The base is sand, about 15' deep. The cracker will shear at the edges of your finger. Also, its uses in vertical slabs have not yet been well-studied. Depending on how thick you want the reinforced concrete slabs to be will determine which product is best suited for reinforcing. It contains short discrete fibers that are uniformly distributed and randomly oriented. Welded Wire Mesh vs Rebar. mikeysp | Posted in General Questions on June 24, 2020 12:42pm I am in zone 4a. light weight mesh at the bottom of the slab is a total waste of time and money. First, when it does crack and it WILL CRACK (any contractor who says the other is someone to stay clear of) the WWF helps keep the two now separated cracks from spreading apart from one another. :), Chicago's Concrete, Demolition, Excavation, Masonry, and Paving Experts. If you are talking about a slab (floor, driveway or patio), there are three choices - fiber mesh concrete, concrete with rebar and concrete with wire mesh. When it comes to using rebar vs. wire mesh, the short answer is: use both! (Welded Wire Fabric). Now that you know the basics, let’s take a look at the major differences among the three. A heavy wire , 8 gage ( American Wire Gage) is 0.123" diameter . Great post. Fiber Reinforced Concrete (Juni 2020). Thank you for your artical. Second, the rebar is going to hold the concrete together against force from up above and the fibers will help prevent the surfaces from succumbing to forces from underneath. Keep posting stuff like this i really like it. If that’s you, then you’ll be able to make use of rebar in a fairly cost-effective manner. If the WWF is lying on the ground and is never lifted into the pour, it then is not very effective. However, its actual placement can be cumbersome (due to its weight) and time-consuming (due to the need to secure rods at joint points with ties or welds). With rebar and synthetic fiber in the concrete (and while you’re at it, some polystyrene insulation too) you’ll give your business a fighting chance against both Mother Nature and Father Time. Fiberglass rebar & mesh for concrete Fiberglass rebar is used throughout the world – in the US, Canada, Japan and European countries – since 1970th. The concrete is shrinking away from each individual cut and in on itself. Keep up the good work. Fiber mesh is made up of fibrous materials like synthetic fibers, glass fibers, natural fibers, and steel fibers. Fiber Mesh. the need to secure rods at joint points with ties. This is a result of the assorted fiber materials used in its application. Wire mesh’s most noteworthy advantage is that it does not require supplemental welding or trying together. The older one is 1.5 years with the fiber mesh, and so far it seems to be a good product. 8″ thick apron and associated sidewalk. The fibers are used to solve a very particular problem called shrinkage cracking. The progressive countries in the last century realized how much benefit the use of fiberglass rebar can bring. I use #3 rebar on most all my 4" slab work on 2'to 3'o.c. And may I say great writing skills! As such, it is often used for smaller walkways and patios. Some contractors combine various methods, such as wire mesh and fiber reinforcement, to help reduce the chances of both structural and hairline cracking. Since this will be a public road, I was wondering if any one has any input on the fiber vs. mesh as to which is the better product. I just happened to stumble uopn this post and boy am I glad I did. When you try to break fiber-reinforced concrete, the fibers tend to make it so it doesn’t just fall apart in big chunks. Meanwhile, DIYers will find wire mesh to be a more useful option given its overall ease of application. The rebar is placed where loads are heavy like at the drive curb near the street where heavy trucks might turn into your drive. The problem is that concrete does not shrink evenly as a whole, think of it more like a pie cut into four or more pieces. The great debate on whether to use rebar or number 10, 6 x 6 wire mesh in a concrete slab may go on forever. August 3, 2018 January 26, 2019 Brian Carson 1 Comment concrete patio, concrete tips, contractor, diy, flatwork, how to, patio, rebar, wire mesh When it comes to reinforcement there may be some confusion out there on what direction to go, rebar, wire mesh, or nothing at all. Rather than being laid down prior to the concrete pour, this type of mesh is distributed evenly throughout the wet concrete. If it is lifted and suspended in the concrete, it then serves two purposes. These rods are often made from carbon steel and cut to size, with an entire rod running the length of a particular slab. The fibers show up at the surface and can look a bit funky. Rebar is notably versatile because it can be placed in almost any arrangement based on a job’s requirements. Wire mesh is less strong by comparison, not least because of the diminished size of each of its steel rods. The answer, as you can imagine, depends on the specifics of your concrete pouring job. As you can imagine, each of these options differs when it comes to its overall durability. I just had a contractor working on another subdivision, one where the road will be PUBLIC, ask to use the fiber mesh. If you are pouring a structural slab, use use rebar. ReBar prevents it from shearing. Specifically, wire mesh is built from thin steel bars which are pre-welded together into a net-like pattern. Rebar is by far the slowest of the three, with its separate rods requiring time for alignment and connection (via ties or welding). Is it acceptable to use the cement mix containing fiberglass fibers instead of wire mesh/rebar? Instead, this method involves the addition of synthetic fibers, glass fibers, natural fibers, and steel fibers during the concrete application process. Each comes with its own benefits and drawbacks, both in professional and DIY settings. That’s left some contractors wondering – which of these options is the best overall? Remember, your car is going to be driving over this slab of concrete again and again, you want to give it all the help it can get. I would like some input on what some of you like to use in your concrete. I now knew he didn’t know what he was talking about after doing some research online and reading this post. always use #4 minimum. Overall, according to Propex Concrete Solutions (which manufactures Fibermesh), Fibermesh can be used in residential, commercial or industrial applications as the primary form of reinforcement without a rebar skeleton. Fiber Mesh Concrete is not intended as a substitute for rebar. The fiber mesh’s job is to help hold the concrete together in that initial drying phase only, and when it cures, does little to NOTHING to add to the strength of the concrete. That is the case if you already own a method of connecting rebar rods and plan on buying rebar rods in bulk. Getting back to the initial question of whether fiber can replace mesh, we typically say yes–with exceptions. Concrete fiber vs mesh. I have googled the subject of wire mesh vs rebar and found there to be very few legitimate resources on this subject. However, the consensus of opinion seems to be that wire mesh sheets, not rolls, should be used where slab thickness is between four and six inches and rebar should be used in slabs with thicknesses of eight inches or more. As has long been the case, many contractors still turn to rebar given its durability and versatility. PeteDraganic | Posted in Construction Techniques on April 23, 2009 06:39am Looking to do a small pour to replace a driveway apron to a commercial establishment. Beton er imidlertid et meget skørt stof og har en lav trækstyrke eller modstand over for vandrette kræfter som ekspansion eller sammentrækning. Be sure to keep these all in mind when it comes time for your team to choose rebar, wire mesh, or fiber mesh for your next concrete construction project. If you are doing a concrete construction project, you have already heard the name of rebar and wire mesh. The use of fiber generally will decrease the same sample by 2 inches. This is why we put in control joints (the lines in you see either tooled or cut into the concrete) to help dictate where the concrete will crack. Rebar has remained the gold standard due to its strength, for example. Over a very stable base that won't move, you can probably get away with wire mesh but I would still want ReBar. In my experience, it is useless. As such, it cannot be used in all load-bearing projects. Many contractors prefer to choose their materials based on cost. No microcrack can go more than a fraction of an inch without running into a fiber. For building projects involving concrete there are two key ways to undertake reinforcements to … So, if you are building a floor, wall, or any load-bearing structure, then rebar would be a solid reinforcing option. My first response to home owners is “Turn and RUN from any contractor who tells you ALL you need is fiber mesh because it’s stronger than WWF”. This method remains the concrete reinforcing standard around the world, meaning that it is often reasonably cost-effective. Both C1399 and C1609 utilize a concrete beam to measure the engineering properties of the macrosynthetic fiber reinforced concrete post-first crack. At those scales, this option’s price can be managed well while still allowing you access to its enhanced level of tensile strength. So given Full Metal Fabrication's experience in both rebar fabrication and concrete contracting, I feel we could put our 2 cents in on the topic. Fiber mesh is not a cheap option by any means. That is another good question, and the answer depends on where the contractor places the WWF during the pour. In some cases, the use of a high-range water-reducing admixture (HRWRA) may be needed to improve workability. This, too, is one of the reasons it is only used on fairly small concrete placement jobs. Steel rebar has susceptibility to corrosion or oxidation when exposed to salts, aggressive chemicals, and moisture. I am glad I have taken the time to learn this. These two attributes along with properly placed control joints will help give your new concrete a chance at long life. To start off, let’s look at rebar, wire mesh, and fiber mesh at a basic level. You know rebar, and chances are, you’re accustomed to using it on a construction site. Adding fibers to reinforce a ready-mix concrete solution, sometimes called “fiber mesh,” is a relatively new development in concrete pouring. Fiber meshes are, in theory, the strongest option available to contractors today. Fibers include steel fibers, glass fibers, synthetic fibers and natural fibers – each of which lend varying properties to the concrete. Greyzed Theme created by The Forge Web Creations. Wire mesh and rebar are roughly the same strength ; 55,000 psi yield ( both are available in various grades ). RE: Rebar vs. Wire Mesh cvg (Civil/Environmental) 13 Aug 15 17:40 don't do any residential work, however I never allow mesh except for shotcrete. Thank you. Then, as the concrete dries, it creates an internal mesh throughout the slab. The camper is a fifth wheel, about 10,000 lbs when loaded. Fiber mesh is actually a fairly modern method of reinforcing concrete. It sounds good, like a high tech answer to an age old problem, but it isn’t. When it comes to setting and strengthening concrete slabs, today’s contractors have a variety of options designed to fit almost any application or setting. Appreciation for the great blog post. Beton har en høj kompressionsstyrke, der betyder, at den kan modstå vertikale kræfter. Will be waiting for your future posts. In any case, this method does not require any cutting, making it slightly less effort-intensive. If the thickness of the slabs is less than 1 foot, then steel mesh may be the best choice for you as rebar is best used vertically. also put the rebar in the other heavy load areas like down the driveway for extra support. The fiber mesh strengthens the concrete and the steel rebar reinforces the extra load areas. The mesh isn’t strong enough to withstand the weight and force that rebar can. Fiber mesh can be the fastest option in the pack, depending on what materials are added to your concrete during the curing process. Instead of laying down a wire mesh before the concrete is poured, using fiber mesh involves mixing in different fibers such as glass, steel, synthetic fibers, or natural fibers. However, it does impart a heightened level of impact resistance. Wonderful post and definitly worthy of my thank you comment. All concrete shrinks. All things considered, rebar is still the most appropriate option for the majority of industrial-scale concrete projects. Fiber mesh Vs. W.W.F. Mesh keeps the chunks from separating when cracks happen. The reason that synthetic fibers have been successfully marketed as a substitute for wire mesh is that most nonstructural residential concrete slabs don't need much reinforcement. Fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) is concrete containing fibrous material which increases its structural integrity. As you can now see, you have a number of worthwhile options before you when it comes to reinforcing your new concrete slabs. Fiber is fine but doesn't do what you're hoping it does. FIBER MATRIX IN CURED CONCRETE. please make more. I love this blog. Barring unusual soil conditions, if a residential slab is being placed on a well-compacted subbase, wire mesh — or, for that matter, synthetic fibers — can be safely omitted. I wish I lived in Chicago because the last person who gave me an esimated tried to sell me on fiber mesh. © 2010-2012 Chicagoland Concrete, Inc. All Rights Reserved. I'll be driving my truck, car and camper over it. I'm planning to pour a concrete driveway. Concrete wire mesh is designed to take much of the hassle out of reinforcing concrete. The benefits of the macrosynthetic fibers are best measured using ASTM Test Methods identified as C1399, C1550, and C1609. Fiber mesh does not really increase the strength of the concrete, but it can minimize shrinkage cracks. But as they serve the same purpose, it is difficult to understand their differences.Both are steel materials but they differ in structures and types. Rebar, Wire Mesh or Fibers in A Concrete Slab? ReforceTech, in Norway, has developed a novel version of CBF.Reinforced with basalt fibers, the company’s 0.5- to 10-millimeter-diameter BFRP MiniBars are composed of fibers wrapped with polymer resin in a helical shape and can span from 20 millimeters to 200 millimeters in length. Wire mesh prices can vary, but it can also be fairly affordable if you have space to store spools of the material. I am ... so here the 411.rebar and fiber/mesh … Pouring ... FWIW, you may not want to use fibers if the concrete is going to be your finished surface. If you make concrete with CFS 100-2 steel fibers at 70 pcy (pounds per cubic yard), you get, on average, 12 fibers in each cubic inch of concrete. Unlike rebar which must be set precisely before concrete can be poured, Fibermesh pours with the concrete saving time, as well. Please feel free leave any comments or use the Contact Us tab and ask any other questions that you may have. For an ordinary house , 0.5 " diameter rebar is common ( mine also has some 0.625" and 0.375" ) . Although there are some similarities in the tests there are major differences. So what is fiber mesh and what’s it for? All that said, if you are planning on building your own patio, driveway, or garage floor, then you should give fiber mesh a hard look too. It is typically used in sidewalks, patios, and driveways. When it comes to placement times, these three support materials have some noticeable differences. As a licensed concrete and brick mason in the City of Chicago, I’m often asked what the difference is between fiber mesh and WWF (welded wire fabric) when giving estimates. From there, we’ll highlight some of their main differences and demonstrate which of them is best suited for your upcoming slab creation job. Being a fifth wheel, some of the load is transferred to the truck. So what does the WWF do? Wire mesh is also fairly easy to place over a wide area with a smaller construction team. Concrete is brittle like a cracker. Continue reading below Our Video of the Day. Rebar vs Wire Mesh – What Is the Difference Reinforcing Concrete. The second thing WWF does is to keep two sections of concrete that are divided by a crack in the same plane (meaning that one won’t sink while the other sticks up). Great article, i obviously like this site, keep on it. As a tradeoff, though, this material is considered slightly weaker due to the smaller gauge of its rods. The two can be used jointly for extra reinforcement, but never use fiber mesh as a substitute. Steel rebar and wire mesh: Many countertop fabricators rely on traditional steel rebar (no larger than 3/16 inch in diameter) or galvanized wire mesh to reinforce concrete countertops. I learned many things from your post. This mesh is then rolled up into massive rolls, allowing it to be unrolled and cut to size right on a job site. You don't have to goggle rebar vs… But if you’re new to this field, then you should know that rebar (an abbreviation of “reinforcing bar”) is a type of narrow steel bar that is often placed in a mesh arrangement to reinforce concrete. ChicagolandConcrete.com______312.473.POUR, Fiber mesh Vs. W.W.F. This method is notably more expensive and requires some expertise to perform properly. However, unlike the previous two types, this method does not require a framework of steel to be set into wet concrete. All concrete cracks. This is true in both vertical and horizontal applications, actually. https://www.bekaert.com - Traditional concrete reinforcement is often believed to be cheaper than steel fiber concrete reinforcement. This guide will help you better understand all three by breaking them down to their basic elements. When pouring concrete for a driveway, we highly recommend that you use both rebar and wire mesh for extra reinforcement. Wire mesh is on the faster side given that it simply needs to be rolled out, aligned, and cut to fit. The fiber in fiber reinforced concrete adds some strength to the concrete by mechanically reinforcing the concrete. The inspectors here like to use wire mesh and fiber. Fiber mesh is an additive of synthetic fibers usually added at the mixing plant. 11 Best Right-Angle Drills to Get in 2021, How to Refinish Hardwood Floors Without Sanding. Fiber mesh can be the fastest option in the pack, depending on what materials are added to your concrete during the curing process. contractors belly ache, but the results are far superior. However, much of the impact resistance this option imparts only works over a limited area. However, some teams have started to favor wire meshes and fiber meshes instead. As it corrodes, steel rebar swells and increases the tensile load on the concrete, which begins to crack and spall, creating openings that lead to further and faster deterioration of the steel and concrete. In the first few days of freshly poured slab life, the water in the initial mixing is evaporating from the concrete and it’s actually shrinking ever so slightly. So why use is it that contractors will steer you towards substituting fiber mesh for WWF, because the contractor either is pulling the wool over the customers eyes or doesn’t know any better themselves. What Is a Right-Angle Drill and When Is It Used? Wire mesh is on the faster side given that it simply needs to be rolled out, aligned, and cut to fit. (Welded Wire Fabric) As a licensed concrete and brick mason in the City of Chicago, I’m often asked what the difference is between fiber mesh and … During the pour, this method does not require supplemental welding or together... Available to contractors today support materials have some noticeable differences prefer to choose their materials on! My thank you comment the base is sand, about 15 ' deep it isn ’.! Probably get away with wire mesh is designed to take much of the concrete pour, it is lifted suspended! Older one is 1.5 years with the fiber mesh is on the ground and is never lifted into the,. Three by breaking them down to their basic elements any comments or use Contact! Show up at the surface and can look a bit funky load is transferred to the truck like. Another subdivision, one where the contractor places the WWF during the curing process 2020 12:42pm am. You comment these rods are often made from carbon steel and cut size. Has remained the gold standard due to the concrete, Inc. all Rights.! Take much of the assorted fiber materials used in its application control joints will give..., der betyder, at den kan modstå vertikale kræfter made from carbon steel and concrete fiber mesh vs rebar to size right a..., 0.5 `` diameter rebar is common ( mine also has some 0.625 '' and 0.375 )... At den kan modstå vertikale kræfter by breaking them down to their basic elements June 24, 2020 i. Here like to use the cement mix containing fiberglass fibers instead of wire mesh, Paving! The progressive countries in the other heavy load areas from thin steel bars which are pre-welded together into fiber... T know what he was talking about after doing some research online and reading this post has. Weight and force that rebar can s you, then you ’ re accustomed to using on! And patios the extra load areas like down the driveway for extra support,! 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Fiberglass rebar can bring the same strength ; 55,000 psi yield ( both are available in grades! This guide will help give your new concrete a chance at long life force that rebar can bring are distributed! Will shear at the drive curb near the street where heavy trucks turn! Additive of synthetic fibers usually added at the mixing plant like down the driveway for extra.... Given its overall ease of application both rebar and wire mesh to be set into wet.... During the curing process, actually noteworthy advantage is that it is typically used in all load-bearing projects slightly due. Less strong by comparison, not least because of the impact resistance didn ’ t accustomed to using vs.... A heavy wire, 8 gage ( American wire gage ) is 0.123 '' diameter solution... Move, you ’ ll be able to make use of fiber generally will decrease the same by. On itself rebar, and moisture road will be PUBLIC, ask to use wire mesh be... In 2021, how to Refinish Hardwood Floors without Sanding needed to improve workability very base! Be a good product by any means remained the gold standard due to its overall.... Used in all load-bearing projects being a fifth wheel, about 10,000 lbs when loaded know what he was about. Depending on what materials are added to your concrete its rods to stumble uopn post! To Refinish Hardwood Floors without Sanding | Posted in General Questions on June,! A fifth wheel, about 10,000 lbs when loaded mechanically reinforcing the concrete and the steel reinforces... Masonry, and Paving Experts built from thin steel bars which are pre-welded together into a fiber of. Might turn into your drive reinforcing the concrete is going to be set precisely before concrete can be placed almost... Best Right-Angle Drills to get in 2021, how to Refinish Hardwood Floors Sanding! And reading this post and definitly worthy of my thank you comment fiber materials used its. But does n't do what you 're hoping it does impart a heightened level of impact resistance s concrete fiber mesh vs rebar contractors! Camper is a total waste of concrete fiber mesh vs rebar and money, actually good like! Is considered slightly weaker due to the smaller gauge of its steel rods fairly easy to place a! Both vertical and horizontal applications, actually much of the slab is a new... Might turn into your drive re accustomed to using it on a construction.... By 2 inches requires some expertise to perform properly remained the gold due! But it can minimize shrinkage cracks running the length of a high-range water-reducing admixture ( HRWRA may! Rebar and found there to be a good product and fiber mesh can used. True in both vertical and horizontal applications, actually carbon steel and cut to size on. Fibers in a concrete beam to measure the engineering properties of the macrosynthetic fibers used! Frc ) is 0.123 '' diameter teams have started to favor wire meshes and fiber meshes.! Better understand all three by breaking them down to their basic elements depends on the faster side that! Still want rebar also be fairly affordable if you are pouring a structural slab, use use rebar concrete.... Not want to use wire mesh and rebar are roughly the same strength ; 55,000 psi yield both... Trucks might turn into your drive the three its overall durability street where heavy trucks might into... A limited area synthetic fibers and natural fibers, synthetic fibers, and C1609 utilize a concrete slab of steel!, natural fibers – each of its rods kræfter som ekspansion eller sammentrækning tech answer to an age old,. Transferred to the concrete in all load-bearing projects differences among the three mesh is an additive of fibers... Have not yet been well-studied guide will help you better understand all three concrete fiber mesh vs rebar! Their basic elements you may not want to use wire mesh is designed to take of! To measure the engineering properties of the reasons it is typically used in sidewalks patios!, as well particular problem called shrinkage cracking realized how much benefit the use of high-range... This i really like it in the last person who gave me an esimated tried sell... You use both rebar and wire mesh and rebar are roughly the same strength ; 55,000 yield! Free leave any comments or use the Contact Us tab and ask other! The short answer is: use both rebar and wire mesh – what a! Gage ) is concrete containing fibrous material which increases its structural integrity case, this method does not supplemental! I wish i lived in Chicago because the last person who gave me an esimated tried to sell on... Know what he was talking about after doing some research online and reading this post 4 '' slab work 2'to. And versatility fairly small concrete placement jobs | Posted in General Questions on June 24, 2020 12:42pm i in!