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Concrete Slab Question
Posted on 6/12/20 at 11:37 am
Posted on 6/12/20 at 11:37 am
I hired a company to pour a concrete slab in my backyard. We were wanting more room to fit an outdoor dining table and fire pit, etc. Anyhow, the slab is aprox 25 ft long by 12 feet wide, aprox 4 inches thick. The slab was poured over dirt, not an existing slab. They contractor initially said he was going to use rebar, but on the day they went to pour it he called and told me they were going to use a product that contained concrete and fiberglass. He said it adds much more strength to concrete and that rebar wasn't needed.
My question; should rebar have been used and this guy just lied to me or is it ok to use the fiberglass glass stuff for this slab?
I haven't paid him yet and at this point I am probably stuck with what Ive got but I'd still like to know if this guy is being dishonest.
My question; should rebar have been used and this guy just lied to me or is it ok to use the fiberglass glass stuff for this slab?
I haven't paid him yet and at this point I am probably stuck with what Ive got but I'd still like to know if this guy is being dishonest.
12
Posted on 6/12/20 at 11:40 am to Seaux_cal_tiger
Should have used both
Posted on 6/12/20 at 11:41 am to Seaux_cal_tiger
what was your total cost?
Posted on 6/12/20 at 11:41 am to Chad504boy
$2,500
Posted on 6/12/20 at 11:42 am to Seaux_cal_tiger
It will crack when the soil moves. You needed a subbase (small grain rock).
Posted on 6/12/20 at 11:42 am to Seaux_cal_tiger
quote:Happen to get a name of the product? Maybe the industry term he may have used?
a product that contained concrete and fiberglass
Posted on 6/12/20 at 11:43 am to Seaux_cal_tiger
quote:
My question; should rebar have been used and this guy just lied to me or is it ok to use the fiberglass glass stuff for this slab?
My shop building used only fiberglass, and it has a good moisture barrier. It is coming up on 15 years with no cracks or other issues.
Posted on 6/12/20 at 11:47 am to Seaux_cal_tiger
He most likely used Fibermesh Fiber Mesh. They add it to the concrete mix at the batch plant. It cost him more per CY but he doesn't have to buy rebar and rodbust.
Rebar is preferable and using both would have been the strongest option. That being said, for your aplication, it should be fine.
Rebar is preferable and using both would have been the strongest option. That being said, for your aplication, it should be fine.
Posted on 6/12/20 at 11:48 am to TexasTiger90
quote:
Happen to get a name of the product? Maybe the industry term he may have used?
No, he just said it was the same stuff they pour for pools and hot tubs.
Posted on 6/12/20 at 11:50 am to Seaux_cal_tiger
quote:
No, he just said it was the same stuff they pour for pools and hot tubs.
Well that's a weird response from him. They use gunite for pools/spas and they always have rebar. You don't use gunite for a slab
Posted on 6/12/20 at 11:51 am to Seaux_cal_tiger
The 25 foot dimension worries me a little. That is pretty far when you consider the thickness in terms of shrinkage cracks. It will also depend on the amount or dosage of fiber that he added. Curing correctly can help. With the heat right now, I would make sure to keep it covered with some wet burlap if you can. Really, any thick cloth that you can keep wet.
Posted on 6/12/20 at 11:54 am to Seaux_cal_tiger
It should have been put down over a tamped and leveled aggregate, but it doesn't need rebar if its fibermesh. Regardless, it'll be fine.
Posted on 6/12/20 at 11:54 am to Boudreaux35
Man... this guy didn't mention any of that to me. They finished the slab last night about 8:00pm. How long do I cure it for?
Posted on 6/12/20 at 12:02 pm to Seaux_cal_tiger
No need for rebar on a 4” slab. Wire mesh would have been fine. However if you used fibermesh concrete and no vehicular traffic, it should be fine.
As far as the cracking, wire mesh or rebar would not matter. All concrete cracks. They should have installed contraction joints to control the cracking. Again, the concrete will crack as it cures but the contraction joints allow it to crack where you want it to crack instead of randomly. Expansion joints should have been used anywhere it butts up to existing concrete with material in between.
Contraction joints are simply installed by scoring the concrete before it cures and should be installed in squares since the concrete will contract uniformly. typically 10’x10’ but I have seen larger sections come out fine.
The cracking I am referencing is surface cracks that won’t affect the integrity of the slab. Not structural cracks due to excessive load or excessive settling.
As far as the cracking, wire mesh or rebar would not matter. All concrete cracks. They should have installed contraction joints to control the cracking. Again, the concrete will crack as it cures but the contraction joints allow it to crack where you want it to crack instead of randomly. Expansion joints should have been used anywhere it butts up to existing concrete with material in between.
Contraction joints are simply installed by scoring the concrete before it cures and should be installed in squares since the concrete will contract uniformly. typically 10’x10’ but I have seen larger sections come out fine.
The cracking I am referencing is surface cracks that won’t affect the integrity of the slab. Not structural cracks due to excessive load or excessive settling.
Posted on 6/12/20 at 12:02 pm to Seaux_cal_tiger
I hope you didn't use the same guy that I did. Patio slab cracked in 3 places within a week of curing. When I called, he said it was supposed to do that.
Posted on 6/12/20 at 12:06 pm to Seaux_cal_tiger
It sounds like he used fiber reinforced concrete. Lots of contractors are pushing this material lately. The fiberglass (fibers) act as a reinforcing material and prevent cracks (primarily thermal and shrinkage cracks). However, once the inevitable crack occurs the fibers have failed. Rebar or wire mesh on the other hand doesn't prevent the inevitable cracks as much as it prevents slab movement and separation after the crack occurs.
He should have used both. Once it cracks, your screwed
He should have used both. Once it cracks, your screwed
This post was edited on 6/12/20 at 12:08 pm
Posted on 6/12/20 at 12:06 pm to SallyWheeler
quote:
No need for rebar on a 4” slab. Wire mesh would have been fine. However if you used fibermesh concrete and no vehicular traffic, it should be fine.
As far as the cracking, wire mesh or rebar would not matter. All concrete cracks. They should have installed contraction joints to control the cracking. Again, the concrete will crack as it cures but the contraction joints allow it to crack where you want it to crack instead of randomly. Expansion joints should have been used anywhere it butts up to existing concrete with material in between.
Contraction joints are simply installed by scoring the concrete before it cures and should be installed in squares since the concrete will contract uniformly. typically 10’x10’ but I have seen larger sections come out fine.
The cracking I am referencing is surface cracks that won’t affect the integrity of the slab. Not structural cracks due to excessive load or excessive settling.
Agree with all of this
Posted on 6/12/20 at 12:29 pm to Seaux_cal_tiger
He is not being totally dishonest but probably took the easy way out on this one so he didn’t have to spend more money on your project as it would affect his bottom line. Personally I would have liked to see both used. They really do different things. There are so many articles on this. Just google it and make up your mind. I would have liked to see a compacted sub grade at least, if no rebar Or welded wire mesh was used. That’s just me. Good luck!
This post was edited on 6/12/20 at 12:33 pm
Posted on 6/12/20 at 1:07 pm to Seaux_cal_tiger
My advice Don't get fiber in the slab. after a year or so it will start to permeate through the cement. very uncomfortable in your skin. use rebar much stronger.
Posted on 6/12/20 at 2:03 pm to Jimbo1975
quote:Little too late for the OP
My advice Don't get fiber in the slab
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