Should expansion joints in brick be filled?

Horizontal expansion joints are also recommended when brick is used as an infill material within the frame of the structure. Expansion joints must be provided between the top course of brickwork and the member above.

What do you fill brick expansion joints with?

Manufacturers recommend polyurethane, silicone and polysulfide, three common forms of elastomeric sealants. The majority of sealants suitable for use in brickwork joints meet a number of requirements that they have a minimum of 25% or 50% of the initial joint width to expand and contract.

Does brick veneer need expansion joints?

Vertical Expansion Joints in Brick Veneer: For brickwork without openings, space no more than 25 ft (7.6 m) o.c. For brickwork with multiple openings, consider symmetrical placement of expansion joints and reduced spacing of no more than 20 ft (6.1 m) o.c.

How do you hide expansion joints?

Color Selection–A Top Choice For Hiding a Building Expansion Joint. The expansion joint here is between the brick and the curtainwall. The choice of “charcoal” from the Seismic Colorseal color range, as well as the location of the joint is the key to its obfuscation.

How do you seal expansion joints in brickwork?

Expansion joints must be sealed with a flexible sealant, like QUIKRETE® Self-Leveling Polyurethane Sealant or QUIKRETE® Non-Sag Polyurethane Sealant…or an expansion joint strip, to prevent water from penetrating the joint and deteriorating the sub-base.

How often should you put expansion joints in brick walls?

With respect to horizontal expansion joints for vertical movement the outer leaf should be supported at intervals of not more than every third storey or every 9 metres whichever is less.

What kind of sand do you use to fill expansion joints?

Silica Sand
Specially treated super-fine sand (Silica Sand) that has been washed, filtered for even particles and heat dried to reduce the weight so it does not sink and spreads evenly over the surface of caulk used to replace expansion joints or to repair cracks in concrete.