Metal Expansion Joints on Highways

Do you know Bo? You should because we are the makers of the QuicKey and PRO-KEY metal control joint products used so widely in construction. Metal expansion joints and metal keyway provide strength to the concrete while allowing for expansion and contraction secondary to weather conditions. The addition of these devices reduces cracking and has the added benefit of standing up well to the heavy strains of traffic, gases and pollutants.

In residential structures wood and felt are often used for slabs, walks and drives with temporary benefits. Both materials look good initially but are subject to moisture, expanding and contracting as does the cement. In time, the initial intent is lost and the concrete cracks. Metal does not have those adverse characteristics.

Metal Control Joint Use

It can be defined as a continuous vertical line within a wall to provide an area of limited weakness. This intentional character is to prevent cracking while curing or stressed. It accommodates movement and maintains the integrity of the slab. Metal control joint use provides a mechanism for expected shrinkage to occur without damage. They provide the same control for walls that metal expansion joints do for horizontal concrete.

Some early construction techniques relied on cutting or sawing grooves into the masonry. They proved to be ineffective because there is no structural support as is had with metal. You can see evidence of this by looking at many residential do-it-yourself jobs done without understanding the concept of controlling the union of cement slabs.