Control joints are used in masonry, concrete, and plasterboard structures to limit damage caused by natural shifts and movements. They guide excessive tension to intended locations, facilitating repair of damage. Three techniques are used to add control joints to concrete structures. Control joints are also used to control cracks in drywall partitions.
Control joints are a type of engineering device used to limit damage caused by the natural shifts and movements of a building over time. These joints are used in masonry, concrete and plasterboard structures to minimize aesthetic and structural damage due to cracking. Rather than allowing these objects to randomly break or break, control joints are used to guide excessive tension to their intended locations. This controlled cracking can facilitate repair of damage by keeping it concentrated in a single area, rather than across the entire surface.
Concrete control joints are found in floor slabs, walls, foundations and sidewalks. As these structures dry or harden, they experience significant shrinkage as the water within the concrete evaporates. Over time, they continue to contract or expand due to changes in temperature, humidity and humidity levels. This constant swelling and contraction can cause nasty surface cracks and structural damage if left unchecked.
There are three basic techniques used to add control joints to concrete structures. Thin strips of plastic or high-density fiberboard can be used to divide sections of concrete as it is poured. These strips are placed every 4 feet (1.2 m) and are usually about 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) wide. Installers can also create a V-shaped groove at regular intervals to act as a weak point in the structure. Excessive tension in the sheet will be drawn to this weak spot and cause cracks to form in a straight line.
To create control joints in existing concrete, installers can cut joints along the surface at regular intervals. These spaces can be left empty or filled with masonry putty to improve the appearance of the joint. Concrete control joints should be placed around the entire perimeter of a slab, at all intersections of two different concrete structures and at regular intervals to subdivide large areas. Similar control joints are used with brick or block walls, as well as other types of masonry structures.
Control joints are also used to control cracks in drywall partitions, which occur naturally over time as the building moves or settles. They should be placed at least every 30 feet (9.1m) along walls and are used on ceilings to limit drywall spans to no more than 50 feet (15.24m). Sheets of drywall are joined with a small gap in between. A metal control bead is placed inside the gap and secured to each sheet by nails or staples. The joint is then covered with drywall tape and Spackle®, then sanded and painted as normal.
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