Joints tell concrete where to crack and where to move. Here is how they work and where they belong.
Concrete shrinks as it dries and expands and contracts with the weather, and it will crack somewhere. Control joints are shallow cuts or grooves that create planned weak lines so cracks form in straight, neat places. Expansion joints are gaps filled with flexible material that let slabs move against each other, against the house or against a driveway apron.
The rule of thumb for spacing is about two to three times the slab thickness in feet. Joints should be cut about a quarter of the depth, soon after finishing, and placed to make squarish panels. Corners and openings need extra care. A well-planned joint layout keeps a driveway looking neat, while poor joints leave random, ugly cracks.
Planned crack lines.
Room to move.
Better layouts.
Cut early.
Extra care.
Before the pour.
Take the quiz, check a problem or ballpark a budget.
Which Concrete Service Do I Need? QuizAnswer five questions about your slab, your site and your goals to see whether you need repair, lifting, resurfacing or replacement.Try it 
Concrete Problem CheckerCheck the signs you see in your concrete and get a likely cause with the next step.Try it 
Concrete Budget PlannerPick a project, a size and a finish and get a ballpark planning range.Try it They guide cracks to planned lines. They do not remove them.
A common rule is two to three times the slab thickness in feet, depending on the design.
Sealing keeps water and debris out and extends joint life.
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