascia blocks, retaining wall blocks, textured bricks (e.g. frog or 3-hole type bricks), skid resistant pavers, rumble strips, architectural elements (e.g. stacked columns, door surrounds, window surrounds, fireplace surrounds, chimney pots, architectural planters, etc.) fire resistant cladding, and a variety of industrial products. 
         [0010]    Perforations in the base block may be created by any suitable method. For example, in a molding method, a molding material (e.g. a processed or reprocessed cementitious material) may be introduced into a suitably shaped mold in a fluid or semi-fluid state and elongated members, e.g. rods or comb-like structures, inserted into the mold before the molding material sets. The rods or comb-like structure may then be removed when the molding material is sufficiently set that the perforations will not fill in with the cementitious material. Masonry stone or calcite base blocks may be produced having a plurality of perforations creating a splitting path for future splitting of the base block into smaller units with textured faces. 
         [0011]    Advantageously, the balance between perforated and unperforated regions maintains structural integrity of the base block during initial handling and curing, but permits splitting of the base block into smaller brick, block or paver units with a light shock, rather than requiring the use of heavy splitting equipment prevalent in the prior art. 
         [0012]    Some techniques for splitting the base block include, for example, striking the block with a hammer, inserting wedges into the perforations and striking the wedges with a hammer, lightly pressing along the splitting path with a guillotine blade, lightly pressing along the splitting path with V-shaped fulcrums, applying a vibration to the base block, etc. Thus, the base blocks may be conveniently split into smaller brick, block or paver units on a production assembly line or during the curing process. The base blocks may even split under their own weight during transportation, or be split at a job site by a masonry contractor or a novice depending on the complexity of the splitting path. 
         [0013]    Advantageously, the method of the present invention reduces molding cycle time per unit and eliminates the need for splitting and pitching machinery presently used in existing manufacturing. Through the use of a one step molding process, a more efficient manufacturing operation is achieved at less cost per unit. 
         [0014]    Further, the ease of splitting the base blocks allows for transportation of unsplit base blocks closer to an ultimate destination thereby eliminating handling of multiple smaller units. Transporting unsplit base blocks using existing skids and equipment, provides for more efficient stacking, nesting and storage thereby reducing the amount of space required to transport the same number of brick, block or paver units. Transporting unsplit base blocks also protects the facing surfaces of the units from damage thereby reducing wastage of the units from shipping and handling damage. 
         [0015]    Advantageously, the method of the present invention provides for a wide variety of consistent and reproducible facing surfaces on brick, block and paver units that integrate texture, pattern, configuration and shape and the ability to create multiple units from a single part. With the present method, a wide variety of different types of facing surfaces may be produced, while permitting each type of facing surface to be produced in a consistent and reproducible manner. Such a combination of versatility and consistency makes the present method particularly advantageous in the art. In addition, imprints, for example names, logos, etc., may also be included in the brick, block or paver units. 
         [0016]    In addition, the ability to consistently reproduce facing surfaces permits the formation of accurate bonding surfaces on the facing surfaces of block units intended for use as architectural elements and the like. Because the method produces consistent and reproducible facing surfaces, it is possible to create many modules having the same surface features so that when the architectural elements are stacked face-to-face, the surface features at the interface match up closely, thereby permitting the modules to be bonded at the interface, for example with adhesives. 
         [0017]    By adjusting size, shape and spacing of the perforations, it is possible to create uniform, regular or random patterns, or combinations thereof, on a facing surface of a brick, block or paver unit. Any size and spacing of the perforations is possible provided the above-described relative ratio of perforated regions to unperforated regions in the splitting path is maintained. Perforations may be any shape, the shape being dictated by the desired appearance of the facing surface of the unit. For example, the perforations may have a circular, elliptical or polygonal cross-section, or a combination thereof. Polygonal cross-sections may be regular or irregular polygons. Some examples of regular polygons include squares, rectangles, hexagons, etc. Once the base block is split, units are created having a striated appearance on the facing surfaces. By planning the shape of the perforations in the base block, it is possible to create channels and/or ridges with a shaped profile which add specific detail and functional features to the faces, edges and corners of the finished units. For brick, block or paver units formed using this molding technique, the shape and size of each individual perforation may be controlled by the shape and size of individual elongated members inserted into the mold. 
         [0018]    Any arrangement of perforations is permissible provided the perforations create a splitting path through the base block. For example, by arranging the perforations in lines or curves, it is possible to create straight or curved facing surfaces, respectively, on the unit. Complicated facing surfaces may be reproducibly created by having complicated arrangements of perforations. 
         [0019]    Perforations may be arranged so that more than one splitting path is created in the base block. Having more than one splitting path permits the creation of corner units having two or more facing surfaces. Having more than one splitting path also permits the creation of more than two units from a single base block. 
         [0020]    Set back features on the facing surface of a brick, block or paver unit may be created by providing a base block having a recess in one or more sides of the base block. In one embodiment, a perimetrical recess is provided around four sides of the base block and the perforations are arranged within the recess so that splitting the base block provides units having facing surfaces surrounded by set backs. Such set backs can provide for mortar joints in a structure. The size of the mortar joints can be controlled by controlling the size of the recess. 
         [0021]    In a particular aspect of the present method, a recess with an undercut may be provided in the base block so that when the base block is split, the resulting set back has an undercut useful for tuck pointing of mortar in a mortar joint between adjacent units in a structure. Thus, the mortar joint is keyed in providing for a stronger joint. 
         [0022]    Further features of the invention will be described or will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, embodiments thereof will now be described in detail by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0024]      FIG. 1A  is a plan view of a first embodiment of a perforated base block of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 1B  is a plan view of one block unit created by splitting the base block of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 1C  is a perspective view of two block units created by splitting the base block of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 2A  is a plan view of a second embodiment of a perforated base block of the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 2B  is a plan view of one block unit created by splitting the base block of  FIG. 2A ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 2C  is a perspective view of two block units created by splitting the base block of  FIG. 2A ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 3A  is a plan view of a third embodiment of a perforated base block of the present invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 3B  is a plan view of one block unit created by splitting the base block of  FIG. 3A ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 3C  is a perspective view of two block units created by splitting the base block of  FIG. 3A ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 4A  is a plan view of a fourth embodiment of a perforated base block of the present invention; 
           [0034]      FIG. 4B  is a plan view of one block unit created by splitting the base block of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 4C  is a perspective view of two block units created by splitting the base block of  FIG. 4A ; 
           [0036]      FIG. 5A  is a plan view of a fifth embodiment of a perforated base block of the present invention; 
           [0037]      FIG. 5B  is a perspective view of two brick units created by splitting the base block of  FIG. 5A ; 
           [0038]      FIG. 6A  is a plan view of a sixth embodiment of a perforated base block of the present invention; 
           [0039]      FIG. 6B  is a perspective view of two paver units created by splitting the base block of  FIG. 6A ; 
           [0040]      FIG. 6C  is a perspective view of two paver units created by splitting the base block of  FIG. 6A  and a third paver unit; 
           [0041]      FIG. 7A  is a plan view of a seventh embodiment of a perforated base block of the present invention; 
           [0042]      FIG. 7B  is a perspective view of two block units created by splitting the base block of  FIG. 7A ; 
           [0043]      FIG. 8A  is a plan view of an eighth embodiment of a perforated base block of the present invention; 
           [0044]      FIG. 8B  is a plan view of one block unit created by splitting the base block of  FIG. 8A ; 
           [0045]      FIG. 8C  is a perspective view of three block units created by splitting the base block of  FIG. 8A ; 
           [0046]      FIG. 9A  is a plan view of a ninth embodiment of a perforated base block of the present invention; 
           [0047]      FIG. 9B  is a plan view of one block unit created by splitting the base block of  FIG. 9A ; 
           [0048]      FIG. 9C  is a perspective view of two block units created by splitting the base block of  FIG. 9A ; 
           [0049]      FIG. 10A  is a plan view of a tenth embodiment of a perforated base block of the present invention; 
           [0050]      FIG. 10B  is a plan view of one block unit created by splitting the base block of  FIG. 10A ; 
           [0051]      FIG. 10C  is a perspective view of two block units created by splitting the base block of  FIG. 10A ; 
           [0052]      FIG. 11A  is a plan view of an eleventh embodiment of a perforated base block of the present invention; 
           [0053]      FIG. 11B  is a plan view of one block unit created by splitting the base block of  FIG. 11A ; 
           [0054]      FIG. 11C  is a perspective view of two block units created by splitting the base block of  FIG. 11A ; 
           [0055]      FIG. 12A  is a plan view of a twelfth embodiment of a perforated base block of the present invention; 
           [0056]      FIG. 12B  is a plan view of two types of block units created by splitting the base block of  FIG. 12A ; 
           [0057]      FIG. 12C  is a perspective view of the two types of block units of  FIG. 12B ; 
           [0058]      FIG. 13A  is a plan view of a thirteenth embodiment of a perforated base block of the present invention; 
           [0059]      FIG. 13B  is a plan view of two types of block units created by splitting the base block of  FIG. 13A ; 
           [0060]      FIG. 13C  is a perspective view of the two types of block units of  FIG. 13B ; 
           [0061]      FIG. 14A  is a plan view of a fourteenth embodiment of a perforated base block of the present invention; 
           [0062]      FIG. 14B  is a plan view of one block unit created by splitting the base block of  FIG. 14A ; 
           [0063]      FIG. 14C  is a perspective view of four block units created by splitting the base block of  FIG. 14A ; 
           [0064]      FIG. 15A  is a plan view of a fifteenth embodiment of a perforated base block of the present invention; 
           [0065]      FIG. 15B  is a plan view of one block unit created by splitting the base block of  FIG. 15A ; 
           [0066]      FIG. 15C  is a perspective view of four block units created by splitting the base block of  FIG. 15A ; 
           [0067]      FIG. 16A  is a plan view of a sixteenth embodiment of a perforated base block of the present invention; 
           [0068]      FIG. 16B  is a plan view of one block unit created by splitting the base block of  FIG. 16A ; 
           [0069]      FIG. 16C  is a perspective view of three block units created by splitting the base block of  FIG. 16A ; 
           [0070]      FIG. 17A  is a plan view of a seventeenth embodiment of a perforated base block of the present invention; 
           [0071]      FIG. 17B  is a plan view of two types of block units created by splitting the base block of  FIG. 17A ; 
           [0072]      FIG. 17C  is a perspective view of four block units created by splitting the base block of  FIG. 17A ; 
           [0073]      FIG. 18A  is a plan view of an eighteenth embodiment of a perforated base block of the present invention; 
           [0074]      FIG. 18B  is a plan view of one capitol component of an architectural element, the capitol component created by splitting the base block of  FIG. 18A ; 
           [0075]      FIG. 18C  is a perspective view of two capitol components created by splitting the base block of  FIG. 18A ; 
           [0076]      FIG. 19A  is a plan view of a nineteenth embodiment of a perforated base block of the present invention; 
           [0077]      FIG. 19B  is a plan view of one column component of an architectural element, the column component created by splitting the base block of  FIG. 19A ; 
           [0078]      FIG. 19C  is a perspective view of two column components created by splitting the base block of  FIG. 19A ; 
           [0079]      FIG. 20A  is a plan view of an architectural column assembled from the components of  FIGS. 18C and 19C ; and, 
           [0080]      FIG. 20B  is a perspective view of the architectural column of  FIG. 20A . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0081]    Referring to  FIGS. 1A to 1C , base block  10  has a series of regularly-spaced identical perforations  11  (only one labeled) extending entirely through the base block from one side to the opposed side. The perforations have circular cross-sections. The series of perforations is arranged in a straight line A-A, along which the base block may be split by a light shock. On splitting the base block, two virtually identical standard building blocks  16 , 17  are produced, having textured faces  18 , 19 , respectively. The textured faces have a consistent and reproducible uniform striated appearance as a result of the arrangement of regularly-spaced identical perforations in the base block. 
         [0082]    Referring to  FIGS. 2A to 2C , base block  20  has a series of two types of regularly-spaced perforations  21 , 22  (only one of each type labeled) extending entirely through the base block from one side to the opposed side. Both types of perforations have circular cross-sections, although perforations  21  have a smaller diameter than perforations  22 . The series of perforations is arranged in a straight line, along which the base block may be split by a light shock. On splitting the base block, two virtually identical standard building blocks  26 , 27  are produced, having textured faces  28 , 29 , respectively. The textured faces have a consistent and reproducible regular striated appearance as a result of the arrangement of regularly-spaced perforations in the base block. The textured faces have alternating shallow and deep sections as a result of the difference in diameter of the two types of perforations. 
         [0083]    Referring to  FIGS. 3A to 3C , base block  30  has a series of irregularly-spaced perforations  31  (only one labeled) of widely differing cross-sectional shapes extending entirely through the base block from one side to the opposed side. The series of perforations is arranged in a straight line, along which the base block may be split by a light shock. On splitting the base block, two virtually identical standard building blocks  36 , 37  are produced, having textured faces  38 , 39 , respectively. The textured faces have a consistent and reproducible, but random, striated appearance as a result of the arrangement of irregularly-spaced perforations in the base block. Although the textured faces have a random appearance, each block has the same appearance and the appearance can be consistently reproduced in other building blocks. 
         [0084]    Referring to  FIGS. 4A to 4C , base block  40  has a series of two types of regularly-spaced perforations  41 , 42  (only one of each type labeled) extending entirely through the base block from one side to the opposed side. One type of perforation  41  has circular cross-sections, and the other type  42  has a rounded rectangular cross-sections. The series of perforations is arranged in a straight line, along which the base block may be split by a light shock. On splitting the base block, two virtually identical standard building blocks  46 , 47  are produced, having textured faces  48 , 49 , respectively. The textured faces have a consistent and reproducible regular striated appearance as a result of the arrangement of regularly-spaced perforations in the base block. The textured faces have narrow sections as a result of perforations  41  and wide sections as a result of perforations  42 . 
         [0085]    Referring to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , base block  50  has a series of regularly-spaced identical perforations  51  (only one labeled) extending entirely through the base block from one side to the opposed side. The perforations have circular cross-sections and are arranged in a manner similar to  FIG. 1A . Thus, the series of perforations is arranged in a straight line, along which the base block may be split by a light shock. One half of the base block is designed to be a 3-hole brick and the other half a recess (frog) brick. On splitting the base block, 3-hole brick  56  and frog brick  57  are formed having identical textured faces  58 , 59  respectively. The textured faces have a consistent and reproducible uniform striated appearance as a result of the arrangement of regularly-spaced identical perforations in the base block. 
         [0086]    Referring to  FIGS. 6A to 6C , base block  60  has a series of regularly-spaced identical perforations  61  (only one labeled) extending entirely through the base block from one side to the opposed side. The perforations have circular cross-sections with a diameter of 0.25 inches. The series of perforations is arranged in a straight line along which the base block may be split by a light shock. On splitting the base block, two virtually identical skid resistant paving stones  66 , 67  are produced, having textured faces  68 , 69 , respectively. The textured faces have a consistent and reproducible uniform striated appearance as a result of the arrangement of regularly-spaced identical perforations in the base block.  FIG. 6C  illustrates paving stones  66 , 67  in place together with a third paving stone  65  produced in a similar manner. 
         [0087]    Referring to  FIGS. 7A and 7B , base block  70  has a series of two types of regularly-spaced perforations  71 , 72  (only one of each type labeled) extending entirely through the base block from one side to the opposed side. Both types of perforations have circular cross-sections, although perforations  71  have a smaller diameter than perforations  72 . The series of perforations is arranged in an arc B-B, along which the base block may be split by a light shock. On splitting the base block, two building blocks  76 , 77  are produced, having textured faces  78 , 79 , respectively. The textured faces have consistent and reproducible regular striated appearances as a result of the arrangement of regularly-spaced perforations in the base block. The textured faces have alternating shallow and deep sections as a result of the difference in diameter of the two types of perforations. Textured face  78  is convex while textured face  79  is concave. When laid side-by-side as illustrated in  FIG. 7B , the textured faces of blocks  76 , 77  create an undulating appearance. Since many such blocks may be reproduced consistently, a course of such blocks can provide a block wall having a consistent undulating appearance. 
         [0088]    Referring to  FIGS. 8A to 8C , base block  80  has four series of two types of regularly-spaced perforations  81 , 82  (only one of each type labeled) extending entirely through the base block from one side to the opposed side. Both types of perforations have circular cross-sections, although perforations  81  have a smaller diameter than perforations  82 . Each of the four series of perforations is arranged in an arc, along which the base block may be split by a light shock. On splitting the base block, three building blocks  85 , 86 , 87  and six scrap pieces  84  are produced. Each building block is double-sided having a concave textured face  88  (only one labeled) and an opposed convex textured face  89  (only one labeled). The textured faces have consistent and reproducible regular striated appearances as a result of the arrangement of regularly-spaced perforations in the base block. The textured faces have alternating shallow and deep sections as a result of the difference in diameter of the two types of perforations. A plurality of such building blocks laid side-by-side can provide a curved block wall having a consistent appearance. 
         [0089]    Referring to  FIGS. 9A to 9C , base block  90  has two series of regularly-spaced perforations  91  (only two labeled) extending entirely through the base block from one side to the opposed side. One series of perforations starts at a first edge of the base block and is arranged in a straight line about halfway to an opposed edge of the base block. The other series of perforations starts at the opposed edge of the base block and is arranged in a straight line about halfway to the first edge. The two series of perforations are parallel to each other but are set apart by a distance. Spanning the distance between the two series of perforations is a single rectangular perforation  92  with rounded ends that is oriented perpendicular to the two series of perforations. Thus, a Z-shaped splitting path is created in the base block. On splitting the base block, two identical step blocks  96 , 97  are produced, each step block having two uniformly textured surfaces  98 , 99 . As illustrated in  FIG. 9C , when laid side-by-side with a third step block  95  produced in a similar manner, the step blocks provide skid-resistant stairs. Each step block is formed with cavities  94  to reduce the weight of the step blocks. 
         [0090]    Referring to  FIGS. 10A to 10C , base block  100  has a series of regularly-spaced identical perforations  101  (only one labeled) extending entirely through the base block from one side to the opposed side. The perforations have circular cross-sections. The series of perforations is arranged in a straight line along which the base block may be split by a light shock. The series of perforations is located within recess  102 . On splitting the base block, two virtually identical standard building blocks  106 , 107  are produced, having textured faces  108 , 109 , respectively, with joint set backs  104 , 105  respectively. The textured faces have a consistent and reproducible uniform striated appearance as a result of the arrangement of regularly-spaced identical perforations in the base block. The textured faces have joint set backs as a result of the recess in the base block. 
         [0091]    Referring to  FIGS. 11A to 11C , base block  110  has a series of irregularly-spaced perforations  111  (only one labeled) of widely differing cross-sectional shapes extending entirely through the base block from one side to the opposed side. The series of perforations is arranged in a straight line along which the base block may be split by a light shock. The series of perforations is located within recess  112 . On splitting the base block, two virtually identical light shell blocks  116 , 117  are produced, having textured faces  118 , 119 , respectively, with joint set backs  114 , 115  respectively. The textured faces have a consistent and reproducible, but random, striated appearance as a result of the arrangement of irregularly-spaced perforations in the base block. The textured faces have joint set backs as a result of the recess in the base block. 
         [0092]    Referring to  FIGS. 12A to 12C , base block  120  has five series of regularly-spaced identical perforations  121  (only one labeled) extending entirely through the base block from one side to the opposed side. The perforations have circular cross-sections. Each of the five series of perforations is arranged in a straight line, along which the base block may be split by a light shock. The five series of perforations are parallel to each and spaced apart equidistantly. On splitting the base block, four virtually identical double-sided standard building blocks  126  (only one shown) and two virtually identical single-sided standard building blocks  127  (only one shown) are produced. Textured faces  128 , 129  of the double-sided block and textured face  125  of the single-sided block are virtually identical in appearance. The textured faces have a consistent and reproducible uniform striated appearance as a result of the arrangement of regularly-spaced identical perforations in the base block. Any number of double-sided blocks may be created from a single base block by having more or fewer series of perforations. 
         [0093]    Referring to  FIGS. 13A to 13C , base block  130  has five parallel series of two types of regularly-spaced perforations  131 , 132  (only one of each type labeled) and one series of two types of regularly-spaced perforations  131 , 132  (only one of each type labeled) perpendicular to and bisecting the five parallel series. All perforations extend entirely through the base block from one side to the opposed side. One type of perforation  131  has circular cross-sections, and the other type  132  has a rounded rectangular cross-sections. Each of the six series of perforations is arranged in a straight line, along which the base block may be split by a light shock. On splitting the base block, eight virtually identical triple-sided standard building blocks  136  (only one shown) and four virtually identical double-sided standard building blocks  137  (only one shown) are produced. Textured faces  138 , 139  of the double-sided block are perpendicular to each other, one being a long face and the other a short face. The triple-sided block has two long textured faces  133 , 134  and one short textured face  135 . The textured faces have a consistent and reproducible regular striated appearance as a result of the arrangement of regularly-spaced perforations in the base block. The textured faces have narrow sections as a result of perforations  131  and wide sections as a result of perforations  132 . 
         [0094]    Referring to  FIGS. 14A to 14C , base block  140  is cross-shaped and has four series of irregularly-spaced perforations  141  (only one labeled) of widely differing cross-sectional shapes extending entirely through the base block from one side to the opposed side and meeting at a single large perforation  142  in the center of the base block. Each of the four series of perforations is arranged in a straight line, along which the base block may be split by a light shock. On splitting the base block, four virtually identical corner blocks  144 , 145 , 146 , 147  are produced, each having two textured faces, a long face  148  (only one labeled) and a short face  149  (only one labeled). The textured faces have a consistent and reproducible, but random, striated appearance as a result of the arrangement of irregularly-spaced perforations in the base block. Although the textured faces have a random appearance, each block has the same appearance and the appearance can be consistently reproduced in other building blocks. The two textured faces  148 , 149  are perpendicular to each other, suitable for a corner block in block wall construction. 
         [0095]    Referring to  FIGS. 15A to 15C , base block  150  is cross-shaped and has four series of irregularly-spaced perforations  151  (only one labeled) of widely differing cross-sectional shapes extending entirely through the base block from one side to the opposed side. Each of the four series of perforations is arranged in a straight line, along which the base block may be split by a light shock. Each of the four series of perforations is within recess  152  of the base block. On splitting the base block, four virtually identical light shell corner blocks  154 , 155 , 156 , 157  are produced, each having two textured faces, a long face  158  (only one labeled) and a short face  159  (only one labeled), and joint set back  153  (only one labeled). The textured faces have a consistent and reproducible, but random, striated appearance as a result of the arrangement of irregularly-spaced perforations in the base block. The textured faces have joint set backs as a result of the recess in the base block. Although the textured faces have a random appearance, each block has the same appearance and the appearance can be consistently reproduced in other building blocks. The two textured faces  158 , 159  are perpendicular to each other, suitable for a corner block in block wall construction. 
         [0096]    Referring to  FIGS. 16A to 16C , base block  160  has three series of regularly-spaced identical perforation  161  (only one labeled) extending entirely through the base block from one side to the opposed side. Each of the three series of perforations is arranged in a straight line, along which the base block may be split by a light shock. The three series meet at the center of the block at an angle of 120-degrees between each of the series. On splitting the base block, three virtually identical 120-degree corner blocks  165 , 166 , 167  and three scrap pieces  164  are produced. Each of the three corner blocks has textured faces  168 , 169  (only one of each labeled). The textured faces have a consistent and reproducible uniform striated appearance as a result of the arrangement of regularly-spaced identical perforations in the base block. 
         [0097]    Referring to  FIGS. 17A to 17C , base block  170  has three series of regularly-spaced identical perforation  171  (only one labeled) extending entirely through the base block from one side to the opposed side. Each of the three series of perforations is arranged in a bent line, along which the base block may be split by a light shock. The angle of the bend in each of the three series is 120-degrees. On splitting the base block, two virtually identical 120-degree double-sided corner blocks  176 , 177 , one 120-degree single-sided concave corner block  175 , one 120-degree single-sided convex corner block  174 , and six scrap pieces  173  are produced. The textured faces on all of the corner blocks have a consistent and reproducible uniform striated appearance as a result of the arrangement of regularly-spaced identical perforations in the base block. 
         [0098]    Referring to  FIGS. 18A to 18C , base/capitol architectural components having bonding surfaces for construction of an architectural element may be created by splitting base block  180  along splitting path C-C comprising a series of regularly-spaced identical perforations  181  (only one labeled) extending entirely through the base block from one side to the opposed side. The perforations have circular cross-sections. The series of perforations is arranged in a straight line C-C, along which the base block may be split by a light shock. On splitting the base block, two virtually identical base/capitol architectural components  186 , 187  are produced, having virtually identical bonding surfaces  188 , 189 , respectively. The textured faces have a consistent and reproducible uniform striated appearance as a result of the arrangement of regularly-spaced identical perforations in the base block. 
         [0099]    Referring to  FIGS. 19A to 19C , columnar architectural components having bonding surfaces for construction of an architectural element may be created by splitting base block  190  along three splitting paths D-D comprising three series of regularly-spaced identical perforations  191  (only one labeled) extending entirely through the base block from one side to the opposed side. The perforations have circular cross-sections. The three series of perforations are arranged in straight lines D-D, along which the base block may be split by a light shock. On splitting the base block, two virtually identical columnar architectural components  196 , 197  and two scrap pieces  195  (only one shown) are produced, each columnar component having two virtually identical bonding surfaces  198 , 199 , respectively. The textured faces have a consistent and reproducible uniform striated appearance as a result of the arrangement of regularly-spaced identical perforations in the base block. 
         [0100]    Referring to  FIGS. 20A and 20B , architectural element  200  is assembled from the two columnar components  196 , 197  of  FIG. 19C  and the two base/capitol components  186 , 187  of  FIG. 18C . 
         [0101]    The consistent and reproducible appearance of the textured surfaces permits matching bonding surfaces of the base/capitol components to the bonding surfaces of columnar components at interfaces  202 , and matching the bonding surfaces of the two columnar surfaces at interface  203 . The components are bonded together at the interfaces with an epoxy adhesive. 
         [0102]    Other advantages which are inherent to the structure are obvious to one skilled in the art. The embodiments are described herein illustratively and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention as claimed. Variations of the foregoing embodiments will be evident to a person of ordinary skill and are intended by the inventor to be encompassed by the following claims.