New Pours

• 1). Lay out concrete forms for patios, driveways, walkways or slabs.
  
  
• 2). Use a tape measure to measure from the concrete form across the excavation to the concrete form. Cut the expansion joint to the measured length. Expansion joints are made of rubber, foam backer rod, 1-inch wood slats or asphalt impregnated expansion joint material.
  
  
• 3). Place the expansion joint material in between the concrete forms at a right angle to the form. Within the forms, place expansion joints every 10 feet in a narrow 3- to 4-foot walkway and every 8 feet both lengthwise and widthwise in driveways, slabs and patios to create a box pattern within the concrete.
  
  
• 4). Pour concrete section by section into each box and leave the expansion joint in place after removing concrete forms.
  
  

Existing Concrete

• 1). Use a tape measure to measure the width and length of the concrete.
  
  
• 2). Snap a chalk line every 10 feet along walkways and sidewalks that are no wider than 4 feet. For driveways, patios and slabs, snap a chalk line every 8 feet both lengthwise and widthwise to create a box pattern.
  
  
• 3). Use masonry saw with a carbide tipped blade to cut along the chalk lines making the cut 3/4-inch wide. Set the saw blade depth to equal the thickness of the concrete. Determine the thickness by measuring the concrete along a side or end. If you cannot measure, set the blade for 3 inches for sidewalks and walkways and 4 inches for slabs, patios and driveways.
  
  
• 4). Sweep debris out of the cut.
  
  
• 5). Insert foam backer rod or rubber into the cuts, place a 1-inch wide piece of wood over the cutout and tap the wood with a rubber mallet to wedge the expansion joint in place.