Construction Joint
The interface where one concrete pour meets a previous one that has already set.
On an actual building
It is a plane of weakness in an otherwise monolithic structure and a natural water path. In basements the raft-to-wall construction joint is where leaks most commonly appear, which is why water stops are cast into it.
What we most often have to correct
That it is the same as an expansion joint. A construction joint is not meant to move; an expansion joint is.
Where this comes up in our work
Terms that come up alongside this one
- Water Stop
A PVC strip or swellable hydrophilic profile cast into a construction joint to block water travelling along it.
- Cold Joint
An unplanned joint formed when fresh concrete is placed against concrete that has already begun to set, so the two do not knit together..
- Expansion Joint
A deliberate gap through a structure that allows adjacent parts to move independently under thermal and structural movement..
Construction Joint — questions we get asked
What does construction joint mean in waterproofing?
The interface where one concrete pour meets a previous one that has already set.
Why does construction joint matter on a real project?
It is a plane of weakness in an otherwise monolithic structure and a natural water path. In basements the raft-to-wall construction joint is where leaks most commonly appear, which is why water stops are cast into it.
What do people commonly get wrong about construction joint?
That it is the same as an expansion joint. A construction joint is not meant to move; an expansion joint is.
Have a building showing this?
If a term on this page describes something you are looking at, a site inspection will tell you how far it has gone and what it needs. It costs nothing.
Mon–Fri 08:00–18:00 · Sat 09:00–16:00 · Jogeshwari West