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 … The sheer size of rebar that is too big places a significant amount of the steel closer to the visible surface of the countertop instead of down near the bottom of the slab. This is needed to determine both the lengths of the rebar and how many rows and columns are needed. Not all surfaces need concrete rebar reinforcement, but adding it makes concrete stronger and more resistant to large cracks. Rebar, Wire Mesh or Fibers in A Concrete Slab? When stacked, larger rebar can take up half of the total slab thickness, while smaller rebar takes up much less space. This condition may result in rebar rusting and damaging the concrete. In the photo the concrete was poured too dry and not properly vibrated. If your concrete has rebar or wire mesh in it, the liquid brine solution can cause the metal to corrode (rust), metal expands when it rusts, this could also cause the surface to pop or scale. Once you have identified the specs for your rebar, you’ll need to identify how much clearance or space is needed between the rebar grid and the edge of the slab. You can use rebar to reinforce concrete for standing structures like walls and columns, but it can also be used to reinforce concrete sidewalks. Problem #6 – If no rebar in concrete, then one side of a crack may rise above the other side: i.e. When concrete is being placed below 5 degrees but is not below freezing point, concrete will take longer to develop the required strength.   Note that removing formwork when concrete is too cold or hasn’t reached desired strength, could damage concrete strength and surfaces and concrete might collapse. Mine are pretty poorly dug (literally the first day in my life I used an excavator), so I was planning on just sticking an extra few yards of concrete in there to make sure the high-spots were still 16+ inches thick. If you're not sure your concrete has rebar or wire in it, then avoid using concrete de-icers with chlorides in them. Concrete surfaces expected to carry heavy trucks or machinery do need concrete rebar reinforcement. Step Two: Estimate the Rebar Grid Clearance. Q.: If reinforcing bars have been stored outside and have a coating of rust, how much rust is acceptable? As far as how much rebar like most have said you should check your codes but I normally put rebar on every row horizontal and vertical is where you sometimes get a little difference. Also, can you footers be too thick? in a garage floor Rebar reinforcement has been used to provide concrete with the support necessary to withstand tension forces for over 150 years. Using frost blankets and insulated formwork could be necessary to protect concrete. The grid is 6 inches by 6 inches. I know with arxx on horizontal runs they require it to be every other run. Do you need rebar for footers that are below the frost line, for a garage? You can use either 1/2 inch diameter steel rods in concrete or rolls of steel mesh that look like a giant piece of graph paper. A.: Section 12 of ASTM A 615-96a, "Standard Specification for Deformed and Plain Billet Steel Bars for Concrete Reinforcement," says that rust shall not be cause for rejection provided the weight, dimensions, cross-sectional area, and tensile properties of a … A product that you can reinforce concrete with is known as rebar. The great debate on whether to use rebar or number 10, 6 x 6 wire mesh in a concrete slab may go on forever. This dense, cylindrical metal pole with ridges is widely used in the construction business just for this purpose. 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