An expansion joint profile is a prefabricated metal, plastic or rubber profile that covers an expansion joint in a floor, wall or ceiling and at the same time allows the two adjacent parts to move freely relative to each other due to temperature, settlement or load. It provides a clean finish, protects the edges and — in floors — can also transfer additional load.
Why a profile is needed
An expansion joint in concrete, masonry or tiling must always be able to move without cracking. Without a cover, this causes problems:
- The joint fills with dirt that blocks movement
- Edges crumble under load
- Water ingress attacks the concrete
- The joint looks visually disturbing
An expansion joint profile solves these problems by:
- mechanically protecting the edges from chipping
- sealing the joint against dirt, moisture or fire
- still allowing movement in length and/or cross direction
- in heavy floors, transferring loads between the two halves
Types of profile
- Light floor profile — for homes, offices and shops; usually aluminium with flexible plastic or rubber inlay
- Heavy floor profile (industrial) — steel plates with dowels to take forklift wheel loads
- Wall and ceiling profiles — slim, with thin flanges that disappear into plaster or drywall
- Fire-rated expansion profile — with intumescent filler and mineral fleece, maintains fire resistance (EI 30 to EI 120)
- Acoustic profiles — with rubber core, preventing impact-sound transmission
- Facade profiles — UV-resistant, coated aluminium with EPDM inlay
Application per area
- Car parks — heavy steel profiles with anti-slip surface
- Shopping centres and stations — wear-resistant floor profiles with decorative cover strip
- Hospitals — hygienic design, smooth and washable
- Walls in residential buildings — slim aluminium profiles in plaster
- Tiled floors — T-profile under the tile edges
Installation and notes
- Set the profile so the flanges finish flush with the surface coating
- Match the joint width — a profile rated for 30 mm movement will not work over a 50 mm joint
- For floors, run dowels or sliding bearings perpendicular to the traffic direction
- Clean regularly to prevent dirt accumulating in the inlay
Related terms
- Expansion joint
- Control joint
- Sliding bearing
- Fire resistance
- Floor
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