QA

What To Use For Expansion Joint In Concrete

A pliable material is used (asphalt coated, cork, plastic) to construct these types of joints. The material should extend the depth of the slab and extend the full width of the slab. Ideally, for expansion joints on the exterior of a structure, sealing these joint is preferable.

What material is used for expansion joints in concrete?

Minimize Concrete Cracking and Damage with Expansion Joints. ASPHALT EXPANSION JOINT is composed of a blend of asphalts, vegetable fibers, and mineral fillers formed under heat and pressure between two asphalt-saturated liners. It is waterproof, permanent, flexible, and self-sealing.

What is the best expansion joint material?

Why Silicone is the Best Expansion Joint Filler Silicone provides an excellent alternative to the three expansion joint fillers above, and for a few reasons.

What kind of wood is used for concrete expansion joints?

Cedar Expansion Strip in Concrete.

What material is joint filler made of?

Rubber, asphalt and other compressible materials are popular joint filler material choices. Joint filler also prevents the introduction of other materials that are not compressible from entering the joint, which could cause concrete failure as well.

Do you need to put expansion joints in concrete?

Expansion joints are virtually never needed with interior slabs, because the concrete doesn’t expand that much—it never gets that hot. Expansion joints in concrete pavement are also seldom needed, since the contraction joints open enough (from drying shrinkage) to account for temperature expansion.

Can you use polymeric sand for expansion joints?

Silica is such an additive and is often used to help lock the fine sand particles together.” However, polymeric sand is unique because it will allow the joints to expand and contract with the elements like hot sun during the summer and below-freezing temperatures in the winter.

What should I put between concrete slabs?

An expansion joint is a material placed in the cracks (or joints) between concrete slabs to protect the slabs from cracking when they contract and expand as the temperature changes. This material acts as a shock absorber, absorbing the stress from the slab’s movement.

What goes between 2 slabs of concrete?

Trim-A-Slab is made from a rubber-like material that flexes and holds itself into the gap between concrete slabs.

How do I fill the gap between my house and concrete patio?

Gaps against a house can direct water against the foundation, leading to more problems. Once a year, go around your home and fill these gaps and joints with urethane caulk (or polyurethane caulk) to prevent problems.

What should I put between wood and concrete?

The wood will soak up the moisture from the concrete and the wood will rot. Pressure treated wood is more resistant to rot but over time, it will have the same effect. It’s best to always have a barrier, a thin plastic foam sheet called “sill seal”, between concrete and wood.

Can I use wood for expansion joints?

If you decide to go with wood, have a lumberyard cut pressure-treated 2-by-4s to a width of 3/4-inches to fit the 7/8 -inch joint. This allows for some expansion of the wood. Cut them to 4-foot lengths to make them easier to handle and lessen the chance they’ll warp. Paint the raw edges with wood preservative.

How do you install a Reflectix expansion joint?

Installation Instructions Unroll and cut to length. Attach to adjacent material before pouring concrete. Attachment can be made with construction adhesive, nails or staples. Expansion Joint material includes a built-in “tear-off” strip. Pour concrete and finish. Exceeds ASTM Standard D-7174.

What is expansion joint filler?

EXPANSION JOINT FILLER is designed to relieve compressive stresses which develop when concrete expands in either horizontal, vertical or inclined directions. EXPANSION JOINT FILLER prevents the intrusion of foreign material into the joint which would prevent the joint from working.

Is joint filler waterproof?

It is a cement-based material. This joint filling material, which has a polymer binder added and has a water repellent silicone structure, is very durable. So much so that it can make the area fully waterproof, whichever is applied.

What happens if you don’t put expansion joints in concrete?

If you have a concrete floor in your commercial building, you know expansion joints are necessary to allow for the natural expansion and contraction that occurs from temperature changes. Without these joints, large cracks can travel across your floor, creating costly damage.

How big can a concrete slab be without expansion joints?

Rule #1 – Keep joints as square as possible. Rule #2 – In order to prevent intermediate cracking, space joints (in feet) no more than 2 – 3 times the slab thickness (in inches).

What is the difference between expansion joints and control joints?

In building materials, a control joint is used to control cracking while an expansion joint is designed to handle structural movement. By contrast, an expansion joint (or movement joint) is sized and formed at a width prescribed by the building design team and sealed and bridged later by an expansion joint system.

When should you not use polymeric sand?

#6 – Too Narrow or Too Wide Joints The sand is simply pushed out of the joints. This is why we don’t recommend using polymeric sand on extremely narrow joints. Similarly, too-wide joints can lead to washout, because they allow too much water flow during the activation process.

Is polymeric sand better than regular sand?

Polymeric sand is the more reliable and durable option for filling in the paver gaps. It outperforms regular sand when a homeowner is looking to lock the paver joints properly and wants a steady and stable path. It also provides a better appearance with its cleaner look and availability in varied colors.

How much does silica sand cost?

Silica Sand Bulk Pricing – 50 lb. Bag Quantity Price 1 – 9 $0.45 ( Selling price ) 10 – 19 $0.40 ( Selling price ) 20 – 39 $0.37 ( Selling price ) 40 or more $0.35 ( Selling price ).

How far apart are concrete expansion joints?

Usually, expansion joints should be no farther apart than 2 to 3 times (in feet) the total width of the concrete (in inches). So for a 4 inch thick concrete slab, expansion joints should be no more than 8 to 12 feet apart.