Those narrow strips of wood in your driveway are expansion joints; as the temperature and humidity fluctuate, it causes the concrete in your driveway to expand and contract. Without expansion joints, your driveway would quickly develop cracks.
Over time, driveway expansion joint replacement becomes necessary. This is especially true of wood expansion joints since exposure to the elements causes wood to decay. Rotted wood driveway expansion joints are not only unsightly, they allow weeds to grow. Even worse, rotten wood expansion joints allow the cement slabs to shift, which can also cause cracks.
It’s nearly impossible to replace rotted wood expansion joints with new wood. Fortunately, high-tech expansion joints manufactured from rubber-like plastic are readily available.
These modern expansion joints are easy to install, durable, and will not rot. Plastic expansion joints are also available in black, gray, and brown, so they complement your home’s style. Finally, they are moisture-resistant and easy to clean.
You don’t need to be a professional to install plastic expansion joints, either. With a few tools, the average homeowner can get the job done in a few hours. The hard part is removing the old wood slats, which must be carefully done to avoid damaging the concrete. But once the old wood is cleared out, the plastic expansion joint strips are simply cut to size with garden shears and pressed flat. In just a few hours, your driveway can be renewed.
Trim-a-Slab manufactures easy to install plastic driveway expansion joint replacement strips with a 10-year guarantee.
