Why expansion and control joints are essential when laying large volumes of self-levelling liquid screed on site.

Underfloor heating (UFH) is becoming an increasingly popular way for homeowners to heat their homes. People are becoming more aware of the benefits of installing underfloor heating provides.

Water underfloor heating or underfloor hot water heating, as it’s sometimes known, is suitable for all types of property, whether domestic or commercial. There are a number of steps that need to be taken to ensure there are no issues when laying UFH and screed.

Screed expands and contracts with changes in temperature whilst it’s drying. In order to protect the floor, and prevent it from cracking, expansion joints should be fitted during installation.

What are underfloor heating expansion joints?

Floor expansion joints are put in place to protect the floor from cracks due to the expansion and contraction underfloor heating creates by altering the temperature of the flooring.

By fitting expansion joints, movement can take place within the screed, thus preventing cracks in undesirable locations.

When & where should expansion joints be installed?

Expansion joints should be positioned in places that undergo high levels of movement and stress. Areas that are especially prone to stress and movement are places where smaller areas are in contact with larger areas, such as T-shaped or L-shaped rooms. Expansion strips should also be used where UFH tube passes through doorways. This is particularly prevalent in screeds made with sand and cement and liquid anhydrite.

What expansion and control joints are available?

Metex expansion & control joints are part of the Metex range of self-levelling screed tools. Screeders use control joints to induce cracks in a straight line in a known location when laying free-flowing self-levelling liquid screeds, from Cemex, Flowcrete, RTU and many more.

The Metex expansion and control joints come in a 38m Pack of 20 x 1.9m lengths. This flexible expansion joint is cost-effective and adhesive-backed for quick installation.

Exclusive to Metex the Vertical Control Joint can be securely positioned over UFH pipes. As the joint sits over the UFH pipes there is NO NEED TO NOTCH!

Millimetre perfect positioning is possible with the dedicated clips and installation is simple and quick with no adhesive backing or tape needed.

The Joint is cost-effective, and it can be configured to work at 40mm or 45mm material depths by simply rotating the strip.

For more information or to purchase Metex Control Joints & Crack Inducers, click here