Replacing Rotten Wood Expansion Joints in a Driveway - Agile Remodeling Handyman - Kenmore, WA 

Frequently asked questions and answers: Q: What can I use under the wood to prevent it from contacting the dirt? A: Usually I see concrete under the boards already and I'm not sure if it's necessary, but I guess you could use cement "sand mix". If you do that, you should do it immediately before you fill the gaps with wood, or else the cement will dry and might be in the way of the wood making it more difficult to install. If it's still wet, you will be able to push the wood into the cement a bit. Q: The name of the wood and the manufacturer? A: Don't buy it from Home Depot or Lowes, they sell low-grade stuff that will not last long. Buy from one of your local lumber yards and make sure the wood is "pressure-treated for ground contact". Pressure-treated wood comes from different suppliers in different regions. Here’s one of my local suppliers with some good advice: solutions.dunnlumber.com/projects/how-to-maintain-the-lifetime-warranty-of-pressure-treated-lumber Q: What is it you brushed the cut wood with? A: I use liquid “Copper-Green Brown Wood Preservative” which has the same chemical as the pressure-treated wood, and I apply it at least twice to make sure it soaks into the wood as far as possible. Q: What did you brush with a broom after installing it in the ground and you then washed it with water? A: Fill the gaps with sand. Fine sand such as “paver sand” is good. “Polymeric sand” is best for durability as it sticks together. I sweep it in, then wash it so it sinks down, then do it again so it fills the cracks to the top. Q: The name of the tool you used to take out the rotten wood and is there any power tool that can do that? A: I use a sawzall to cut wood and nails, and a 3 foot pry bar (sometimes 2 of them) to remove the wood. Q: What is the size of the wood that I need to use? A Whatever will fit, in my area these are typically 2x4s which actually measure 1.5"x3.5". Where they are loose, I jam plastic wedge shims in the gaps so the 2x4s won't move. Sometimes I also use a bit of heavy-duty exterior construction glue such as "Liquid Nails".

This was the best video I found! I am starting this project for my driveway now. Thank you!

Nicely done my man. I'm getting ready to do the same thing to my new house I just bought. Appreciate the video

You made it look so easy I think I’ll add this to my list of projects for when I get home 🏡

Something came to mind @ 2:35 when you shaved some off the board. At first I thought maybe you were sawing a gap X inches deep and blade width wide so that the 2x4 would be able to pinch inward and you could mallet it down into the crevasse. Same concept as trimming the actual side, put probably more forgiving to saw a 75% gap down the length of the 2x4 so it can pinch inward.

Looks good man

It’s so fun to watch you do such great work! I made a couple comments below. I think you would really benefit from wearing nice sturdy kneepads like electricians or landscapers. 😊

Great video!!!! Does the wood prevent water from displacing the sand/dirt underneath the slab and thus eventually causing the slab to crack or shift?

How much would you charge to do about 20 boards that are all 16 feet long

Can you leave the wood in and add the sealant in between the wood and concrete?

Looks nice. I have nails in the joints from one slab to the other every 4 feet or so. And my joints are very narrow in some places. I’m looking for excuses not to do it...

Nice work. What did you use to wedge the board to stay in place for the areas where the concrete joint expanded a bit?

Would be nice to know type wood you used, what you brushed on wood,( black liquid), and what you swept over when done.

Minus the material what was your labor charge thanks

I was thinking about doing this for my driveway. Would it be worth it to try to seal the pressure treated boards before I put them in? I watched some videos on the repairs using the sealant with foam backer, and for looks I want to do wood. Also, my joints are much narrower, about 1"-1.25", should I dig them out to put in 1x4s?

Where did you get the knee pads? I like them. I like the mini table saw too. Nice video, it came out looking great! I'm getting ready to do some myself with ground contact treated boards.

HOLY BATMAN! Now those are great expansion joints. May I ask a question? If so, why is a driveway have concrete expansion joints instead of cut all the way through? My drive way has 2 for a large pad for 2 cars. My driveway looks like a jigsaw puzzle with cracks and is 40 years old that I have filled.

nice. why do peple keep filling those with silicone nowadays?

Do you think there would be any problems using 1" x 2" if my joints are smaller? Do I really need to go 4" down?

What was the cost of that project?

Installing wood in the joints is actually very bad for the driveway. Driveways need water proofing in their joints. A sealant or gasket should be installed onces the wood is taken out. Nice job though.

How much wouls you charge me to fix my driveway got pics

What are you brushing onto the wood with the paint brush?

Very lucky to not have rebar about every 3 feet peircing each board.. makes for whole lot more work! Such a bad idea to design driveways this way.. just gap the sections and leave out the soon to be rotted wood

Would there be any detrimental effects if these were left out?

My husband wants to take out the rotten wood and fill it with more concrete. Can we do that?

Spare us the noise (music).

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2x4 expansion joints, or they just left the form in place? 😂

I tried to contact you to have this done to my driveway. No response.

Silly to use wood. It’ll eventually just rot again even using pressure treated lumber. Much easier to fill with asphalt patch, and it’ll last forever.