Correctly placing driveway joints is one of the most
important yet least considered aspects of constructing a concrete driveway. Control joints act as expansion joints in concrete pavements
controlling the location and spread of cracks as the concrete deteriorates over
time. In
order to help the driveway from random cracking, control joints should be
placed at a maximum spacing of 10 feet for a 4-inch-thick driveway slab.
It’s acceptable that a crack appears here and it usually
doesn’t become a persistent problem. But if the jointing hasn’t been performed
correctly over time non-standard cracking can ruin the overall appearance of
the driveway. The joint patterns should never be cut into are rectangular or
triangular sections. They shouldn’t be less than one inch for a four inch thick
slab. If you have a driveway that is 12 feet wide or more it might require a
joint down the center. Another important detail is that an isolation joint to
be installed in the location where the driveway meets the sidewalk the entrance
of the garage.
In addition to control joints, an isolation joint should
be installed where the driveway meets a sidewalk, garage floor slab, and other
existing pavements. Concrete contractors should provide a jointing plan as part
of the written proposal providing the homeowner or building owner with the
assurances that everything will go according to plan.
