ᐅ Expansion joint in brickwork: yes or no?

Created on: 30 Jun 2015 11:39
S
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
L
Legurit
14 Nov 2016 07:48
Make sure that the joints are not placed where you have an unobstructed view of the garden, for example, east-west rather than on the north and south walls.
Kaspatoo14 Nov 2016 11:49
BeHaElJa schrieb:
Make sure the joints are not placed where you have a clear view of the garden
.. for example, east-west, and not on the north or south walls.

Okay, and how many of these do you need if you decide to include them?
Does each wall need to be separated from the others (= 4 joints), or does just one wall need to be separated from the rest (= U-shape, 2 joints)?
Or is a single joint enough?

We have a north side where there is only a carport and a shed, and no windows, so I wouldn’t mind there.
Also, you could hide it there behind the rainwater downpipe.
S
Saruss
14 Nov 2016 14:25
We have four. You can see two here (actually only one, as the downspout is a good hiding place) (in low resolution for uploading here in the forum).

Grey brick house with gable roof, multiple windows, and glass sliding door on the ground floor.
Kaspatoo14 Nov 2016 14:30
Well, with the brick color, that is actually less noticeable, but I have seen quite a few other variations.