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Many masonry building suffer
distress, proper design and detailing could have
reduced the distress to acceptable levels or
eliminated it completely. One of the most common and
easily addressed caused of distress is stress
cracking of masonry elements caused by the absence
or improper spacing of expansion joints.
Cracking caused by masonry movement is quite common
and often results in diagonal cracks that radiate from an opening or
irregularity in the wall.
Shrinkage cracks are not structural-they will not
weaken the building-but they can be unsightly and
can lead to water penetration in exterior walls.
Shrinkage cracks occur to alleviate internal wall
stresses. Over time, masonry materials have a
natural tendency to shrink and to move in response
to changing temperature and moisture conditions. To
prevent shrinkage cracks, stresses within the wall
must be reduced through the use of control joints.
Control joints are planned vertical wall
separations. They basically divide a wall into
separate panels, similar to what happens naturally
after shrinkage cracks occur. The control joint
provides a vertical bond break within the wall,
which allows longitudinal movement. Using backer rod
and sealant in the mortar joint spaces help the
joints be weather-tight.
Contact Information
- Telephone
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(612) 825-8614
- 888-825-1969
- FAX
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(612) 825-0996
- Postal address
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811 East 54th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55417
- Electronic mail
- General Information:
Structuralmn@hotmail.com
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