FAQ

Trim-A-Slab FAQ’s:
Just how easy is it to install Trim-A-Slab?
Trim-A-Slab pushes in by hand or can be stepped on to install. It typically does not need to be driven or
hammered into place. Simply start at one end and cut with pruning shears when you reach the other
end of the concrete. It really is the easiest to install of any expansion joint repair.
How do I figure out what size I need?
You can find a template for download, which you can cut out and use to determine the gap size here.
You can also order sample kits from our store. The sample kits also give you pieces of each color, so you
can see them firsthand. You will also be able to insert these pieces, and see how they look, and how well
they hold in place.
What is the typical size?
Most residential driveways and sidewalks were poured with a 1×4 or a 1×3 board used for the forms.
These boards leave a gap about 3/4 of an inch wide. Use 3/4″ Trim-A-Slab for gaps from 5/8″ to 7/8″
wide. In some cases, slab motion may have been significant, opening up slab gaps to 1″ or more. Trim-A-
Slab 1″ is best suited for these applications, and it accommodates gaps from 7/8″ to 1-1/8″. 1″ Trim-A-
Slab comes in up to 25′ continuous lengths.
On the west coast, 2×4 lumber is often used as form boards. Trim-A-Slab 1-3/8″ picks up where the 1″
size leaves off, and will accommodate up to 1.5 inch gaps. 1-3/8″ Trim-A-Slab comes in up to 25′
continuous lengths.?
One other type of expansion joint is also encountered, and it is based on the 1/2″ wide ‘fiber-board’.
Fiber-board looks like an asphalt-impregnated fibrous product, and we produce the 1/2″ size to replace
these joints. You will sometimes find these joints at the intersection of the driveway and the garage.
Do I need to use a glue; How does it stay in?
Trim-A-Slab pushes in by hand, or can be stepped on to install. It typically does not need to be driven or
hammered into place. Simply start at one end, and cut with pruning shears when you reach the other
end of the concrete. It really is the easiest to install of any expansion joint repair.
If you would like your Trim-A-Slab installation to be permanent or would like to avoid the possibility of
shrinkage, you can glue the last 6” or so to the concrete. We carry ‘Solar Seal’ in 10 oz. tubes in our
online store for this purpose, or you can use ‘Original Gorilla Glue’, available at most hardware stores.
How do I get the wood out?
This can be the hardest part if the wood has not rotted. We recommend prying it up from the ends
rather than from the middle. If a piece is inaccessible from the ends, and is still somewhat solid, drill a
few holes into it and place lag bolts into the wood, and pry up on those.
I ran into a nail, how do I get that out?
If you run into the occasional nail, a blow to the nail using a pry bar will typically shear it off or bend it
out of the way. Trim-A-Slab is very compliant and can be easily cut with shears, so it is not necessary to
remove all obstructions. You can cut away a portion of the underside of Trim-A-Slab to clear the
obstruction.