Understanding Joints in Architecture
Know these joints for making your design better:
Type 1: Expansion Joints: Managing Thermal Movements
Type 2: Abutment Joints: Bridging Different Materials
Type 3: Maximizing space with Storage & Organization
Type 1: Expansion Joints: Managing Thermal Movements
Buildings expand and contract due to temperature variations, and expansion joints prevent cracks by accommodating this movement.
- Plaster Walls: These joints use expansion joint accessories, metal studs, and metal lath to maintain integrity without causing surface damage.
- Brick Walls: A rubber spline, backer rod, and sealant help manage expansion while discontinuing reinforcement ensures flexibility.
- Masonry Placement: expansion joints are crucial at corners, changes in height, and openings, preventing stress accumulation.
| Do you know which material is commonly used in expansion joints to absorb movement? |
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Type 2: Abutment Joints: Bridging Different Materials
When different materials meet, abutment joints help manage differential movements and avoid structural weaknesses.
- Brick to Frame Walls: A backer rod and sealant ensure a smooth transition and prevent cracks at the junction.
- New Masonry to Old Masonry: A compressible filler strip absorbs movement while backer rods and sealant maintain cohesion.
Type 3: Control Joints: Preventing Random Cracking
Control joints direct cracks along predefined paths, preventing random fractures in concrete and masonry structures.
- Sidewalks: These joints ensure expansion and contraction do not lead to uncontrolled surface cracks.
- Slab-on-Grade Floors: Greased dowels and sawed or tooled cracks help maintain structural continuity while allowing movement.
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