The wood slats between the concrete slabs of your driveway or patio are called slab expansion joints. Expansion joints allow the concrete slabs to expand and contract with the weather, without rubbing against each other. This helps to prevent your concrete from developing cracks. But, wood slats begin to decay with time. If your driveway has weeds and grass sprouting between the slabs, it’s time to replace the expansion joints.
Replacing the old wood slats with new wood is not only hard, but it’s also not the best choice. You can also fill the space with caulk, or better yet, with vinyl expansion joint strips. These vinyl strips are easy to install, long-lasting, come in different colors, and look great.
Removing the old wood slab expansion joints is the hardest part of the operation. All of the old, rotten wood, weeds, and grass must be dug out, and the space swept clear. You’ll also need to be careful not to damage the slabs while doing this.
Vinyl expansion joints are the easiest for a do-it-yourselfer to install. Once the old wood joints are cleared out, simply press the vinyl strips into the gap and trim them to length with pruning shears. It might take a weekend to remove the old slats and replace them with vinyl, but it’s not hard. Once you’re done, your driveway or patio will look better than new, adding to your home’s curb appeal. Visit Trim-a-Slab for high-quality vinyl slab expansion joints, plus how-to instructions and videos.
www.trim-a-slab.com
