Expansion joint

Expansion joints.

Are a way of controlling movement in brickwork, also know as control joint.
Expansion joints are put about every 6 Metres of brickwork run to allow for any expansion the will occur when the brickwork heats up due to weather.
They also allow for any movement in foundations to be taken up without the brickwork cracking.

The joint here is formed with a 12mm dia steel rod, the rod is removed at the end of the run or day and the gap left is cleaned clear of any mortar.
Flexible compressible foam is then inserted to fill the gap and then caulked up.





Expansion wall ties are put in every 7 courses (600mm), and where they are specified on the plan, usually every 6 metres. tables

Incorrect Expansion Joint.

The brickwork here is only months old and was laid without a continuous expansion joint that doesn't go the entire height of the wall, the window sill was laid with mortar and not the expansion joint it should have had.

The result is that the brickwork on both sides of the expansion joint has settled.
The solid mortar joint has in effect held part of the brickwork up and not allowed it to settle resulting in a cracks in the brickwork panels.

There were other expansion joints on this house that had been filled with mortar and all had the same resultant cracks.