Improvements in the Method of Laying Wood Flooring for Footpaths, Roads, Yards, Floors of Interiors of Buildings, Staircase iтeads, and Landings.
Year: 1886

page_text: Improvements in the Method of Laying Wood Flooring for
Footpaths, Roads, Yards, Floors of Interiors of Buildings,
Staircase iтeads, and Landings.
I, GEORGE WALKER of 11 Hougomont Street, Leeds, in the County of York,
Contractor do hereby declare the nature of said invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
My improvements have reference to the laying of wood flooring for footpaths,
roads, yards, floors of interiors of buildings staircase treads and landings, whereby
I am enabled to lay the wood blocks much thinner than by ordinary methods.
By this method the wood flooring or pavement can be laid firmly and evenly, as
thin as one eighth of an inch.
In my improvements I lay and attach the blocks arranged in any suitable design
upon a woven or other fabric, such fabric having previously been passed through
creosote.
In this arrangement the blocks may be laid on and attached to the cloth previous
to its being brought to the place where it has to be used and sent in the form of
flat sheets or rolled up in convenient lengths. The blocks previous to being placed
upon the fabric are dipped in liquid asphalte, and when such asphalte is in a plastic
or molten state the blocks are placed in position on the fabric and adhere thereto,
but in order to increase the adhesive properties of the asphalte I dip the blocks in
creosote previous to dipping them in asphalte.
In laying the above description of wood paving the ground on which it is to be
laid is made even on its surface, whether such road be formed of old macadum or
other materials.
On the top of this prepared surface and previous to the above described flooring
being laid I pour a layer of boiling asphalte for which Letters Patent were granted
to me dated 26th May 1884 No 8236, such asphalte being spread or levelled by
heated tools previous to the sheet flooring being placed upon it. By this means
the fabric on which the blocks are placed adhere to the foundation and forms a
solid substantial floor.
The spaces between the blocks after the above operation are filled in with
asphalte, gravel, concrete or other suitable materials.

page_text: It will be readily understood that in some cases the wood blocks will be laid
close together, consequently no spaces are formed between the blocks.
I may here remark that I do not confine myself to any particular foundation and
bed on which to lay my sheet flooring as such foundation and bed may be of
various compositions or qualities.
In some cases I dispense entirely with the canvas and asphalte bed and lay the
dipped blocks on the bare concrete, such blocks being deposited whilst the asphalte
they have been previously dipped in is in a plastic or molten state.
By this means the blocks are caused to adhere to the concrete and form a
solid floor.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is-
The method of laying wood blocks on woven or other fabric, to be applied on
footpaths, roads, yards, floors of interiors of buildings, staircase treads and landings
substantially as herein set forth.
The method of laying wood blocks on concrete foundations without the use of
woven or other fabric, or asphalte bed substantially as herein set forth.