What is the best method for creating an expansion joint without using plastic strips?

Creating an expansion joint in materials such as concrete or masonry is essential for allowing for movement and preventing cracking due to temperature changes, settling, and other factors. The best method for achieving an effective expansion joint without relying on plastic strips is sawing.

Sawing is effective because it allows for the clean, precise cutting of material to create a defined separation or joint. This method enables the creation of a consistent groove that accommodates movement. The depth and width of the sawed joint can be tailored to meet the specific needs of the structure and the anticipated movement.

In contrast, drilling is generally used for making holes rather than for creating joints that will expand and contract with movement, making it less suitable for this purpose. Cutting, while it might seem useful, is a broader term and doesn’t specifically refer to creating joints with the precision necessary for accommodating movement. Forming involves shaping material during the casting process, which does not apply when creating a joint in already set materials.

Thus, sawing stands out as the preferred method for creating a reliable expansion joint that effectively serves its purpose in structural integrity and movement accommodation.