Parking Structure Basement slabs on grade control joints - fillied or unfilled?
Parking Structure Basement slabs on grade control joints - fillied or unfilled?
(OP)
What is the general practice for basement slab-on-grade of unheated parking garages with respect to the sawcut control joints: are they left unfilled (i.e they are eventually filled with dirt over the years) , or are they filled with an appropriate material? I am in Ontario, Canada, so I am particularly interested in this geographic area, although responses from other areas would be of interest too. I believe that I have generally specified that they be partially filled with an appropriate flexible material and closed cell backer rod below, but it is an expense and I am not sure that much is achieved by this.






RE: Parking Structure Basement slabs on grade control joints - fillied or unfilled?
Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)
RE: Parking Structure Basement slabs on grade control joints - fillied or unfilled?
I guess it would keep water out, but they are supposed to crack at the control joints.
When I am working on a problem, I never think about beauty but when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it is wrong.
-R. Buckminster Fuller
RE: Parking Structure Basement slabs on grade control joints - fillied or unfilled?
Cracking and spalling are two different things. I would seal the joint to prevent spalling of the joint. The cracking will still occur.
Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)
RE: Parking Structure Basement slabs on grade control joints - fillied or unfilled?
Have you found that if they are unfilled, that you get a significant incidence of break-down of the concrete side of the joint?
Have you found that if they are filled that you don't get a significant incidence of break-down of the concrete side of the joint?
And are you both talking about a freeze-thaw environment?
Thanks