Exterior brickwork expansion joints are often needed where two building structures meet.
These joints typically need protection from weather as well as allowing for multi-directional building movement due to thermal expansion & shrinkage, building settlement and wind sway (especially when a tower is connected to an existing brick structure).
Mastic is often used as a seemingly cheap and easy solution for plugging smaller joints, however the long term costs associated with mastic can be surprisingly high:
- mastic suffers from weather damage and surfaces often start to become brittle after only 6 months
- mastic often requires replacement every 12 months
- unreplaced mastic can look unsightly and lead to moisture getting in
- mastic does not cope well with building movement
With that in mind, here are three brickwork expansion joint covers that will help protect your building and and provide a more cost-effective longer term solution.
JDN Series
For smaller joints from 10mm to 66mm the JDN series of compression strips are a quick and easy to install solution.
Made from extruded synthetic rubber, the strips are simply compressed and pushed into the joint. Combined with a silicon sealant to prevent moisture getting in, these are a great solution where smaller open/closing movements of +-2mm are expected.
The JDN series is available in black and grey.
SC & SF Series
For larger joints up to 150mm with opening/closing movements of up to +150mm and -90mm as well movement along the joint length, the SC & SF Series is a great choice.
The SC & SF series comprise:
- an external concertina or flush style Santoprene™ gasket
- an internal concertina style PVC gasket
- continuous extruded aluminium side frames
The Santoprene gasket contains UV inhibitors to prevent embrittlement and minimise fading, whilst the secondary PVC gasket acts as an extra moisture barrier.
Available in black, white, grey and greige the SC & SF series are perfect for larger joints with multi-directional movement where weather protection is critical.
ASM-X & ASMC-X Series
A popular choice from CS in the US is the ASM-X & ASMC-X series of joint covers with external aluminium covers and duroflex gaskets.
For joint widths from 25mm to 102mm, and movements up to +50mm and -85mm the ASM-X & ASMC-X is a looking for a sleek and functional metal cover in clear anodised aluminium.
With 40 years experience of designing and manufacturing and the largest range in the world, CS have the products to meet your expansion joint cover requirements. We routinely support architects and construction professionals at every stage of the selection process, right through to the practical considerations at installation.
Download the new CS Expansion Joint Cover Guide, email us at enquiries@c-sgroup.co.uk or call us on 01296 652800 to discuss your expansion joint cover requirements.
