Landscaping License Practice Test

How do you calculate the expansion joint spacing for a concrete walkway?

1. Width of the walkway

2. Length of the walkway

3. 2 x width of the walkway

4. 3 x width of the walkway

The correct answer is: 2 x width of the walkway

The calculation of expansion joint spacing for a concrete walkway is based on the width of the walkway. Typically, the spacing for expansion joints should be set at a distance of about two times the width of the walkway. This recommendation is grounded in the need to accommodate the natural expansion and contraction of concrete as temperatures fluctuate. When concrete is poured, it tends to expand when heated and contract when cooled. If the expansion joints are too far apart, the concrete may buckle or crack due to the stress of this movement. Therefore, by placing the expansion joints at double the width of the walkway, it allows enough space to manage these changes effectively, preventing potential damage. Using other distances, such as just the width, or three times the width, can either lead to insufficient allowance for movement or excessive placement that does not account for typical contraction and expansion behavior. Therefore, utilizing a spacing of two times the width is the standard practice that balances durability and flexibility in concrete sidewalks.