AN IMPROVED METHOD OF RENDERING EXISTING WALLS DAMP PROOF AND OF MANU- FACTURING TILES FOR THE SAID PURPOSE OR FOR OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William White of 3 Westminster Chambers Victoria
Street in the City of Westminster for an Invention of AN IMPROVED
METHOD OF RENDERING EXISTING WALLS DAMP PROOF AND OF MANU-
FACTURING TILES FOR THE SAID PURPOSE OR FOR OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William White at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th February 1883.
WILLIAM WHITE of 3 Westminster Chambers Victoria Street in the City of
Westminster AN IMPROVED METHOD OF RENDERING EXISTING WALLS DAMP-
PROOF AND OF MANUFACTURING TILES FOR THE SAID PURPOSE OR FOR OTHER
SIMILAR PURPOSES.
In the Specification of the Patent granted unto me dated the 21st of September
1881 and numbered 4065 I described a certain method of building new walls so as
to render them damp proof now the clject of this my present invention is to adapt
as far as may be the said method to existing walls so that any building now
existing can be made entirely proof against damp. With this object I entirely
remove all the old plaster from the wall and well rake out all the joints thereof
and thoroughly clean the surface of the same leaving thereby a rough clean face
on the wall. I then set up at a suitable distance therefrom a framework for
holding the tiles which I use to face the wall This framework may be made in
any suitable manner sufficiently strong for the purpose herein after mentioned.
then secure the tiles on this framework leaving a space of three eighths of an inch
or thereabouts between the faces of the tiles and the wall. Though I prefer this
aforesaid breadth the space may be made of any breadth that I may deem desirable
and into this space I pour a composition. This composition may either be made as
described in my aforesaid former Specification or made of a mixture of asphalte
pitch and iron slag or other similar material ground together under heavy pressure
and then heated or fluxed until it is in a fit state to be poured into the aforesaid
space. This latter composition I consider for some purposes to be an improvement
I

page_text: on the former one. The composition binds the tiles to the wall on which they form
a face and when it is cold the framework can be removed. The outer faces of the
tiles can then be wetted and finished off with plaster or mastic cement or otherwise
for decorative purposes. By this method an existing wall can be rendered perfectly
damp proof and it is obvious that this process can be applied on the internal or
external faces of the wall or on both.
In order to make a surface on the tiles suitable for bringing into action the
binding or adhesive properties of the composition or plaster or cement and thereby
securing the tiles to the wall quite firmly I manufacture these tiles in the following
manner. The tiles are made of a porous or absorbent clay of any convenient size
and shape. They are formed in suitable moulds in the ordinary manner but before
the pressure is applied I distribute over the surface of the clay a quantity of small
or rubbly coal or coke of irregular sizes and shapes. The tile is then pressed and
burnt in the usual manner when the coal or coke burns away leaving a honey
combed surface on the tile with irregular and undercut holes therein into which
the composition as it is poured in finds its way thereby tightly securing the tile to
the wall. This surface may be produced on both sides of the tile and it is obvious
that these tiles with their peculiar honey combed surfaces can be used for many
other similar purposes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William White in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th August
1883.
WILLIAM WHITE of 3 Westminster Chambers. Victoria Street in the City of
Westminster AN IMPROVED
METHOD OF RENDERING EXISTING WALLS DAMP-
PROOF AND OF MANUFACTURING TILES FOR THE SAID PURPOSE OR FOR OTHER
SIMILAR PURPOSES
Whereas in the Specification filed by me on the 8th day of March 1882 in
pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent granted unto me by Her Majesty
dated the 21st day of September 1881 and numbered 4065 I described a certain
method of building new walls so as to render them damp-proof now the object of
this my present invention is to vary as hereinafter described and to adapt as far as
may be the said method and apply the same to existing walls so that any building
now existing can be made entirely proof against damp.
With this object I entirely remove all the old plaster if any from the wall that
is to be treated by my method and I well rake out all the joints thereof and
thoroughly clean the surface of the same thereby leaving a rough clean face on the
wall. I then make a complete face for this wall of any suitable tiles as hereinafter
described which face of tiles is set up at a distance of three eighths of an inch or
thereabouts from the surface or face of the wall. A convenient mode of effecting
this is as follows. A framework for holding the tiles in position is erected the
proper distance from the wall which framework must be sufficiently strong to hold
the tiles against the pressure hereinafter mentioned. This framework may be
made in any suitable manner and the tiles are then secured on this framework
leaving the aforesaid space of three eighths of an inch in breadth or thereabouts
between the faces of the tiles and of the wall. I consider that this aforesaid
breadth of three eighths of an inch or thereabouts is in the majority of cases sufficient
for my purpose as hereinafter declared but I do not in anywise limit myself to this
breadth as aforesaid for I may make the said space of any breadth that I may
deem desirable in each particular case. Into this said space I pour a composition
to bind the tiles to the wall and to render the wall proof against damp and the
framework if any must be sufficiently strong to withstand the pressure of the
composition. This composition may conveniently be made and used as described
in my aforesaid former Specification which I consider very suitable for carrying
out the aforesaid purposes. But I do not limit myself to the composition as
described in the said Specification for I may also use any other composition that
will effect or assist in effecting the said purposes of binding the tiles to the wall
and of rendering the wall proof against damp. When the composition is cold the
framework may be removed and the outer faces of the tiles can then if required be
wetted and finished off with plaster or mastic cement or otherwise for decorative
purposes or the tiles can be left without any covering. By this method as herein-
before described an existing wall can be rendered perfectly dampproof and it is
obvious that this process can be applied on the internal or external faces of the
wall or on both faces as may be desired.
Any kind of ornamental or other tiles may be used in my aforesaid process and
method for facing the wall as may be required in each particular case but in
general I prefer to use a tile that has a rough surface with undercut holes therein
so as to bring strongly into action the binding or adhesive properties of the
composition or plaster or cement and thereby render the whole wall when treated
and finished after my aforesaid method very strong and homogeneous. I will now

page_text: describe a method of manufacturing these tiles which I consider very suitable and
convenient for effecting my said object. The tile is made of a porous or absorbent
clay of any convenient size and shape. It is formed in a suitable mould in the
ordinary manner but before the pressure is applied I distribute over the surface of
the clay a quantity of small or rubbly coal or coke of irregular sizes and shapes.
The tile is then pressed and burnt in the usual manner and the coal or coke burns
away leaving a honey combed surface on the tile with irregular and undercut holes
therein into which the composition finds its way when it is poured into the space
herein before described thereby tightly securing the tile to the wall. This surface
may be produced on both sides of the tile if desired and it is obvious that these
tiles with their peculiar honey combed surfaces can be used for many other similar
purposes. I would have it however clearly understood that I do not limit myself
to tiles made after this aforesaid manner for I may use any kind of tile that may be
suitable in each case.
Having thus particularly described my invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed I would state that I claim as my invention which is protected by
the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent
1. The method of rendering existing walls damp-proof the said method being
the creating a face of tiles for the wall and the pouring a composition into the space
between the said tiles and the said wall substantially as herein before described and
declared.
2. The method of manufacturing tiles which may be used in the method herein-
before claimed and for other similar purposes the said method consisting in
distributing over the surface or surfaces of the tile before it is burnt a quantity of
coal or coke which is then burnt away thereby leaving a honey combed surface on
the tile substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and declared.
In witness whereof I the said William White have hereunto set my hand and
seal this fourth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and eighty three.
TTTTAM WITN
TO