ᐅ Expansion joint in brickwork: yes or no?

Created on: 30 Jun 2015 11:39
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symen1971
Dear fellow builders and experts,

I would like to ask for your advice, opinion, or experience.
Tomorrow, our brick veneer is going to be installed, and now we have to decide whether to include an expansion joint or not.
Our builder, whom I respect greatly and consider very experienced, says we don't need one but is leaving the decision up to us. As laypersons, we are now faced with this choice. What do you think?

For your information, the house measures 10.20 x 9 meters (33.5 x 29.5 feet), and our bricks are ABC Hamburg coal-fired bricks. There were previously other buildings and trees on the construction site!

I look forward to constructive responses.
Best regards, symen
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Sebastian79
30 Jun 2015 16:04
Is your house going to have a basement while there is a garage without a basement next to it? In that case, a joint should be installed – otherwise, as the building expert says.

The only other reason for a joint might be if you are building on non-native soil – for example, if one part of the house is on natural ground and another part is not.

Best regards from a fellow ABC brick house owner
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Legurit
30 Jun 2015 16:09
Unfortunately, with our 14 m (46 feet), we do need some after all. Well, I'll just plant a bush in front of it.
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Sebastian79
30 Jun 2015 16:15
Bush up to the roof?
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symen1971
30 Jun 2015 16:26
First of all, thank you very much for your many responses.
Lexmaul79 schrieb:
Is your house going to have a basement and is there a non-basement garage next to it?
No, Lexmaul79, we are building without a basement and only with a carport.
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Saruss
13 Jul 2015 21:07
I have an expansion joint (the building also has a basement) and I don’t find it visually problematic. The masons chose a color that matches the facing bricks well, so the joint is only noticeable upon close inspection.
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NemoN
13 Jul 2015 23:31
Our house measures 9 by 11 meters (29.5 by 36 feet) and we do not have an expansion joint. No problems in the last 2 years.