Movement & Expansion Joints

Replacement, refurbishment and sealing of joints across bridges, car parks and buildings

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Service Overview

Every concrete structure moves. Thermal expansion, shrinkage, live loading, ground movement and long-term creep all cause dimensional change. Movement and expansion joints accommodate that change while keeping the structure watertight, safe to traffic and structurally intact. When the joint fails, water penetrates the structure below, deck reinforcement corrodes, and the failure quickly becomes far more expensive than the joint itself.

CRS delivers movement and expansion joint works across the full range of applications. Replacement of failed bridge deck joints under traffic management. Refurbishment of car park deck joints as part of wider deck programmes. Movement joint installation and resealing in commercial and residential buildings. Waterproofing joints in tanks, basements and below-ground structures. Perimeter and abutment joint sealing across a range of structure types.

Joint failure is often the visible symptom of a wider problem. Water tracking through a failed joint corrodes the deck reinforcement, spalls the concrete below, and shows up as staining or falling debris long before the joint itself is inspected. CRS treats joint work as part of a wider structural assessment where appropriate, ensuring the underlying damage is addressed alongside the joint replacement.

Materials are selected from approved system suppliers including Sika, Weber and Mapei. Joint systems are matched to the movement range, traffic loading, waterproofing requirement and expected service life. Elastomeric asphaltic plug joints, modular expansion joints, mechanical finger joints, saw-cut sealant joints and buried expansion joints are all delivered against the specification the structure requires.

We work directly for asset owners, main contractors, consulting engineers and their representatives, across the UK.

What this service covers

Bridge Expansion Joint Replacement

Replacement of failed bridge deck expansion joints including asphaltic plug joints, modular joints and mechanical finger joints. Delivered under traffic management with phased possession where required.

Car Park Deck Joints

Refurbishment and replacement of movement joints on multi-storey car park decks. Coordinated with deck waterproofing, coating and repair works to deliver a fully sealed deck.

Building Movement Joints

Installation and resealing of movement joints in commercial, residential and industrial buildings. Includes internal joints, external façade joints and joints at structural interfaces.

Waterproofing Joint Systems

Waterproofing joints in tanks, basements, plaza decks and below-ground structures. Delivered against BS 8102 requirements where applicable, with seal continuity to adjacent waterproofing.

Sealant Renewal & Mastic Replacement

Removal of failed sealant, joint preparation and reapplication of polyurethane, silicone or hybrid sealants matched to the joint movement range and exposure environment.

Joint Assessment & Specification

Assessment of existing joints, identification of failure mechanisms and specification of the correct replacement system. Where the joint condition is a symptom of wider deck deterioration, a full structural survey can be arranged.

Why choose Concrete Repair Solutions?

Technical depth

Joints fail through incorrect specification, wrong material selection or poor installation more often than through product failure. We match the joint system to the movement range, loading and exposure, and deliver installation to the manufacturer specification. Where design input is needed, our consultancy service supports the engineer directly.

Whole life of the structure

CRS surveys, replaces, seals and maintains. The same team that specifies and installs the joint returns for future inspections and maintenance cycles. Clients get one point of accountability across the service life of the joint and the surrounding structure.

Accredited and approved

SafeContractor accredited, with a CSCS-carded workforce and SSSTS-qualified site supervision. IRATA Level 3 rope access operatives for joint work at height. Independent external HSQE consultancy oversight of health, safety, quality and environmental management on every project.

Track record

Movement and expansion joint works delivered across bridges, car parks, commercial buildings and infrastructure assets throughout the UK. Live projects viewable in the Projects section.

Our process

1. Survey & Diagnose

On-site inspection of the existing joint, assessment of failure mechanism, measurement of movement range and identification of any wider deterioration in the surrounding structure. We confirm what needs to be replaced and what specification suits the application.

2. Specify & Cost

A written specification setting out the joint system, materials, installation methodology and phasing. Costed against a defensible bill of quantities. Coordinated with the wider structural works where the joint is part of a larger programme.

3. Mobilise & Deliver

Site setup, access provision, traffic management where required, removal of failed joint, preparation of substrate, installation of new joint system and quality verification. Delivery planned to minimise disruption to the operational structure.

4. Protect & Hand Over

Final inspection, waterproofing continuity checks, and a handover pack covering the works completed, materials used, warranty documentation and recommended future inspection cycles.

Frequently asked questions

The common signs are water leakage through the joint, visible cracking or displacement of the joint material, loss of sealant, staining or spalling on the structure below, and mechanical damage from traffic or debris. A failed joint often causes damage to the surrounding structure well before it is noticed, so early inspection is worthwhile if any of these signs are present. CRS can carry out a joint condition assessment as part of a wider structural survey.

The terms are often used interchangeably, and in most UK specifications they refer to the same feature: a designed gap that allows the structure to accommodate dimensional change without cracking. Strictly speaking, expansion joints accommodate thermal and moisture-driven movement, while movement joints is a broader term that also includes settlement joints, isolation joints and construction joints. The design and material selection depends on the movement range and function of the specific joint.

Yes, with appropriate traffic management. Most bridge joint replacements are delivered under phased possession, typically overnight or off-peak lane closures. The joint is removed, the substrate prepared, and the new joint installed and made trafficable within the possession window. Rapid-curing materials and modular joint systems allow reopening within a few hours of installation. Programme, phasing and traffic management are planned with the highway authority and the appointed principal contractor.

Design life varies by joint type and exposure. Asphaltic plug joints typically last 8 to 15 years on bridge decks depending on traffic loading. Modular expansion joints are designed for 20 years or more with periodic seal replacement. Building movement joints with polyurethane sealants typically require sealant renewal every 10 to 15 years. Regular inspection extends effective service life by catching localised failure early.

Yes. CRS can be appointed as Principal Contractor on schemes where required, with full CDM 2015 compliance. On projects where a different Principal Contractor is appointed, we work as their specialist sub-contractor and provide the technical and safety documentation their role requires.

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