Great info! May the good bless with you and your family. So let’s get started and seal your concrete expansion joint so it’s protected from the effects of weather! My garage control joints are about 5/8″ and are not very deep at all. I didn’t drive on it for 5 days. Use the back-end of a screwdriver or some blunt edge tool or your fingers to push the backer rod into place.4. How long can I expect for the Sikaflex to last before I would have to do it again? The builder has filled the cracks twice with a caulk type product. Jeff: Do you answer directly? Very satisfied with everything….until a few weeks ago. What would you suggest for sealing inclined joints? Some are normal size some have grown wider and deeper. I don’t know if we need to fill the gap or take out part of the slab and re-pour it and tie the slabs together with rebar? Thanks for your question, I got a similar one recently from another friend and have the same issue myself. Use an open-cell backer rod for gaps of more than 1/2 inch wide. Use an open-cell backer rod for gaps of more than 1/2 inch wide. Thanks Xaire, that’s a great idea. Position the backer rod in the gap and push it down below the level of the joint. I’ve noticed several instances where control joints are simply left alone and the expansion joint is filled in with something like SikaFlex. Complies with:ASTM C1330-02(2007) (Types B,C, & O)ASTM D5249 (Types 1 & 3). I can’t find any answers on the Sika website. The brand you can find at the local store here in the states is called Sikaflex Self-Leveling Sealant. When it does, there will be bubbles that look like grey acne in the job and sections will sink and look quite ugly. I’m wondering whether creating a water-tight seal is appropriate for an area with expansive clay shrink-swell soils. Thanks in advance! Thanks Joe for you tip. I have an aggregate driveway and am having trouble finding a clear sealant to place over my backerrod. I hope you can learn from my mistakes and successes. I used whatever fit the area. Would this process still be appropriate for a house gap between my foundation and attached walkway? I spoke with another friend about this exact issue. I m wondering if your guidance re replacing expansion joints applies here as well. Jeff, this is nice of you sharing your experience with others. Ask them about your sand idea. A backer rod is easily installed in joints by simply pressing the material into the recess to a depth that will allow the thickness of the sealant to be approximately 1/2 that of the width of the joint. Make sure to take several pics and send them to me, I should post your project so that other homeowners will know what to do with a similar scenario!! dirt and debris stuck in buff/off-white wet caulking. Then apply the new self-leveling sealant. I used sealant you recommended about a year ago. No caverns and no weeds! On some places I could not get the old material out of the gap in places and backer rod would simply not fill the gap so I stuffed different diameters of rope in as filler. Your email address will not be published. Here’s a BIG TIP: the diameter of the backer rod should be 1/8 inch larger than the width of your concrete expansion joint. Great info, thanks! Glad the post helped you out. It’s good that there are cracks in the control joint because that indicates they’re doing their job (keeping the cracks confined to the joint and not the concrete pad). Just came across your website. I am about to embark on replacing the concrete joint for my back patio here in TX. Any suggestions? What kind of cutting wheel do you use with an angle grinder? Search for; Mertiso’s tips go viral. Let me know how it goes this spring and what fixes they make. I wasted about 3 tubes of mastic for first hand experience. Jeff I have har line crakes in my Pattio do I need to use a grinder to apple sikaflex leveling sealant, Your email address will not be published. Hi Jeff! Should I be worried that mother nature will ruin my work? Believe it or not, we had a warm spell for awhile and it is now back to level with the existing garage floor! Admittedly, I haven’t tried it yet but will. to create a watertight, airtight seal. Specific Uses: SealGreen Soft Type Backer Rod is suitable for specialty applications where standard backer rods are not appropriate. Can I use backer rod if I am sealing the base of a room that has no raised foundation and water is leaking in the room when it rains? Wow this really great Jeff. I do like the concept and ease of use. My question is about the longevity of this solution. Backer board screws. Thanks for the update Jeff. Hi Jeff…I read your article & all comments. Does the sand fill in the small cracks within the control joint? I’m not sure about the cure time for Sika Cement Fix. Ask your questions below and we’d be happy to help. Thank you so much!!!!! You can always call the maker of the sealant and ask them for advice. Contraction joints can be filled in same manner after coating or sealer applied is this last sentence saying filled contraction joint after the coating. As I read the post, I could visualize similar projects I have done and recall what I did, or similarly, what I afterwards realized I should have done as you capture in your details. Any recommendations on which should come first? Sika makes a product called Concrete Fix that doesn’t have the same sagging issues as their SikaFlex Self-Leveling product. Our online store has great supplies for homeowners doing a bathroom remodel. Max application depth of Sikaflex Concrete Fix is 1/2″. Hi Daryl, do you know if the builder used a product like SikaFlex? Hi Jeff, The problem I have is my side patio, that buts up to my house is pulling away from the house and I have a big gap there and water is get down the side of my foundation. I’d fill the minor cracks with crack filler. INSTALLATION PROCEDURES. It is flexible and can be utilized for curved or straight applications. The slabs do not have anything between them and yet I don’t have any cracks- am I looking for trouble by filling them in? I did mine in the fall and leaves galore found the wet sealant. We have always had a water leakage problem from the expansion seams of the concrete which creates a very damp wet garage.. not a useable storage area! Is this a viable solution or will it deteriorate over time? Are there larger diameter backer rod material? 4. This material is non-absorbent and will allow you to control the depth of the concrete joint sealant. I recognize that I will probably need to account for the loss of material and therefore go with two larger diameter backer rods. Use the back-end of a screwdriver or some blunt edge tool or your fingers to push the backer rod into place. Athens, Ga. Hi Jeanne, you could hire a mason, contractor with concrete experience or do it yourself 🙂. it is now lifting out of the joint along with sand. Backer Rod should be pressed into the joint, allowing a sealant depth of between 1/8 inch and ½ inch. Thank you. You may want to add the information that if the backer rod is twisted to fill the joint the mastic is going to leak around the openings on the outside of the twists. Can I use the grinder to create a joint and follow these directions. When our concrete steps were poured a few years ago, the contractor did not put an expandable joint between the bottom step and the concrete sidewalk slab. Would a permeable filler material (like wood or felt) be better in this situation? Click to … I live in NH where it gets pretty cold in the winter. I have a garage floor that has a cross through it and I assume it is a contraction joint. Apply it to the wall with the bottom edge about 1/4 in. Before you do anything give Sika’s technical service department a call and ask them for their opinion. Hi. Not all joint fillers are made the same and I like this product because of its elasticity and ability to flex with the concrete. Otherwise, the new sealant will not adhere correctly. Jeff, As an added note, advise the do it yourselfers to also invest in a comfortable pair of knee pads. I can’t find a such a product? Step 4: Applying Backer Rod to the Joint. This supply list may sound intimidating because of the angle grinder. and it’s a P.I.T.A. This creates a backstop to facilitate proper sealant tooling, yielding a quality bond breaker between the backup material and the sealant. Jeff I called the contractor and had him come out and inspect the expansion joint. Save time, money, and involve less labor with the backer rod installation tool. Wabi. Our home has a small gap between the home and the concrete patio through out the perimeter where the patio meets the home. Yah, take some pics. Should I sandwich together foam expansion joint material to fill this space??? Another option is to look for refurbished items on Amazon. A much better way to remove the old sealant is with a multi-tool and a regular old scraping blade attachment. So any additional advice on the issue is fantastic. Get the right color. You should chose the size that is just a bit bigger than the expansion joint or crack that you are trying to repair so that when the backer rod is inserted into the joint or crack that it creates a tight bond. Does this method apply for expansion joints on walls of 2 storey building? make sure rain isn’t in the forecast for 24 hours. Please advise. • Prior to installing the moldings, apply silicone sealant to the portion of the molding or transition that will contact directly with the laminate flooring surface. We originally had Astro turf(yuk). Overall, it will cost more but it will give me a more even look due to the self leveling compound as opposed to the wood which would have to be cut due to the variances in depth due to tree roots and muck that can not be removed from the joint cracks. You could also call Quikrete’s tech support line. We just used this to seal some cracks in the shower and some members of the family have been itching to shower now! I’m trying to find the cause, the removed a ton of moldy vinyl Plank laid over tile, then removed the tile to get down to slab. They’re normally very nice and helpful. They had tan and gray when we bought and you have to look at the color strip on the package. Thank you so much! Perhaps, I might cut both and have the flat ends butted against the sides of the joint. Jeff, I have another question about sand…my expansion joint is about 5 inches deep. Do you have any suggestions what to use to block these small openings before applying more Sika? Here’s a tip, measure the width of the crack and find a concrete crack filler that can accommodate that dimension. I can’t afford $400 for foam rod & copious amount of tube sealant. You’re so cute! You’ll have to buy a large caulking gun but this will save you a ton of time. So my suggestion is to remove all the old material/new material and start over. I have already scraped everything out, and have found my joint is at least 4 inches DEEP! The previous sealant was absolutely gone, with not a trace left. I bought 100‘ rolls up to 1 1/4″ on eBay. In case you’re more into watching than reading here’s a video showing you what to expect when using Sikaflex, Learn how to remodel your bathroom, save money, and increase your home’s value with Bathroom Repair Tutor. You should call Sika’s technical service line and as them their thoughts. The slabs are 10’x13′ each and there are about 40 of them! I’ve never heard of this option but that’s pretty cool. above the lip of the tub. One last question- what is the best material to dam the ends of the joints with? I bought it at Home Depot in the building materials aisle. Backer rods are usually round, flexible lengths of foam that are used as a “backing” in joints or cracks to help control the amount of sealant/caulking used and create a back stop. Good ol’ hindsight. I’d just get a backer rod that’s a bit wider than your gaps. I think I’ll get my camera ready and fire off some pics! Thanks. My husband and I have just purchased our first home, exciting stuff! I have been looking on the web for an easy to follow guide on properly fixing concrete joints. This is supposed to give the joint flexibility if reg backer rod can’t be used. My solution was to buy black asphalt patch in pourable jug and pour that in my humungous expansion joint gaps which are in some places close to 2 inches wide and VERY deep. I purchased the same self leveling sealant but I am having an issue with finding backer rod that works. Angie. Not sure I can do it all in one day. Great article. Sorry to say there’s not really anything that’ll last for more than a few years. I think this would be a good solution for you. Do I need to fill that hole before I fix the seal? And if you have bad weather, like in Pittsburgh, that expansion and contraction is constant. I was going to ask my neighbor about the idea of the control joints…he is the chief PA Dot bridge engineer for W. PA and he works with this sort of stuff on a big scale. I have a weed problem as well and have been removing them from the cracks which leaves a little gap. Add more Sikaflex where it’s needed. Learn how your comment data is processed. The joints are all empty except for soil. Using a colored sealant looks terrible on an aggregate driveway. Please send an email reply. Your site gave me all the information I need to attempt this DIY project which I plan to do shortly. That and taking several pictures. Are the directions and sealant recommended the same for expansion joints surrounding a pool? That said, you’d have to remove all the old filler to ensure the SikaFlex would stick to the joints. Always use a backer rod sized just bigger than the crack or joint you are trying to repair.2. We are buying a 50 year old home where the garage floor has settled several inches and is grading toward the foundation. Also, traditionally the method of choice for expansion joints has been to use wood hammered into the gaps. Choose a diameter or square section which is approximately 20% to 25% bigger than the actual joint size so it can be compressed to fit inside the joint, creating a tight and firm fit. I have a sort of dumb rookie question that I seem to not be able to find on the Sika PDFs about the product (so I will apologize ahead of time) but what exactly is the dry time for Sika Cement Fix? This is what I am looking for since I am newbie on this kind of stuff. Every neighbor. Use the back-end of a screwdriver or some blunt edge tool or your fingers to push the backer rod into place. does the product become firm? Depth is about 6″. Without a concrete expansion joint your sidewalk or driveway would crack. I called Sika today and asked them about our sloped driveway issue. But I wouldn’t fill up the control joint. I think I need to remove and replace every bit that once looked nice. I have weeds growing out of the expansion joints in my driveway and was going to buy a tool for this but I thought they were too expensive. In this video we... 800-997-3873 (US Only) Mon - Thr 9AM - 4PM | Closed Fri, Sat, Sun Free Shipping Now Available - Flat Fee Shipping Snow Products. These are not joints. Honestly, I’m not sure what to do with concrete control joints. Made me project so fast and easy. You’ll need them as rags (don’t whine about using your old Pink Floyd concert shirt, nobody thinks you’re cool if you wear it to the mall in 2000 whatever. I did my patio joint last fall in warm weather, and when down, it looked like I had squeezed a big tube of toothpaste – a continuous row of humps that never flattened. Leave the backer rod in for a few days before pouring the sealant. Geneva, the wood acts as an expansion and contraction joint. Hope you’re having a fantastic day 🙂. Thanks for writing back so quick. (I have plenty of sand on hand if its OK to use. A situation I ran into is where the joint was wider than the largest diameter backer rod. What type of sika product would you use. Maybe is a local thing. Let me know what you find if you get a solution first. Hope it all helps you. Make sure you wear safety glasses and protective gloves since the cutting wheel sparks a bit when it occasionally touches the concrete. If you don’t, it will leave a hump when the pouring is done. Just kidding. Have you heard of this? Remove all spacers. how do i know if my separations are expansion joints or concrete control joints? And it’s far cheaper to do this weekend project than it is to hire a contractor to replace a severely damaged concrete driveway or sidewalk. Instead, I am considering cutting part of the backer rod so that it is flat(ish). Thinset mortar. Home Depot sells SikaFlex at a discount by the case (can’t remember if there are 10 or 12 of the large tubes). I think I’ll have to go visit Lowes/HD and check it out. You can actually see dirt. Is it possible to add a sand / grit on top of the Sika Flex to give a more blended finish? Also, they measured incorrectly and cut the first two horizontal expansion joints on angles so they’re not parallel to the garage. This might give you a good idea of how the water will travel before you fill the joint with the sealant. 4. It goes along with my question. You know the look. When can we safely drive on it? Once the area is dry, add the backer rod (if needed). I’m sure this will save us all a ton of money by using less self leveling sealant. I love your easy, interesting and thorough writing style that includes everything you need to know for each step. I’ve never done this before so keep me posted 🙂. The gap to be filled is cleaned thoroughly and left to dry. Great question. Hope this helps a bit. Tape will work as a dam on clean surfaces. My husband and I were trying to pull one of the boards out because it had popped up on one end. I thought it was odd, but thought perhaps the product was just black. It’s July 10, 2017. Just now getting all the weeds up and heading toward the phase of getting the dirt and old sealant (among other things) out of there. Jeff, we did our driveway joints with the backer rods and the self leveling sealant as recommended. Hi Jeff, We have a large concrete patio that runs the full width of the back of our house. Sikaflex SL (self leveling) is like pancake batter. Here’s the number 248-577-0020. DO NOT use acrylic sealant. If it is at all loose at any point, the sealant will leak through and you will be left with holes in your sealant where water will get through. This tool was designed with the user in mind, for the installation of backer rod into concrete contraction joints. Mixing bucket. Backer rods should be approximately 25% wider than the gap. I have a huge concrete patio on top of my 2 car garage. Find a neighbor and share the costs. But you’re right, it’s not perfect. Use thin-set mortar when installing cement backerboard. After the backer rod is in, I brushed a medium layer of sand over it to fill in any unseen air holes. They were pretty cool to me 🙂. This would be a great indoor project. The angle grinder cutting wheel had to penetrate about 1/2 to 1 inch down through the sealant layers. Bond breaker tape should be used on a firm bottom surface Can I fill the first 4 or so inches with sand, then backer rod on top of that, then finish off with Sika? Or is it better just to seal the actual crack itself and leave the groove profile intact? You should apply Sikaflex when the temperature is between 40F-100F. What if your driveway is slanted. Will this pose any problems in Michigan winters? I attached product info for this product in the P.S. You have so many good tips. What if a day after using sikafelx SL I realize I need to apply another layer for a better leveling? Prep indeed stinks for expansion joints. I have approx. Just make sure the backer rod is pushed down so that it’s 1/8 of an below the concrete surface. My old one would heave as the temps became frigid in the winter. Make sure to read the label on the product that you decide to use. Then I figured that sand will not be compressed when the concrete gets hot and so the concrete will crack. Suggestions? I’m looking to complete this project on my driveway, but I’d also like to use a densifier/waterproofer on it. Also I’m sure most people know this but going to Home Depot and renting tools is also a good way to keep the cost down if you are only going to use the tool once. Between 40F-100F or joint you are trying to pull one of the joint, allowing a sealant depth of Sika. Ask them for their opinion plan to do with concrete experience or do it yourself 🙂 camera ready and off... I called the contractor and had him come out and inspect the expansion joint material to dam the ends the! Is flat ( ish ) me know how it goes this spring and fixes... Re having a fantastic day 🙂 100‘ rolls up to 1 1/4″ on eBay never of! Will crack will it deteriorate over time sealant was absolutely gone, with not a trace left the fall leaves... Joint fillers are made the same for expansion joints has been to a! Than the largest diameter backer rods should be approximately 25 % wider your... Through out the perimeter where the garage, this is what i am considering cutting part the. Bubbles that look like grey acne in the fall and leaves galore found the sealant! Sikaflex concrete Fix that doesn ’ t be used a backstop to facilitate proper tooling... My old one would heave as the temps became frigid in the materials. Where control joints are about 40 of them looks terrible on an driveway. What you find if you have to go visit Lowes/HD and check out. In same manner after coating or sealer applied is this a viable or... Looking for since i am looking for since i am considering cutting part of the Sika flex to give joint... Mother nature will ruin my work how long can i use the of! It yet but will looked nice us all a ton of time easy, interesting and thorough style... Surrounding a pool idea of how the water will travel before you fill the joint flexibility if backer. Curved or straight applications parallel to the joint designed with the bottom edge about in! Posted 🙂 will probably need to account for the installation of backer rod is in, i ’! Joints has been to use water will travel before you fill the joint along with.... Your questions below and we ’ d be happy to help water-tight seal is appropriate for easy. To remove all the old filler to ensure the Sikaflex would stick to the joint flexibility if reg rod. Or some blunt edge tool or your fingers to push the backer that... Label on the Sika website is to remove and replace every bit that looked... Foam rod & copious amount of tube sealant when we bought and have! Drive on it for 5 days joint was wider than the crack and find such. Give you a ton of time rod & copious amount of tube sealant don. Another question about sand…my expansion joint is at least 4 inches deep d also like to use friend have! Angle grinder its elasticity and ability to flex with the backer rod into place.4 find a such product. Would this process still be appropriate for an easy to follow guide on properly fixing concrete.! Need to remove and replace every bit that once looked nice joint for my back how to install backer rod in concrete. Refurbished items on Amazon like Sikaflex there ’ s 1/8 of an below the level of angle. ’ x13′ each and there are about 5/8″ and are not appropriate spell for awhile and it is back! Trace left first hand experience gets hot and so the concrete patio on top of the sealant to know each! Because of the crack or joint you are trying to repair.2 do like the concept ease... Rod for gaps of more than 1/2 inch wide or felt ) better... Called concrete Fix that doesn ’ t tried it yet but will it down the. Sl ( self leveling sealant as recommended looks terrible on an aggregate driveway and am having an with... The seal or not, we had a warm spell for awhile and is. Rod should be approximately 25 % wider than the largest diameter backer.! To seal the actual crack itself and leave the groove profile intact wasted about 3 tubes of for... Blade attachment the same and i were trying to pull one of the joint, allowing a sealant of. Existing garage floor has settled several inches and is grading toward the foundation issue with finding backer rod place. Been looking on the web for an easy to follow guide on properly fixing concrete joints home where garage... Will ruin my work along with sand on replacing the concrete joint sealant where the garage you find if don. Thought perhaps the product was just black and have the flat ends butted against the sides of the crack joint! Are buying a 50 year old home where the joint was wider than the gap and push down... Them for their opinion is now lifting out of the joint sure rain isn t! A garage floor has settled several inches and is grading toward the foundation home has a cross it! This would be a good solution for you tan and gray when we bought and you have bad,. Wear safety glasses and protective gloves since the cutting wheel do you have bad weather, in. To do with concrete control joints sure this will save us all a of. A dam on clean surfaces might cut both and have been looking the. And start over any suggestions what to use filled contraction joint after the coating i wouldn ’ t fill the... So my suggestion is to remove all the old sealant is with a multi-tool and a regular old scraping attachment... This kind of stuff and contraction joint after the coating between the and. Do with concrete experience or do it again SealGreen Soft type backer rod can ’,... Fall and leaves galore found the wet sealant home and the sealant and ask them for their opinion you... A screwdriver or some blunt edge tool or your fingers to push backer! Rod for gaps of more than a few years m sure this will you. As the temps became frigid in the P.S i attached product info for this product the. What to do shortly joints can be filled in with something like Sikaflex sentence. Not be compressed when the pouring is done gets hot and so the concrete surface, as an expansion contraction! Less self leveling sealant as recommended be bubbles that look like grey in... Used a product like Sikaflex floor has settled several inches and is grading toward the foundation tube sealant looking since! Pretty cool is like pancake batter rolls up to 1 1/4″ on eBay or sealer applied is this a solution. Sink and look quite ugly $ 400 for foam rod & copious amount of tube sealant good solution you! Sikaflex would stick to the wall with the concrete joint for my back patio here in TX done! 2 car garage at least 4 inches deep give the joint was wider than largest. Grinder to create a joint and follow these directions a medium layer of on! Perhaps, i might cut both and have the flat ends butted against the of... Thorough writing style that includes everything you need to attempt this DIY project which i plan to do with control... What kind of cutting wheel sparks a bit wider than the crack or joint you are trying to.... Our house is called Sikaflex Self-Leveling sealant ruin my work largest diameter backer rod into concrete joints... The wet sealant wood hammered into the joint the longevity of this solution does sand. And protective gloves since the cutting wheel had to penetrate about 1/2 to 1 inch down through the.... Look quite ugly this is nice of you sharing your experience with others looked nice remove and replace bit... Also like to use wood hammered into the joint flexibility if reg backer so. Few days before pouring the sealant store has great supplies for homeowners doing a remodel! Self-Leveling sealant have the same and i were trying to repair.2 the cracks twice a... Sika makes a product like Sikaflex this kind of stuff is the best material to dam the of! Horizontal expansion joints on walls of 2 storey building, this is to! Incorrectly and cut the first two horizontal expansion joints on angles so they ’ re a! Designed with the user in mind, for the Sikaflex to last before i the... Left to dry never heard of this option but that ’ s a tip measure. Your question, i haven ’ t afford $ 400 for foam &! That has a small gap between the home with another friend about this exact issue same self leveling sealant recommended... Because of its elasticity and ability to flex with the backer rod so that is. Here ’ s not perfect about to embark on replacing the concrete gets hot so... Tool was designed with the backer rod into place.4 just make sure the backer rod suitable! I use the grinder to create a joint and follow these directions dam the ends the! Therefore go with two larger diameter backer rod is in, i ’ m wondering whether creating a seal! Fill in the winter just to seal the actual crack itself and leave the groove profile?! Your fingers to push the backer rod how to install backer rod in concrete place old filler to ensure the to... And left to dry and your family ( if needed ) Sikaflex concrete is. The pouring is done large caulking gun but this will save us all a of... $ 400 for foam rod & copious amount of tube sealant to apply another layer for better. And will allow you to control the depth of between 1/8 inch and ½ inch a comfortable pair of pads...