Selection reference
Choose joint filler by application
Semi-rigid joint fillers protect the edges of non-moving floor joints; moving expansion and isolation joints need an elastomeric sealant instead. Start with the joint type and the traffic it carries, then confirm hardness, service temperature, joint width, color and return-to-service time against the current datasheet.
| Application or product type | What to confirm | Examples in this category |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy-duty industrial floors and hard-wheel traffic | Saw-cut control joints and construction joints in warehouses, distribution centers and plants under forklift or steel-wheel traffic. Confirm the specified Shore A hardness, ACI 302.1R full-depth fill, minimum concrete age and the shave window. Epoxy fillers cure slower than polyurea and often call for older concrete. | MM-80, Spal-Pro RS 88, Edge-Pro 90, Sikadur-58 CJR, Euco 700 |
| Polished, retail and commercial floors with fast turnaround | Rapid-setting polyurea for exposed or polished concrete where the floor reopens the same day and color matters. Confirm the shave window, color-pack or factory-tinted color, lighting and UV exposure, and whether a sealer or densifier was applied before the joints were cut. | Edge-Pro 80, Euco QwikJoint UVR, Sika Loadflex-524 EZ, VersaFlex SL/75 |
| Freezer, cooler and cold-storage floors | Use a product published for the actual installation temperature, not only the service temperature. Confirm the minimum application temperature, cure at that temperature, frost and condensation control in the joint, and the return-to-service time the facility can accept. | Spal-Pro RSF, Spal-Pro 2000, VersaFlex SL/85, Edge-Pro 80 |
| Spalled joints, random cracks and edge repair | Decide whether the defect is a joint that still moves, a static shrinkage crack or a surface spall. Rout and clean cracks before filling; rebuild deep spalls with a repair mortar before the filler goes in. Protect the slab from overfill staining on polished floors. | Spal-Pro 2000, Spal-Pro RSF, Spal-Pro RS 88, Spal-Pro SPF stain protection |
| Expansion, isolation and chemically exposed joints | Joints designed to move need a flexible sealant with backer rod and, where specified, primer. Confirm the movement rating, joint width-to-depth ratio, chemical and thermal exposure, and compatibility with any floor coating or lining system. | Sikaflex-2c NS EZ Mix+, Sikasil-728 RCS, Ceilcote EJ-3, Ceilcote EJ10 |
Hardness, elongation and return-to-service values are meaningful only with their test method, temperature and cure age. Use the current product datasheet before approving a substitution.
Field planning
Plan the joint filler installation
Joint filler performance depends on the joint type, the age and preparation of the concrete, and how the material is dispensed and shaved. Use the manufacturer instructions with the project specification.
Joint type and concrete age
Semi-rigid fillers are intended for saw-cut control joints, construction joints and static cracks in interior slabs. They are not expansion joint sealants and should not be installed over backer rod; ACI 302.1R and the manufacturers call for full-depth fill so the filler can transfer load between joint edges.
Concrete keeps shrinking after placement, so most datasheets prefer the latest possible filling date. Metzger/McGuire publishes 60 to 90 days of concrete cure before MM-80 epoxy; VersaFlex asks for at least 28 days before its polyureas. Joints filled early may separate and need a second fill.
Hardness, traffic and edge protection
Higher Shore A hardness means more edge support under hard wheels. Published values run from about A80 for Edge-Pro 80 and A80–85 for Loadflex-524 EZ, through A86–90 for Spal-Pro RS 88 and about A86 for Sikadur-58 CJR, to A90–95 for MM-80 and A90–92 for Edge-Pro 90.
Softer, higher-movement polyureas such as VersaFlex SL/60 suit decks and slabs that will move, while the heavy-duty grades belong under forklifts, steel wheels and automated equipment. Match the grade to the traffic the specification describes.
Temperature, light and floor finishes
Service and installation temperatures differ by product. MM-80 is published for 40 °F to 120 °F service, Spal-Pro RS 88 for 32 °F to 120 °F, Edge-Pro 80 down to −20 °F, and the freezer grades Spal-Pro RSF, Spal-Pro 2000 and VersaFlex SL/85 for application at −30 °F to −40 °F.
Most polyureas are aromatic and can discolor under sunlight or strong lighting; Euco QwikJoint UVR is the UV-resistant choice in this category. Several fillers are not recommended under VCT or other non-breathing floor coverings, and coatings may not bond to cured polyurea. Check the datasheet for these limits.
Dispensing, shaving and quantity
600 ml side-by-side cartridges need a 1:1 dual-component cartridge gun with the correct static mixer; 10-gallon kits are for dual-component pumps or, for slower epoxies such as MM-80 and Euco 700, mechanical mixing and pouring. See caulking guns and applicators.
Slightly overfill and shave flush within the published window: from about 5 to 15 minutes up to 24 hours for most polyureas, around 24 hours for Sikadur-58 CJR, and longer for MM-80. Take off joint length, width and depth in inches before ordering; cartridge and kit yields are not interchangeable across products.
Before you order
Joint filler specifications & quantity planning
Use the project specification and the selected manufacturer data to confirm the performance, quantity, color and documents required for the installation.
Compare the specified performance
Read Shore A hardness, elongation and tensile strength with their test method and cure age. Check ACI 302.1R compliance where specified, the minimum concrete age, service and installation temperature limits, UV stability and any food-facility or LEED documentation the project requires.
Calculate cartridges and kits
Multiply joint length by width by depth in inches to get cubic inches, add an allowance for overfill and waste, then divide by the published yield of the exact package. A 600 ml cartridge yields roughly 36 to 40 cubic inches; kit yields vary. Round up to whole cases or kits and order color packs to match neutral-base units.
Assemble the submittal
Identify the manufacturer, product, color, package size and SKU. Gather the current datasheet, installation instructions, SDS, color chart and any compliance letters requested. Ask for technical help when a joint detail, temperature or substrate is outside the published limits.
Project orders
Request joint filler project pricing
Send the specified joint filler, colors and quantities for your floor, shutdown or repair. If the product is still under review, include the specification, traffic and temperature details and we will confirm a fit before quoting.
Include with your request
- Manufacturer, product, color and package size
- Linear feet of joint with width and depth
- Floor type, traffic, ambient or freezer service and return-to-service window
- Delivery ZIP and required-on-site date
Joint filler questions
What is concrete joint filler used for?
Joint filler fills saw-cut control joints, construction joints and static cracks in interior concrete floors so that forklift wheels and hard casters roll across a supported joint instead of a hollow edge. The filler transfers load between the slab edges and reduces spalling; it also keeps debris out of the joint.
Polyurea or epoxy joint filler: which should I use?
Both are semi-rigid. Polyurea sets in minutes, can be shaved and trafficked the same day, and includes grades for freezers and polished floors. Semi-rigid epoxy such as MM-80 or Euco 700 cures slower, is often specified for the heaviest hard-wheel traffic and is mixed and poured rather than gun-dispensed. Follow the project specification when one is named.
Can joint filler be used in an expansion joint?
No. Semi-rigid fillers are designed for joints with little or no movement. Expansion and isolation joints need an elastomeric sealant with the correct movement rating over backer rod, such as the Sikaflex, Sikasil and Ceilcote sealants listed in the selection table.
How long should concrete cure before filling joints?
As long as the schedule allows. Manufacturers publish minimums from 28 days for some polyureas to 60 to 90 days for semi-rigid epoxy, because shrinkage continues after placement and early fills can separate from the joint wall. Check the datasheet for the selected product.
How many cartridges or kits do I need?
Convert joint length, width and depth to cubic inches, add an allowance for overfill and waste, then divide by the yield of the exact package. A 600 ml dual cartridge yields roughly 36 to 40 cubic inches; 10-gallon kits and epoxy units have their own published yields. Round up to whole cases.
Which joint filler works in a freezer or cold-storage floor?
Choose a product published for installation at the room's actual temperature, such as Spal-Pro RSF, Spal-Pro 2000 or VersaFlex SL/85. Confirm the cure time at that temperature and control frost in the joint before filling.
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