A brick house is a reliable and durable housing. However, its walls are prone to deformation due to temperature fluctuations. The temperature joint in brickwork contributes to a significant reduction or prevention of possible cracking of the walls, maintaining their integrity. Such seams reduce the load on structural elements and make the masonry more resistant to fluctuations in air temperature.
What it is?
An expansion joint in brickwork is a special gap along the perimeter of the structure, which divides the wall into separate compartments, which gives the building elasticity. It is made in order to prevent cracks in the building structure during the expansion and contraction of building materials under the influence of temperature changes, as well as to additionally protect the walls from deformation during shrinkage of the house. The size of the gap depends on the type of masonry and the ambient temperature at different times of the year, taking into account the climatic conditions of the region. In multi-storey buildings, the temperature seam is:
- Vertical. It runs along the height of the entire house, with the exception of the foundation, the width is 20-40 mm.
- Horizontal. It is made at the level of all floors with a width of 30 mm.
The contact of the expansion joint in the brickwork with the foundation of the building is unacceptable.
Types of expansion joints in a brick multi-storey building
In the group of such seams there is a sedimentary type.
In addition to temperature, there are other types of expansion joints in masonry, such as:
- shrinkage;
- sedimentary;
- seismic.
All types of special gaps protect each structural unit of the house from destruction and prevent the formation of cracks in load-bearing and other walls. Temperature and shrinkage voids are made in all brick houses without exception. Sedimentary ones perform a protective function against destruction under high loads and are needed in multi-storey buildings and houses with an extension. They are made starting from the foundation, but the device is made according to the principle of vertical temperature gaps, so it is possible to combine them into heat-shrinkable ones and create them in one firmware. It is expedient to make seismic voids only in areas with increased seismic activity.
Insulation and insulation options
In order to protect against environmental influences and prevent drafts inside the building, all deformation gaps without exception are insulated. For this, a protective hermetic layer is created using elastic materials. The choice of insulation depends on the size of the expansion joint. In this case, one type of material or a combination of them is used. The table shows the type of insulation depending on the width of the temperature gap in the brickwork:
For sealing insulated seams use:
Expansion joint- this is a seam with a width of at least 20 mm, dividing the building into separate compartments. Thanks to this dissection, each compartment of the building receives the possibility of independent deformations.
The purpose of the expansion joint is to reduce the overload on individual parts of the systems in places of alleged destruction, which have every chance of being created during weightless temperature fluctuations, as well as seismic phenomena, sudden and uneven sedimentation of the soil and other actions that can start personal overloads that reduce the bearing characteristics of systems . In the visual intention, there is probably a section in the body of the building, it divides the building into a certain number of blocks, giving them some elasticity to the building. To supply the waterproofing, the section is filled with a suitable one that was used. Probably have every chance to exist different sealants, waterstops or putties.
Expansion joints are divided into three main types
Depending on the purpose, expansion joints are divided into three main types: - temperature-shrinkage joints are arranged to avoid the formation of cracks and distortions in the outer walls of buildings due to air temperature changes outside and inside the building. Seams of this type cut structures only on the ground part of the building - walls, ceilings, roofing and ensure the independence of their horizontal movements relative to each other. In this case, the foundations and other underground parts of the building are not dissected, since the temperature drops for them are smaller and the deformations do not reach dangerous values.
The expansion joint apparatus is the privilege of the most experienced builders, therefore this serious craft should be entrusted only to competent specialists. The building team is obliged to own the noble equipment of the knowledgeable mounting of the expansion joint; from this, the survivability of the operation of the whole system depends on it. It is necessary to foresee the future of affairs without a break, connecting assembly, welded, carpentry, reinforcing, trigonometric, concrete laying. The design of the expansion joint assembly must follow generally accepted deliberately researched advice.
Expansion joint - Wikipedia: Expansion joint - is designed to reduce loads on structural elements in places of possible deformations arising from fluctuations in air temperature, seismic events, uneven ground settlement and other influences that can cause dangerous own loads that reduce the bearing capacity of structures. It is a kind of section in the building structure, dividing the structure into separate blocks and, thereby, giving the structure a certain degree of elasticity. For the purpose of sealing, it is filled with an elastic insulating material.
Distances between expansion joints
The distances between the temperature-shrinkage joints are assigned depending on the climatic conditions of the construction site and the material of the outer walls of the building. For example, in residential buildings this distance is 40? 100 m with brick walls and 75? 150 m with walls made of concrete panels (the lower the outside temperature at the construction site of the building, the smaller the distance between expansion joints). The building compartment located between two expansion joints or between the end of the building and the seam is called a temperature compartment or temperature block;Rational cutting
In which episode do the main destructions of concreted buildings occur? About what expansion joints are needed in this case? Changes in the hull of the structure have every chance to occur at the moment of construction near a great thermal stress - a consequence of the exotherm of the hardening concrete and the fluctuation of the temperature of the spirit. To this, after all, in this episode, the reduction of concrete results. At the moment of reinforced concrete, expansion joints are ready to reduce unnecessary overloads and prevent subsequent changes that can start inevitable constructions. Structures, as if desired, are cut according to their length into single collapsible installations. Expansion joints work to ensure the high-quality functioning of any section, and also eliminate the possibility of stresses arising between adjacent blocks.
More popular types are temperature and sedimentary expansion joints. They are used near the pacifying bulk of the erections of various buildings. Thermal expansion joints will compensate for changes in the body of buildings that appear around changes in temperature located around the circle. In a huge step, the dung shot of the structure is subjected to this, therefore the cuts are made from the value of the cover soil, thereby most without affecting the solid shot. This type of seam cuts the structure into installations, such a role, providing the possibility of rectilinear movements in the absence of negative (unrestrained) results.
One or the other is visited by expansion joints between houses? Specialists systematize them according to the line of indicators. Probably, it is possible to exist the type of the serviced system, the space of the location (device), for example, expansion joints in the walls of the structure, in the floors, in the roof. In addition to this, it is necessary to take into account the sociability and security of their location (inside the building and from the outside, in an open atmosphere). A lot has already been said about the generally recognized systematization (more fundamental, embracing the more distinctive symptoms of deformation seams without a break). Sympathy originates in the basis of the disruptions with which it is called to fight. From this point of view, the deformation stitch between houses has the ability to exist thermal, silt, heat-shrink, earthwork, insulating. In connection with current events and the criterion between houses, different future expansion joints are used. But one must know that they are obliged to fit the characteristics given at the beginning without a break.
Sedimentary seams
- settlement joints are provided in cases where uneven and uneven settlement of adjacent parts of the building is expected. Such a settlement can occur when the height difference of individual parts of the building is more than 10 m, with various loads on the base, as well as with heterogeneous soils under the foundations. 
Rice. 3.67. Schemes for the device of expansion joints in buildings: a - temperature-shrinkage; b - sedimentary: 1 - above-ground part of the building; 2 - underground part (foundation); 3 - expansion joint Sedimentary joints divide vertically all the structures of the building, including its underground part. This allows for independent settlement of individual volumes of the building. Sedimentary seams provide not only vertical, but also horizontal movements of dissected parts, so they can be combined with temperature-shrinkage seams. This type of expansion joints is called temperature-sedimentary; - anti-seismic seams are provided in buildings located in seismic areas. The anti-seismic joint, like the sedimentary joint, divides the building along the entire height (aboveground and underground parts) into separate compartments, which are independent stable volumes, which ensures their independent settlement.
| seam 1 | seam 2 | seam 3 |
| 44% concrete | 27% concrete | 56% concrete |
| structure 18 | structure 134 | structure 1903 |
All kinds of systems and buildings are subject to degradation in accordance with various factors: sedimentation of the structure after erection during operation, temperature and seismic effects, heterogeneity of soils at the base of the systems. Of course, when designing and building, you need to take into account all these reasons and make the item very harmless to people, and also reduce the likelihood of defects and the risk of frequent repairs. Since in the modern world more and more often huge and powerful buildings are being built, both residential and commercial, industrial, it is unrealistic to get up in the absence of the introduction of expansion joints in all the fruitful details of buildings.
Since recently the prices for various building materials have been skyrocketing, you need to think about how to create efficient and high-quality buildings so that you do not have to correct mistakes after construction. In order to eliminate possible errors and risks, during the construction of any buildings it is necessary to organize expansion joints in concrete. These designs minimize various deformations.
No exception here and various concrete structures. It can be floors, blind areas and many other structures. If the choice of technology for creating the floor is made incorrectly, then as a result it will be covered with cracks, and the finish coating will be deformed.
The condition of the foundation tape depends on the blind area. If it cracks, then this can cause moisture to penetrate into the base and eventually result in very serious consequences.
How do they look?
In appearance, they are cuts in concrete. Thanks to these cuts, cracking of the base will not occur with sharp and smooth temperature changes. This can be explained by the fact that the base can expand, there is enough space for this.
So, there are a large number of similar protective building structures. The SNIP classification contains not only temperature, but also many other types of seams.
Variety of concrete joints
So, among the seams are distinguished:
- Shrinkage;
- Sedimentary and temperature;
- Antiseismic.
Temperature-shrinkage seams are temporary lines. They are created mainly in monolithic structures directly when pouring concrete mixtures. As the mixture begins to dry, it will shrink. This may form cracks. So, the solution will shrink, and the pressure will act on the void line, which will expand. Then, when everything is dry, the line will be destroyed.
As for the second group, these grooves are designed to save the building from precipitation and temperature changes. Sedimentary seam can be found on any elements of the building, as well as at the base. The temperature notch can be found everywhere, on any elements, but not on the foundation. For example, in most buildings you can find expansion joints in the walls.
Anti-seismic protection are special lines that divide the building into blocks. Where these lines pass, double walls or special racks are created. This makes the building more stable.
Protects against sudden changes in temperature and deformation
According to its design features, the temperature-deformation seam is a special groove, line. He divides the entire building into blocks. The size of such blocks and the directions in which the notch line separates the building are determined by the project, as well as by special calculations.
In order to seal these grooves, as well as to minimize heat loss, these grooves are filled with heat insulators. Often, various rubber-based materials are used. Thus, the elasticity of the building increases significantly, and thermal expansion will not have a destructive effect on other materials.
Often, such a cut is made from the roof to the base. The very foundation of the building is not divided, since the foundation is lower than the depth at which the soil freezes. The base will not be affected by low temperatures. The step of the expansion joint depends on the materials used, as well as on the point on the map where the object is located.
In most buildings and structures, you can use the numbers from the tables. The distance between the expansion joints will be 150 m for those buildings that are built from prefabricated structures and heated, or 90 m for heated monolithic structures.
Where is there no heating?
In this case, these figures are reduced by 20%. In order to prevent forces, in case of uneven settlement, settlement joints can be arranged. Also, this protection can play the role of temperature. The sedimentary section should be created to the base. Temperature - to the top of the foundation. The width of the expansion joint should be 3 cm.
Protection in homes where people live
The temperature seam in a residential building has an ancient history. The use of these technologies began during the construction of the first Egyptian Pyramid. Then it began to be used in any stone structures. With the help of this trick, people have learned to save their homes from temperature fluctuations and other natural disasters.
The operation of residential buildings often leads to various types of destruction of the base and foundation. Among the many possible reasons, one can single out the movement of the soil under the house. This is a signal of a violation of waterproofing. Subsequently, the house will collapse sooner or later.
How it's done
Every home has a perforator. So, with the help of a drill, you need to make a horizontal cut in the wall. Then it is necessary to seal the seam with roofing felts, tow, and at the end a special lock should be made from water, sand, clay and straw. This composition must be well sealed with a temperature seam.
And if the house is made of bricks
Here, such means of protection should be provided at the design stage. In order to equip the cut, a tongue and groove is used in brickwork, which will be lined with two layers of roofing. Then everything is pulled together with a layer of tow and again it is required to cover everything with a lock based on water and clay.
- The sheet piling is created at the stage of building construction. However, if it is not and is not provided, and it is very necessary to make such a protective agent, then everything can be done with a puncher, but you need to work very carefully. What is a tongue? This is a technological breakthrough. The dimensions of such a recess are 2 bricks high and 0.5 deep.
- At this stage, it is necessary to overlay the future expansion joint in the brickwork with the same roofing paper and fill it with the same tow. Due to their unique properties, these materials do not react in any way to temperature fluctuations, and the masonry, in turn, will not react to them either.
- Now it's time to close this groove. Most people use concrete or cement mortar for this. However, clay-based putty is much better suited for these purposes. Efficiency is due to the fact that clay is an excellent heat insulator and water insulator. Clay also has a decorative function.
We protect the blind area
So, in order to make expansion joints in the blind area, you must:
- Dig a trench along the length of the structure. Its depth should be 15 cm. The width of the trench should be greater than the roof peak;
- Pour a crushed stone pillow to the bottom of the trench, and lay roofing material around the entire perimeter on top;
- Carry out the installation of the frame based on the reinforcement.
Before moving on to concrete work on the blind area, we will perform a protective seam. It should be done on the line where the walls and the blind area are connected. To organize the groove, it is enough to install boards of small thickness between the blind area and the wall. Also, these grooves are necessary and across. This is done in the same way. It is necessary to maintain a distance of 1.5 m.
After pouring, the concrete mixture will go where it is needed, but grooves will remain where the boards are installed. After sufficient hardening of the solution, you can pull the wood. Slots can be blown out with sealant or other means. The most important thing is that the incisions are not empty, otherwise the protection will be zero.
What about the concrete floor?
Expansion joints in floors can be made even after the mixture has hardened sufficiently. Of course, it is better to take care of them even before the pouring process.
To perform such protection in the floor, you need:
- Determine lines for cutting concrete. The distance can be easily and simply calculated. So, 25 must be multiplied by the size of the floor thickness;
- Cut grooves with a power tool. The depth in this case will be 1/3 of the thickness. The optimal dimensions in width are a couple of centimeters;
- Remove all dust from the grooves and prime;
- When dry, the slots should be filled with any material intended for this purpose.
These actions will not cause difficulties for anyone. What happened? If the floor is deformed, then these processes will go along the lines of the seams. Here the screed may crack a little, but the finished floor covering will remain perfectly intact.
It turns out that such events and simple technological operations, both on the street and in the house or any other building, allow you to protect the building. If once with the help of inexpensive materials and a perforator you create an expansion joint in the slab, floor and anywhere else, you can save a lot in the future and extend the life of the building.
Many years of experience with housing and communal services showed the need to periodically explain the various technologies of building maintenance and the system of functioning of various structural elements of buildings.
Types of expansion joints
Expansion joints are divided according to their purpose into temperature, shrinkage, settlement, compensation and seismic and represent a through section of the building into separate blocks to reduce the load on structural elements in places of various deformations.
In our climate zone, the first two types are most common. Expansion joints can be seen on houses with a length of more than four entrances, and sometimes more often, and they serve to increase the elasticity of the building in the off-season, when the ambient temperature changes, and hence the building.
Shrinkage joints are used primarily in houses consisting of sections of different heights, which means that they give different shrinkage after construction.
In other words, expansion and shrinkage joints are needed so that the building does not crack due to temperature fluctuations and during the shrinkage of the building.
Of course, the expansion joint must be protected from snow, moisture, dirt, and drafts inside it. To do this, the seam is insulated and sealed. The choice of material for insulation depends primarily on the width of the seam, and the method of sealing the seam depends on the planned service life and the available funds for its repair.
The most obvious seems to be to fill the seam with a vilotherm and plaster, as is done on many new buildings. This method is as simple as it is short-lived, since the plaster in the expansion joint is not able to withstand the load placed on it and inevitably first cracks and then crumbles.
Vilotherm, on the other hand, showed its fragility in the absence of its combination with polyurethane foam.
Seam insulation options
We will analyze the possible options for insulation and sealing, depending on the width of the seam.
With a small width, the use of classic polyurethane foam will be optimal; in a state protected from sunlight, it is inferior in durability only to expanded polystyrene.
With a joint width of 30 to 50 mm, a combination of polyurethane foam and viloterm will be optimal. Viloterm will save foam and add plasticity to the joint, and foam will create a margin of safety and will not allow viloterm to take a permanent shape during the displacement of parts of the building, which means it will prevent the appearance of gaps in the expansion joint.
The question is natural - why is it impossible to completely fill the seam with mounting foam?
Firstly, with a projected joint width of more than 30 mm, a significant displacement of the building elements relative to each other is also taken into account, which means that it becomes necessary to ensure proper plasticity of the insulation.
Secondly, foam is much more expensive than expanded polystyrene and vilotherm, and, as a result, when the seam is completely filled with only polyurethane foam, the cost per linear meter will increase significantly.
Seam sealing options
The sealing of the temperature-shrinkage joint is carried out either with a two-component sealant, or it is sewn up with a galvanized expansion joint.
Sealant can be used on seams of small and medium thickness. It is important to use a two-component polyurethane sealant, as it is more flexible than acrylic sealants and is more durable. The disadvantage of this method is the relative unaesthetic, since a two-component sealant cannot be applied in a perfectly even layer due to its properties. Plus - the cost of the seam, since the application of sealant is less laborious than installing a compensator.
The use of sealant is most justified for shrinkage joints, especially for new buildings, where the displacement of building elements relative to each other has not yet passed its most active stage. The sealant will crack over time, but without damage to the building facade, especially if the building is insulated with the currently widely used “wet facade”.
The most durable way to seal the expansion joint is to seal the joint with a galvanized expansion joint. It is extremely important to use not just a galvanized sheet, but to use a metal profile with expansion joint reinforcement. Its service life is limited only by the aging of the metal. If you use simple galvanizing without a deformation bend, then over time it will be torn out of the wall due to the lack of minimum tensile elasticity.
During the construction and design of structures for various purposes, an expansion joint is used, which is necessary to strengthen the entire structure. The task of the seam is the safety of the structure from seismic, sedimentary and mechanical influences. This procedure serves as an additional strengthening of the house, protects against destruction, shrinkage and possible shifts and distortions on the soil.
Definition of an expansion joint and its types
Expansion joint- a section on the structure, which reduces the load on parts of the structure, which increases the stability of the building and the level of its resistance to loads.
It makes sense to use this stage of construction when designing large premises, placing a structure in places of weak soil, active seismic phenomena. The seam is also made in areas with high rainfall.
Based on the purpose, expansion joints are divided into:
- temperature;
- shrinkage;
- sedimentary;
- seismic.
In some buildings, due to the peculiarities of their location, combinations of methods are used to protect against several causes of deformation at once. This can be caused when the terrain on which the construction is being built has soil that is prone to subsidence. It is also recommended to make several types of seams when erecting extended tall houses, with many different designs and elements. 
Temperature joints
These construction methods serve as protection against temperature changes and fluctuations. Even in cities located in temperate zones, cracks of various sizes and depths often appear on houses during the transition from high summer temperatures to low winter temperatures. Subsequently, they lead to deformation not only of the box of the structure, but also of the base. To avoid these problems, the building is divided by seams, at a distance which is determined based on the material from which the structure was erected. The maximum low temperature characteristic of this area is also taken into account.
Such seams are used only on the wall surface, since the foundation, due to its location in the ground, is less susceptible to temperature changes.
Shrink seams
They are used less often than others, mainly when creating a monolithic concrete frame. The fact is that concrete during hardening is often covered with cracks, which subsequently grow and create cavities. In the presence of a large number of cracks in the foundation, the building structure may not withstand and collapse.
The seam is applied only until the foundation has completely hardened. The meaning of its use is that it grows until all the concrete becomes solid. Thus, the concrete foundation completely shrinks, without being covered with cracks.
After the final drying of the concrete, the cut must be completely minted.
To ensure that the seam is completely sealed and does not let moisture through, special sealants and waterstops are used. 
Sedimentary expansion joints
Such structures are used in the construction and design of structures of different heights. So, for example, when building a house, in which there will be two floors on one side and three on the other. In this case, that part of the building with three floors exerts much more pressure on the soil than the one with only two. Due to uneven pressure, the soil can sag, thereby causing strong pressure on the foundation and walls.
From the change in pressure, the various surfaces of the structure are covered with a network of cracks and subsequently subjected to destruction. In order to prevent deformation of structural elements, builders use a sedimentary expansion joint.
Strengthening divides not only the walls, but also the foundation, thereby protecting the house from destruction. It has a vertical shape and is located from the roof to the base of the structure. Creates a fixation of all parts of the structure, protects the house from destruction, deformation of varying severity.
Upon completion of the work, it is necessary to seal the recess itself and its edges to fully protect the structure from moisture and dust. For this, ordinary sealants are used, which can be found in hardware stores. Work with materials is carried out according to general rules and recommendations. An important condition for arranging the seam is its complete filling with material so that there are no voids inside.
On the surface of the walls, they are made of tongue and groove, with a thickness of about half a brick; in the lower part, the seam is made without a shunt.
In order to prevent moisture from getting inside the building, a clay castle is equipped on the outside of the basement. Thus, the seam not only protects against the destruction of the structure, but also turns out to be an additional sealant. The house is protected from groundwater.
This type of seams must be arranged at the points of contact of various sections of the building, in such cases:
- if parts of the building are placed on soil of different flowability;
- in the event that others are added to an existing structure, even if they are made of identical materials;
- with a significant difference in the height of individual parts of the building, which exceeds 10 meters;
- in any other cases where there is reason to expect uneven subsidence of the foundation.
seismic seams
Such structures are also called anti-seismic. It is necessary to create this kind of fortification in areas with an increased seismic nature - the presence of earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, volcanic eruptions. So that the building does not suffer from bad weather, it is customary to build such fortifications. The design is designed to protect the house from destruction during earth tremors.
Seismic seams are designed according to their own scheme. The meaning of the design is the creation of separate non-communicating vessels inside the building, which will be separated along the perimeter by expansion joints. Often inside the building, expansion joints are arranged in the form of a cube with equal sides. The faces of the cube are sealed with double brickwork. The design is designed for the fact that at the time of seismic activity, the seams will hold the structure without allowing the walls to collapse.
The use of various types of seams in construction
With temperature fluctuations, structures made of reinforced concrete are subject to deformation - they can change their shape, size and density. When concrete shrinks, the structure shortens and sags over time. Since subsidence occurs unevenly, when the height of one part of the structure decreases, the others begin to shift, thereby destroying each other or forming cracks and depressions.
Nowadays, each reinforced concrete structure is an integral indivisible system, which is highly susceptible to changes in the environment. So, for example, during the settlement of the soil, sharp fluctuations in temperature, sedimentary deformations, mutual additional pressure arises between the parts of the structure. Constant changes in pressure lead to the formation of various defects on the surface of the structure - punctures, cracks, dents. To avoid the formation of defects in the building, the builders use several types of cuts, which are designed to strengthen the building and protect it from various destructive factors.
In order to reduce the pressure between the elements in multi-storey or extended buildings, it is necessary to use sedimentary and temperature-shrinkage types of seams.
In order to determine the required distance between the seams on the surface of the structure, the level of moisture content of the material of the columns and connections is taken into account. The only case when there is no need to install expansion joints is the presence of rolling supports.
Also, the distance between the seams often depends on the difference between the highest and lowest ambient temperatures. The lower the temperature, the farther apart the recesses should be. Thermal shrinkage joints permeate the structure from the roof to the base of the foundation. While sedimentary isolate different parts of the building.
A shrinkage joint is sometimes formed by installing several pairs of columns.
The temperature-shrinkage joint is usually formed by arranging paired columns on a common foundation. Sedimentary seams are also designed by installing several pairs of supports that are opposite each other. In this case, each of the support columns must be equipped with its own foundation and fasteners.
The design of each seam is designed to be clearly structured, securely fix the elements of the structure, and be reliably sealed from wastewater. The seam must be resistant to temperature extremes, the presence of precipitation, resist deformation from wear, shock, mechanical stress.
Seams must be made in case of uneven ground, uneven height of the walls.
Expansion joints are insulated with mineral wool or polyethylene foam. This is due to the need to protect the premises from cold temperatures, the penetration of dirt from the street, and additional sound insulation is provided. Other types of heaters are also used. From the inside of the room, each seam is sealed with elastic materials, and from the side of the street - with sealants that can protect against atmospheric precipitation or flashings. The cladding material does not cover the expansion joint. When interior decoration of the premises, the seam is covered with decorating elements at the discretion of the builder.