Joint Material Design Movement Control Joints

During construction of concrete masonry wall, causing it to expand. Joint reinforcing is generally terminated at a control joint, although chord-reinforcing steel at floors and roofs must continue through the control joints. Cap all dowels to allow 1” of movement. There is horizontal joint reinforcement at 16″ o.c. Movement joints are used to control and minimize cracking. An expansion joint is a gap or joint in the structure between adjacent parts, allowing for safe, relative movement of the parts.

Design of Movement and Control Joints for Masonry

These joints are formed of highly elasticmaterials placed in a continuous, unobstructed opening through the brick wythe. In summary, expansion joints generally help prevent cracking, while control joints generally control cracks that are already present. A control joint is usually a vertical opening through the concrete masonry wythe and may be formed of inelastic materials. Creating a solid wall that allows for movement is done through the use of joints. Control joints are used for aesthetic and water penetration reasons. The shrinkage cracks don’t inhibit the strength of the wall. It’s just a weakened plane joint so that when it dries out and it cracks, it cracks in a nice straight line.

Concrete Expansion – Masonry Control Joint Material



Maximum horizontal spacing of control joints in unreinforced concrete masonry walls should be approximately 32 feet, but a length (spacing) to height of wall ratio is a better measure.

A control joint is used in concrete or concrete masonry to create a plane of weakness which, used in conjunction with reinforcement or joint reinforcement, controls the location of cracks due to volume changes resulting from shrinkage and creep.

When placing expansion joints in brick, materials such as mortar or joint reinforcement should not bridge the expansion joint. All materials will undergo dimensional changes over time. Control joints are created to control cracking in concrete block while expansion joints are placed in brick walls to allow expansion. They run in a straight, vertical line from the base up. Cracks in walls and building materials are due to several factors. So how do you create a solid wall that allows for movement?

By keeping the sealant thicker on the edges and thinner in the middle, around the backer rod, the sealant will remain more flexible and allow for movement without tearing.

Dowelled joints, although rarely used, can also be a way to transfer even higher loads at the joint. Control joints, when placed in concrete masonry walls, are an excellent method of crack control. For walls without openings, control joints are used to effectively divide a wall into a series of isolated panels. Refrain from installing units until they are 28 days old. I offers aesthetics and water-tight integrity with heat welded seams. Easily customized, this versatile runner is durable and abrasive resistant. The matting features pointed grippers on the back to keep runner in place, and it is available in three different sizes. Our formulations result in products that have proven to outperform other materials in durability, flexibility, and visual appeal. Ideal for use around trees and adjacent to sidewalks where digging can be problematic. This matting protects floors, reduces slips and falls, and provides a silencing effect. This runner fulfills a variety of needs, including floor protection and reduction of slips and falls, and it provides a silencing effect. Hard floor mats are smooth or lightly textured on the underside to avoid damage to hard floor surfaces. To determine the thickness of your carpet pile, place a penny on it’s edge down in the carpet pile (like measuring a tire tread).

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Block Wall With Control Joint