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Isolation joints are used to separate the sidewalk slab when it abuts a wall, a column, a footing, etc.
Construction joints are full depth and are used as a stop line at the end of a day's work or when concrete placement is interrupted for more than 30 minutes.
The contraction joints are installed in the upper part of the sidewalk ( 25 % of the thickness) to create a point of weakness where the shrinkage cracks, caused by the drying can initiate. Theses joints are spaced from 24 to 30 times the thickness of the sidewalk (about 4,5 m).
Expansion joints, consisting of a compressible material, are placed at 60 linear meter intervals along the sidewalk. They allow thermal contraction and expansion.
Esthetic joints are made in the upper part of the sidewalk (depth of 20 mm) and are usually placed at 1.5 meter intervals; they have no significant impact on the structure.
