Deformation joints
Small houses – small troubles, big houses – big troubles.
When dealing with buildings with a single concrete plane of more than 40 metres or which must withstand the movement from the ground, we are exposed to deformation joints and their waterproofing need. Deformation joints provide mobility for the structure, but up to 40 metres of concrete can also be poured without any deformation.
The greatest deformation trigger is the temperature. The larger the structure, the more it moves and the predefined deformation joints allow the cast concrete to expand and shrink according to temperature changes.
Several different ways and materials, such as acrylic resins, PVC resins, mastics, glued joint tapes or polyurethane resins, can be used to fill deformation joints and ensure watertightness. Refer to the concrete joints section for more details on the joint tapes.
For an excellent performance, it is also necessary to cover the filling materials of the joints with polyurethane mastics or polysulphide mastics or with a sealant suitable for the situation.
When the joint is waterproofed with acrylic resin, the work is finished with the joint sealant. The resin material is not mechanically durable nor beautiful. Sealants make the deformation joint look nice and mechanically durable.