What are the disadvantages of expansion joints in concrete?

Author: Reid Skiles  |  Last update: Wednesday, July 30, 2025

Problems with Wide and/or High Expansion Joints
  • Leaking and water ingress.
  • Corrosion damage to internal fittings and finishing's.
  • Damage to stored goods and equipment.
  • Increased risk of fire / spread of fire (through the gap)
  • Loss of thermal insulation.
  • Loss of acoustic insulation.
  • Owner / occupier / traffic disruption.

What is the life expectancy of an expansion joint?

While design and application are just as crucial, proper expansion joint installation is vital to their service life. A properly designed and installed part typically lasts 15 to 20 years in most industrial applications. Over so many years, you can expect to perform maintenance and care to preserve their integrity.

Is it necessary to fill the expansion joints in concrete?

Having the right amount of expansion joints between concrete slabs is essential, but large openings exposed to the elements can cause many different problems over the lifetime of the concrete. For this reason, it's important to fill or seal your expansion joints.

What is the rule of thumb for expansion joints?

Tips for placing concrete expansion joints

Place joints around 30 times the slab thickness apart. So, for a slab which is 100mm thick, the joints should be placed around 3,000mm (3 metres) apart. Make sure joints are cut deep enough: they need to be at least a quarter of the thickness of the slab.

Is it normal for expansion joints to crack?

In most situations, this won't be a sudden event requiring your immediate attention. Instead, expansion joints crack slowly and steadily. It's much the same way that concrete expansion and contraction itself is a slow and steady process.

What is a concrete expansion joint and why does it matter?

How do you fix a cracked expansion joint?

To replace old or damaged expansion joints, remove the old material, clean the joints, apply bonding adhesive, insert foam backer rod and seal them with self-leveling urethane sealant. It's essential to block off the area until the sealant dries to ensure the new expansion joints function correctly.

How much joint cracking is too much?

If your joints crack once or twice after a period of immobility, it is generally normal and harmless. Repeated joint cracking that occurs every time you move a joint or that causes pain may indicate a more serious problem that you should talk to your healthcare provider about.

How far apart should expansion joints be in concrete?

Generally speaking, 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.

What is the code for expansion joints?

As per IS- 456:2000, in the case of buildings, structures exceeding 45 m in length are designed with one or more expansion joints. As per IS 3414 which is a specific code for joints, it is mentioned as 30 m. It is clear from the above table that the maximum spacing for the expansion joint is 140 m.

Does concrete expand or shrink when it dries?

A.: When it first dries, concrete shrinks and undergoes structural alterations that make some of the shrinkage irreversible. Thus, even if it is later resaturated, the initial drying shrinkage isn't fully recovered.

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

In building construction, expansion joints are strategically placed gaps that allow concrete slabs to expand and contract without damaging the structure. They act as a buffer zone, absorbing thermal movement and preventing the formation of cracks and fissures.

What are the three types of expansion joints?

Three Types of Expansion Joints
  • Control Joint – The joint type will help reduce the stress of shrinkage. ...
  • Construction Joint– The joint lays between two separate batches of concrete. ...
  • Expansion Joint– This joint is between separate slabs of concrete.

Should concrete expansion joints be caulked?

Because expansion joints are open gaps leading straight to the soil and sub-material under the concrete, they should always be caulked to prevent water from eroding away the base that the concrete is sitting on.

How do you maintain expansion joints?

Caulking intentional expansion joints and unwanted cracks is a great way to prevent damage to your concrete. By keeping up with this maintenance practice, you will help prevent water from entering the slab and causing freeze-thaw damage, as well as eroding the sub-material and causing your slab to settle.

How thick should an expansion joint be?

Expansion joint thickness can vary from . 010 inches to . 125 inches thick depending upon the design requirements for your application.

Do expansion joints leak?

Leaking Water. Water leaking through an expansion joint cover can often be attributed to poor blockout conditions and water actually leaking through the adjacent concrete.

How to avoid an expansion joint?

Avoiding Over-Expansion and Compression

Adhering to the specified limits of movement (expansion, compression, lateral, and angular) is vital. Over-expansion or over-compression can stress the joint, leading to cracks and tears.

Are cold joints in concrete bad?

Cold joints have a negative effect on the structure; they can reduce the load-bearing capacity by creating weak points in areas subject to shear or tensile forces. They are also possible entry points for water or other contaminants, which could cause a concrete crack or deterioration.

What is the maximum length for an expansion joint?

A practical limit between expansion joints for TFR is in the range of 100' to 200', when these roofs are attached to light gage cold- formed purlins. Standing seam roofs are limited by the range of the sliding clips. Depending on the manufacturer, it is in the range of 150' to 200'.

What is the rule of thumb for expansion joints in concrete?

JOINT SPACING

When spacing out joint cuts, the general rule of thumb is that each joint should be around 2-3 times the thickness of the slab, but in feet.

Do concrete expansion joints go all the way through?

These joints are cut into the concrete while it is still fairly fresh. Most of the time, it will be cut within about six to 18 hours of a concrete pour. While expansion joints are cut all the way through, control joints only go about a quarter of the way through a slab.

How soon should you cut expansion joints in concrete?

Ideally, for most concrete work, if you want to avoid unwanted cracks, then you should wait at least 6 to 18 hours before you start cutting concrete. It is not advised to cut concrete beyond 24 hours after a pour.

How do I stop my joints from cracking all the time?

How can I stop my joints from clicking?
  1. Aerobic exercise such as cycling, running on smooth surfaces, and walking.
  2. Strength training or weight lifting.
  3. Stretching.
  4. Neuromuscular exercise such as plyometrics, core strengthening, resistance training and speed training.
  5. Balance training.
  6. Aquatic exercise such as swimming.

Why do I feel like bubbles popping in my lower back?

Most experts theorize that cracking or popping in the back, called crepitus, comes from one of three causes: ligament or tendon repositioning, vertebrae rubbing against each other, or cavitations (gas bubbles) in your spinal joint fluid.

What is the liquid between joints?

Synovial fluid, also known as joint fluid, is a thick liquid located between your joints. The fluid cushions and protects the ends of bones and reduces friction during movement. Normally, there is only a small amount of synovial fluid between the joints.

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