Wood substitute structural frame member

Abstract

A wood substitute structural frame member includes an elongated body formed of one of calcium silicate or magnesium oxide. The body is of a density that can accept fasteners without cracking or splitting. The elongate body has a first end and a second end. A reinforcing mesh is embedded in the body and extends between the first end and the second end.

1 . A wood substitute structural frame member, comprising:
 an elongated body formed of one of calcium silicate or magnesium oxide, the body being of a density that can accept fasteners without cracking or splitting, the elongate body having a first end and a second end; and   a reinforcing mesh embedded in the body and extending between the first end and the second end.   
   
   
       2 . The wood substitute structural frame member of  claim 1 , wherein the body has a parallelepiped shape. 
   
   
       3 . The wood substitute structural frame member of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing mesh is a stucco armour mesh. 
   
   
       4 . The wood substitute structural frame member of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing mesh is a reinforcing mesh of fibreglass. 
   
   
       5 . The wood substitute structural frame member of  claim 1 , wherein end plates are positioned at each of the first end and the second end of the body, the end plates being formed of one of calcium silicate or magnesium oxide to retard calcification of the body. 
   
   
       6 . The wood substitute structural frame member of  claim 5 , wherein the end plates are secured by one of fasteners or adhesives. 
   
   
       7 . The wood substitute structural frame member of  claim 1 , wherein side plates are positioned on a first side edge and a second side edge of the body, the side plates being formed of one of calcium silicate or magnesium oxide to retard calcification of the body. 
   
   
       8 . The wood substitute structural frame member of  claim 7 , wherein the side plates are secured by one of fasteners or adhesives. 
   
   
       9 . The wood substitute structural frame member of  claim 1 , wherein a supplemental reinforcing substrate is connected along at least one of a first face or a second face of the body for reinforcing the body. 
   
   
       10 . The wood substrate structural frame member of  claim 9 , wherein a supplemental flexible reinforcing substrate is attached to a first face and a second face and wraps around at least one of a first side edge or a second side edge. 
   
   
       11 . A wood substitute structural frame member, comprising:
 an elongated parallelepiped body formed of one of calcium silicate or magnesium oxide, the body being of a density that can accept fasteners without cracking or splitting, the elongate body having a first end, a second end, a first face, a second face, a first side edge and a second side edge;   a reinforcing mesh embedded in the body and extending between the first end and the second end; and   a supplemental flexible reinforcing substrate is attached to the first face and the second face and wraps around at least one of a first side edge or a second side edge.   
   
   
       12 . The wood substitute structural frame member of  claim 11 , wherein the reinforcing mesh is a stucco armour mesh. 
   
   
       13 . The wood substitute structural frame member of  claim 11 , wherein the reinforcing mesh is a reinforcing mesh of fibreglass. 
   
   
       14 . The wood substitute structural frame member of  claim 11 , wherein end plates are positioned at each of the first end and the second end of the body, the end plates being formed of one of calcium silicate or magnesium oxide. 
   
   
       15 . The wood substitute structural frame member of  claim 11 , wherein side plates are positioned on a first side edge and a second side edge of the body, the side plates being formed of one of calcium silicate or magnesium oxide.