Our Services
Expansion Joints
Concrete expansion joints are gaps that are intentionally created in all kinds of concrete structures that allow for anticipated expansion and contraction due to temperature changes, moisture variations, and other factors. In Colorado’s unpredictable climate, professional implementation of expansion joints is critical for parking garages and stadiums especially. These joints prevent cracking and damage by providing a controlled space for the concrete to move. Repairing concrete expansion joints is essential to maintain the structural integrity of the concrete, prevent water infiltration, and ensure that the joints continue to effectively accommodate the movement of concrete elements, thus prolonging the lifespan of the structure. We provide regular maintenance and timely repairs to help avoid more extensive damage and costly renovations.
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Why joints fail here
A joint has to move every day of its life. In Colorado it does that through a temperature swing that can cover forty degrees between morning and afternoon, then freezes and thaws again overnight. The joint that fails is usually the one that was sized or detailed for less movement than the structure actually has, or the one whose sealant reached the end of its life and was never replaced.
Installation and replacement
We install joints in new work and replace them in existing structures, including stadium and parking deck joints that carry traffic directly. Replacement means removing the old system and whatever concrete around it has broken down, rebuilding the blockout, and setting a system matched to the movement that particular joint actually sees.
Questions we get asked
What makes an expansion joint fail early?
Three things, mostly. Lack of maintenance. Installation practices, because a joint that was not prepped properly when it first went in will not last no matter what was specified. And mechanical damage, which in Colorado usually means snow plows.
Can a joint be wrong from the day it went in?
It happens more than you would think. We run into original design issues where the movement in the structure exceeds the capability of the joint system that was installed. Being in the repair industry we see things from the tail end, and so do the engineers we work with. Sometimes the movement was never calculated properly, and the joint was never going to keep up with it.
Related services
Concrete Sealants
Joint sealants such as urethane and silicone are possibly the most fundamental materials in protecting your structure from water and chloride intrusion. Sealants are used in the most susceptible areas such as construction joints and control joints. Sealants have a life span and replacing sealants is a revolving maintenance item.
Learn MoreConcrete Coatings and Waterproofing
Significantly extend the life of your structure’s high traffic concrete surfaces with industry leading waterproofing and protective coatings.
Learn MoreParking Structure Restoration
Multi-level parking structures are what ORC is built around. Top deck restoration, post-tension repair, traffic coatings, joints and sealants, phased so the garage stays open while we work.
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