Trim-A-Slab Installation

Installation Instructions for Trim-A-Slab

Installation begins with a cleared out space (called an expansion joint) between slabs about 1.5 inches deep. There is no need to prepare the slab sides with special cleaning, or to place any weed killers below Trim-A-Slab. Simply sweep away loose soil, so the concrete sides are exposed down to a depth of at least 1 ¼”.

Expansion joint cleared and ready for installationTaking a look at the cut end of your roll of Trim-A-Slab, you will notice that it looks like a vertical line with three lines crossing it, one at each end and one through the middle. One of the crossing lines on the end is thicker than the others, and you will notice that it is curved. This is the top, and the only part of Trim-A-Slab that will be visible after installation is complete. The other two lines are the beams that will hold Trim-A-Slab firmly in place between the slabs.

Trim-A-Slab section, left, and installed, rightYou can test your particular expansion joint by cutting an inch of Trim-A-Slab and installing it at various places in your driveway. If Trim-A-Slab does not go in flush or below flush with the slab surface and protrudes, then the expansion joint may be too narrow for Trim-A-Slab, or the slab may not have rounded edges. If the top of Trim-A-Slab fits between the slabs, or the beams just do not hold very well (you should expect a pound or more of resistance), then the expansion joint may be too wide for Trim-A-Slab.

Now, the installation order can be considered. Many times, there is an expansion joint that runs straight up the middle of the driveway. If this joint is indeed straight to the naked eye from the road, then this is a good place to start. Begin at one end; place Trim-A-Slab into the joint squarely and centered, and

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Trim-A-Slab Installation

press in until the curved top rests against the rounded slab edges on both sides. Roll out Trim-A-Slab several feet ahead of where you are pressing it in; it will be easier to install straight and square. Work Trim-A-Slab into the joint from one end to the other. You can step on it along the way, or even roll a bicycle tire along it to ensure an even, full installation.

Starting an end Working it in along the lengthNext, crossing or perpendicular expansion joints need to be filled. Start at the piece of Trim-A-Slab that has already been installed. Push the perpendicular piece up against the installed piece so it is a little bit in compression. This will ensure that the joint stays closed. If Trim-A-Slab is installed while it is stretched, it will eventually return to its original length, and in doing so, it will open up a gap. Starting with a little compression at the joint, and working away towards a free edge, will ensure that the look you have at installation stays there for years to come.

A perpendicular joint

Cutting Trim-A-Slab is quite easy. A sharp gardening pruning shear is the recommended tool, however, a pair of heavy scissors can also be used. To make cutting even easier, it can be broken up into several cuts. Cut the thick, top section to the desired length, and to ensure that the cut is nice and perpendicular. Then, cut the rest through. This cut will not be seen, and does not have to be pretty.

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Trim-A-Slab Installation

Single cut with shears Divided cut: First top cut

Divided cut: Second top cut Divided cut: Through cutTo avoid an obstacle such as a nail or a protruding piece of concrete (sometimes the wood used for the expansion joints have missing knot holes, which will leave a column of concrete in the expansion joint even when the wood rots away), Trim-A-Slab can be cut away below the top, leaving the top continuous and intact. The material below the top is used to anchor Trim-A-Slab, and having a few inches missing will not affect the installation.

Cut to avoid an obstruction

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