Wall forming system and method thereof

Abstract

A tie system and method for forming a wall from a hardenable building material over an existing concrete wall. In one embodiment, the tie system includes multiple wall ties configured to be directly interconnected to form a wall tie stack such that multiple wall tie stacks can be positioned over the existing concrete wall in a spaced apart, vertically extending arrangement. The multiple wall tie stacks are configured to extend substantially perpendicular between substantially parallel panel structures. The tie system may be secured with the parallel panel structures to extend vertically as forms for a concrete wall and, if desired, transversely as forms for a concrete roof structure over, for example, a roof truss system, joined together with forms for forming a concrete eave portion. In this manner, the tie system may be employed to form a concrete building structure extending as the walls and roof of the structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tie system configured to support panel structures for forming a wall from a hardenable pourable building material above a footing, the tie system comprising:
 a first panel structure;   a second panel structure, the second panel structure configured to be positioned parallel relative to the first panel structure; and   multiple wall ties configured to be directly interconnected to form a wall tie stack such that multiple wall tie stacks are positioned above the footing in a spaced and separate arrangement, the multiple wall tie stacks configured to extend between and substantially perpendicular relative to the first and second panel structures, each wall tie including:
 a first wall portion and a second wall portion with a cross-member portion connected and extending therebetween, the first wall portion having a first planar surface and the second wall portion having a second planar surface, the first planar surface facing away from and directly opposite the second planar surface, the first planar surface and the second planar surface being outer most surfaces of the wall tie to define a wall tie length, the first planar surface configured to be directly fastened to an inner surface of the first panel structure and the second planar surface configured to be directly fastened to an inner surface of the second panel structure. 
   
     
     
         2 . The tie system of  claim 1 , wherein each wall tie comprises lower attachment portions and upper attachment portions at respective lower and upper ends of the first wall portion and the second wall portion, the upper attachment portions configured to mate with the lower attachment portions of another wall tie to, thereby, facilitate building each wall tie stack. 
     
     
         3 . The tie system of  claim 1 , wherein the cross-member portion of each wall tie comprises a rebar holder configured to position and align rebar therein. 
     
     
         4 . The tie system of  claim 2 , wherein the lower attachment portions and the upper attachment portions of each wall tie comprise an engaging portion configured to removably lock with the upper attachment portions and the lower attachment portions, respectively, of other wall ties. 
     
     
         5 . The tie system of  claim 4 , wherein the engaging portion comprises a protrusion configured to engage with a groove. 
     
     
         6 . The tie system of  claim 1 , wherein the wall tie stacks are configured to extend vertically above the footing to facilitate formation of a vertical wall structure, and the wall tie stacks are configured to extend transversely relative to the vertically extending wall tie stacks to facilitate formation of a roof structure. 
     
     
         7 . The tie system of  claim 6 , wherein the wall tie stacks are configured to extend transversely relative to a vertical surface of the footing to facilitate formation of a roof structure. 
     
     
         8 . The tie system of  claim 6 , wherein the wall tie stacks are configured to extend vertically above and at least partially along-side an outer side wall surface of an existing concrete wall extending from the footing. 
     
     
         9 . A tie system configured to support panel structures for forming a wall from a hardenable pourable building material above a footing, the tie system comprising:
 a first panel structure;   a second panel structure, the second panel structure configured to be positioned parallel relative to the first panel structure; and   multiple wall ties positioned above the footing in a spaced and separate arrangement, the multiple wall ties configured to extend between and substantially perpendicular relative to the first and second panel structures, each wall tie including:
 a first wall portion and a second wall portion with a cross-member portion connected and extending therebetween, the first wall portion having a first planar surface and the second wall portion having a second planar surface, the first planar surface facing away from and directly opposite the second planar surface, the first planar surface and the second planar surface being outer most surfaces of the wall tie to define a wall tie length, the first planar surface configured to be directly fastened to an inner surface of the first panel structure and the second planar surface configured to be directly fastened to an inner surface of the second panel structure. 
   
     
     
         10 . The tie system of  claim 9 , wherein the multiple wall ties are configured to be directly interconnected to form a wall tie stack such that multiple wall tie stacks are positioned above the footing in a spaced and separate arrangement. 
     
     
         11 . The tie system of  claim 10 , wherein each wall tie comprises lower attachment portions and upper attachment portions at respective lower and upper ends of the first wall portion and the second wall portion, the upper attachment portions configured to mate with the lower attachment portions of another wall tie to, thereby, facilitate building each wall tie stack. 
     
     
         12 . The tie system of  claim 9 , wherein the cross-member portion of each wall tie comprises a rebar holder configured to position and align rebar therein. 
     
     
         13 . The tie system of  claim 9 , wherein the cross-member rigidly extends between the first wall portion and the second wall portion of the wall tie. 
     
     
         14 . The tie system of  claim 10 , wherein the wall tie stacks are configured to extend vertically above the footing to facilitate formation of a vertical wall structure, and the wall tie stacks are configured to extend transversely relative to the vertically extending wall tie stacks to facilitate formation of a roof structure. 
     
     
         15 . The tie system of  claim 10 , wherein the wall tie stacks are configured to extend transversely relative to a vertical surface of the footing to facilitate formation of a roof structure. 
     
     
         16 . The tie system of  claim 10 , wherein the wall tie stacks are configured to extend vertically above and at least partially along-side an outer side wall surface of an existing concrete wall extending from the footing. 
     
     
         17 . A method of supporting panel structures spaced above a footing to receive a hardenable building material, the method comprising:
 providing multiple wall ties, each wall tie including a first wall portion and a second wall portion with a cross-member portion therebetween, the first and second wall portions including a first planar surface and a second planar surface, respectively, such that the first planar surface faces directly opposite the second planar surface of each wall tie;   attaching the multiple wall ties together by mating upper end portions of the wall ties to lower end portions of other ones of the wall ties to vertically build separate and discrete wall tie stacks;   securing the wall tie stacks, spaced from each other in a substantially parallel arrangement, to one or more first panel structures such that the first planar surface of the wall ties is secured directly against the one or more first panel structures; and   securing one or more second panel structures directly against the second planar surface of the wall ties so that the one or more first and second panel structures extend substantially parallel to each other.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising securing the one or more first and second panel structures above the footing such that the wall tie stacks extend vertically above the footing. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising securing one of the one or more first and second panel structures to a roof structure such that the wall tie stacks extend transversely relative to the wall tie stacks extending vertically above the footing.