Cinder block spacers home depot3/19/2024 ![]() This means the backer rod should be this far below the concrete pad surface. The depth of the joint should be a minimum of 1/4 inch and a maximum of 1/2 inch below the concrete pads. Push the backer rod down into the joint with your hand. The brand you can find at the local store here in the states is called Sikaflex Self-Leveling Sealant. ![]() The stuff that looks like rubber is a self-leveling sealant. It’s okay if you’ve never had this thought, this means you’re normal and the rest of us DIYers are at risk of tripping over ourselves while pondering such questions. If you’re as nerdy as me when it comes to remodeling you may have wondered what the heck that rubber stuff is between concrete pads or walkways. Prepping Your Concrete Expansion Joint for Sealant Here’s a short video to give you an idea of what needs to be done to remove old sealant from a concrete expansion joint. Make sure you wear safety glasses and protective gloves since the cutting wheel sparks a bit when it occasionally touches the concrete. This step is perhaps the most important one. Loose sealant on the edge of the expansion joint can be scraped off with your utility knife. And old sealant that’s left behind after you use the angle grinder will be pretty well adhered to the concrete and won’t interfere with the new sealant’s bonding capacity. The concrete joint doesn’t have to be perfectly clean for the new sealant. You should also remove any old foam backer rod that is beneath the sealant (I’ll explain what this is in the next section). The angle grinder cutting wheel had to penetrate about 1/2 to 1 inch down through the sealant layers. In my example, I had to cut through two layers of old sealant. Yes, the angle grinder is an extra purchase but you can get one cheaper than a pair of running shoes. Old sealant and worn-out felt need to be removed. If you look at the expansion joints between your concrete you might see black felt or old sealant. Without a concrete expansion joint, your sidewalk or driveway would crack. Like I said in the intro these joints allow concrete pads to expand and contract during freeze-thaw cycles. So let’s get started and seal your concrete expansion joint so it’s protected from the effects of weather! Removing Old Material from a Concrete Expansion JointĬoncrete expansion joints are also known as isolation joints. This supply list may sound intimidating because of the angle grinder.īut what better time to begin using one of these awesome tools, and they can be very affordable. These Amazon affiliate links help support HRT…thank you for using them.DeWALT Tile Blade for Angle Grinder (this works way better than the blade I used here).And it’s far cheaper to do this weekend project than it is to hire a contractor to replace a severely damaged concrete driveway or sidewalk. Protecting and repairing a concrete expansion joint is super easy. Well, this is how I feel sometimes with my daughters (is it bad if I view myself as an expansion joint that buffers arguments about clothes, food, and hair?). If you’ve got kids think of the expansion joint as yourself and the concrete pads as your children – queue memory of standing between two kids as they try to tear each other apart. The purpose of a concrete expansion joint is to allow the pads to expand and contract (get bigger and smaller) with temperature & humidity changes. ![]() This post shares how to accomplish this task. Keeping your joints watertight will prevent moisture from seeping under concrete pads and causing them to heave or sink. Concrete expansion joints are important for your sidewalk or driveway. ![]()
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