Concrete Expansion Joint Question

Posted by on October 15, 2006, 5:49 pm

I have a sidewalk that runs at at 90 degree angle to my driveway.
There was a felt expansion piece where they meet, but it has
deteriorated. I dug out the rotted stuff.

The gap between the sidewalk and driveway is about 3/4" wide. Too
narrow to use two 1/2" expansion strips, but too wide for one 1/2"
strip to fill the gap. I've been unable to find 1/4" strips.

A friend suggested using one strip and filling the reamining gap with
sand. Will this work? If so, does it matter what type of sand I use:
playground, leveling, paver locking sand?

Posted by Bob S. on October 15, 2006, 6:00 pm

dalemccl@verizon.net wrote:

> I have a sidewalk that runs at at 90 degree angle to my driveway.
> There was a felt expansion piece where they meet, but it has
> deteriorated. I dug out the rotted stuff.
> The gap between the sidewalk and driveway is about 3/4" wide. Too
> narrow to use two 1/2" expansion strips, but too wide for one 1/2"
> strip to fill the gap. I've been unable to find 1/4" strips.
> A friend suggested using one strip and filling the reamining gap with
> sand. Will this work? If so, does it matter what type of sand I use:
> playground, leveling, paver locking sand?

At his point, nothing is required to be in the joint. If you are
concerned about looks, you can fill it with most anything that pleases
you. They make a gray colored flexible caulk especially for sealing
expansion joints if you so desire.

Bob

Posted by Charles Schuler on October 15, 2006, 6:17 pm

> dalemccl@verizon.net wrote:

>> I have a sidewalk that runs at at 90 degree angle to my driveway.
>> There was a felt expansion piece where they meet, but it has
>> deteriorated. I dug out the rotted stuff.
>> The gap between the sidewalk and driveway is about 3/4" wide. Too
>> narrow to use two 1/2" expansion strips, but too wide for one 1/2"
>> strip to fill the gap. I've been unable to find 1/4" strips.
>> A friend suggested using one strip and filling the reamining gap with
>> sand. Will this work? If so, does it matter what type of sand I use:
>> playground, leveling, paver locking sand?

> At his point, nothing is required to be in the joint. If you are
> concerned about looks, you can fill it with most anything that pleases
> you. They make a gray colored flexible caulk especially for sealing
> expansion joints if you so desire.

I agree with Bob. Also, there are fibrous joint filling materials that one
can use and then finish off with caulk. (In those cases where caulk alone
would require too much material)

Posted by on October 15, 2006, 6:23 pm

>dalemccl@verizon.net wrote:

>At his point, nothing is required to be in the joint. If you are
>concerned about looks, you can fill it with most anything that pleases
>you. They make a gray colored flexible caulk especially for sealing
>expansion joints if you so desire.
>Bob

Bob, I was under the impression (apparently wrong) that if water gets
into the gap and under the sidewalk, winter freezing and thawing could
cause the gap to widen or cause the sidewalk to heave and end up
higher than the driveway instead of level with it. I thiought the
expansion joint was meant to prevent that. Is this incorrect?

Posted by DanG on October 15, 2006, 6:56 pm

The expansion joint was originally placed to allow space for the
concrete to expand and contract without breaking or pressuring
each other. You are correct that joints in pavement should be
sealed to prevent water/ice/subsoil saturation/etc. This can be
accomplished with backer rod and polyurethane caulk or tar sealant
(probably what you see the city crews use). It is amazing to me
how much concrete does just fine without much of anything. Yours
seems to have done fine as a fiber expansion joint does little to
seal the joint. True tar joints would not rot out.

______________________________
Keep the whole world singing . . . .
DanG (remove the sevens)
dgriff237@7cox.net

> wrote:

>>dalemccl@verizon.net wrote:

>>> I have a sidewalk that runs at at 90 degree angle to my
>>> driveway.
>>> There was a felt expansion piece where they meet, but it has
>>> deteriorated. I dug out the rotted stuff.
>>> The gap between the sidewalk and driveway is about 3/4" wide.
>>> Too
>>> narrow to use two 1/2" expansion strips, but too wide for one
>>> 1/2"
>>> strip to fill the gap. I've been unable to find 1/4" strips.
>>> A friend suggested using one strip and filling the reamining
>>> gap with
>>> sand. Will this work? If so, does it matter what type of
>>> sand I use:
>>> playground, leveling, paver locking sand?

>>At his point, nothing is required to be in the joint. If you
>>are
>>concerned about looks, you can fill it with most anything that
>>pleases
>>you. They make a gray colored flexible caulk especially for
>>sealing
>>expansion joints if you so desire.
>>Bob

> Bob, I was under the impression (apparently wrong) that if water
> gets
> into the gap and under the sidewalk, winter freezing and thawing
> could
> cause the gap to widen or cause the sidewalk to heave and end up
> higher than the driveway instead of level with it. I thiought
> the
> expansion joint was meant to prevent that. Is this incorrect?

Page 1 of 2 1 2 > last >>

Similar Threads	Posted
Expansion joint for 8x4 concrete walkout slab?	July 16, 2005, 1:07 pm
Deck-o-joint expansion joints and acid-etched concrete	October 7, 2006, 11:33 pm
Expansion joint felt rotted away	December 1, 2005, 2:42 pm
Grout or expansion joint in shower	April 19, 2006, 10:28 am
Cauk/Filler for Expansion joint	May 31, 2007, 10:17 am
Exploding floor/ expansion joint	October 6, 2007, 2:47 pm
Concrete expansion joints	August 12, 2005, 8:16 pm
replace expansion joints in concrete	January 3, 2006, 1:04 am
Are concrete expansion strips needed?	April 3, 2007, 11:12 am
Repairing concrete driveway expansion joints	July 10, 2005, 8:38 pm