Expansion and movement joints
Expansion and movement joint sealing
Movement joints let brickwork, render, tiling and slabs expand and shrink without cracking. When the sealant in them hardens, splits or debonds, the joint stops working and lets water in. Post the job with a rough length of joint and specialist applicators can quote.
Post a job free Applicators: see jobs
Mastic and sealant work only, covering the whole UK. Applicator numbers vary by area. Free to post a job. Introduction service: you agree the work and price directly with the applicator.
Why movement joints fail
A movement joint only works if the sealant can stretch and compress with the building. It fails when the product is too stiff for the movement, when the bead is too deep or too shallow, when there is no backing rod or bond breaker and the sealant sticks to the back of the joint, or simply when it reaches the end of its life.
Replacing it properly means cutting out the old sealant and backing, cleaning the joint faces, inserting a closed-cell backing rod at the right depth, priming where the manufacturer says so and applying a movement-rated sealant tooled to the right profile.
- Vertical movement joints in brick and blockwork
- Render and insulated render (EWI) joints
- Tiled floor and wall movement joints
- Structural expansion joints between buildings and decks
- Diagnosing joints that keep failing
Jobs you can post under expansion and movement joints
Choose the closest match when you post, or pick "Something else". You can add photos and a rough number of metres, frames or plots, and applicators see your postcode district only, never your address.
- Brick or blockwork movement joints
- Render or insulated render (EWI) joints
- Tiled floor or wall movement joints
- Structural expansion joints between buildings or decks
- Failed or cracked joints that need diagnosing
What to include in your post
Give the approximate number and length of joints, the height they run to and the material on each side. Photos close up and from a distance show the width and condition. If cracks are appearing in the wall beside a joint, or the joint keeps reopening, say so: ongoing movement may need an engineer to look at it as well.
- Number of joints and approximate total metres
- Height and access: ladder, tower, MEWP or scaffold
- Joint width and the materials either side
- Any cracking next to the joints
Movement joint jobs for applicators
Movement joint work comes from homeowners with long garden or gable walls, managing agents with blocks of flats, and contractors on refurbishment and new-build sites. Jobs here arrive with the metres of joint and access details, so you can price per metre and plan towers or MEWPs before you visit.
Joining is free. Choose the sealant work you do, your base postcode and radius, and the postcode areas you cover. See sealant jobs for applicators.
Search the applicator directory
Or browse expansion and movement joint applicators by county. Only applicators who asked to be listed, and whom we have switched on, appear there.
Mastic man pages for UK cities
Post your job from any UK postcode, including Northern Ireland. These city pages have local building notes and the postcode areas around each city.
How it works
Post your job
Describe the work, add up to 5 photos, and give your postcode district and timing.
Applicators claim it
Applicators who cover your area see the details, not your name or number. Up to 3 can claim each job.
You choose
Compare their message and guide price. Contact details are shared only with the applicator you pick.
Frequently asked questions
Can a movement joint be filled with mortar?
No. Filling it with something rigid stops it working, and the wall will usually crack somewhere else instead.
How is movement joint sealing priced?
Usually per metre of joint, plus access equipment. The price guide shows general UK ranges, labelled as a guide only.
Is an expansion joint the same as a movement joint?
The terms are used loosely. Movement joints usually allow for normal expansion and shrinkage of a material; structural expansion joints separate whole parts of a building or deck.
Will a movement joint applicator respond to my job?
You can post a job anywhere in the UK, including Northern Ireland, and applicators who cover your area can claim it. Applicator numbers vary by area, so we cannot promise a response to every job. If nobody claims your job you can cancel it.
How are applicators on Mastic Man checked?
Applicators must confirm their email address before they can see jobs, and we suspend accounts reported for misuse. We do not check companies or identity, so ask for references and photos of previous work. Applicators can add CSCS, IPAF or PASMA cards. We are an introduction service and do not promise any outcome, so ask for photos of previous work and agree the price and scope in writing.