Control and expansion joints are designed to relieve stresses on stucco walls to prevent extensive cracking from occurring where the material expands and contracts or where the home experiences framing movement.
Install control joints at least every 144 square feet. When possible, try to align control joints with window or door openings to provide protection against cracks and to create a look that’s more aesthetically pleasing to the homeowner.
Install expansion joints between floors and between changes in mass, such as the house-to-garage intersection. The control joint absorbs tensile stresses caused by shrinkage and sub-grade friction, or movement.
