Building block, system and methods

A method for making a building block comprising:

• positioning a decorative liner in a form to provide a front of the building block that has a finished front face that provides a decorative look;
• positioning a plurality of inserts in a concrete form for forming the building block, wherein at least one of the plurality of inserts causes the creation of a tongue and groove on the building block that allows interlocking two building blocks together back-to-back, wherein the two building blocks are both made with the concrete form, wherein each of the two building blocks comprises:
• a front having a top and a bottom;
• first and second sides extending from the front, each of the first and second sides comprising a top that is substantially coplanar with the top of the front and a bottom that is substantially coplanar with the bottom of the front, wherein each of the first and second sides comprises the groove that extends downwardly from the top;
• and
• a back coupled to the first and second sides, the back comprising the tongue that extends upwardly from the bottom;
• positioning at least one lift and alignment ring in the form;
• pouring a concrete mix into the form;
• allowing the concrete mix to cure;
• and
• removing the block from the form.

A method for building a wall comprising:

• (a) providing a first plurality of building blocks, each of the first plurality of building blocks comprising:
• a first front having a top and a bottom;
• first and second sides extending from the first front, each of the first and second sides comprising a first top that is substantially coplanar with the top of the first front and a first bottom that is substantially coplanar with the bottom of the first front, wherein each of the first and second sides comprises a first groove that extends downwardly from the first top;
• a first back coupled to the first and second sides, the first back comprising a first tongue that extends upwardly from the first bottom;
• (b) providing a second plurality of building blocks, each of the second plurality of building blocks comprising:
• a second front having a top and a bottom;
• third and fourth sides extending from the second front, each of the third and fourth sides comprising a second top that is substantially coplanar with the top of the second front and a second bottom that is substantially coplanar with the bottom of the second front, wherein each of the third and fourth sides comprises a second groove that extends downwardly from the second top to a point greater than half the distance between the second top and the second bottom;
• a second back coupled to the third and fourth sides, the second back comprising a second tongue that extends upwardly from the second bottom to a point greater than half the distance between the second bottom and the second top;
• (c) placing a first row of the first plurality of building blocks;
• (d) placing a first row of the second plurality of building blocks oriented such that the first tongue engages the second groove and the second tongue engages the first groove, thereby interlocking the first and second plurality of building blocks back-to-back to provide a wall with the first front on a first side of the wall and the second front on a second opposing side of the wall.