When considering a concrete project for the first time, it may be shocking to see the prices on those bids you receive. As you go through them you will likely see added items and wonder what your concrete company is trying to pull.
“Why do I need rebar and/or mesh?”
“When I looked this up I found a cheaper price, why can’t we use a cheaper one?”
“Do I really need a sealer?”
“Can I seal the concrete myself?”
These are just a few examples and are all great questions. After years of experience we’re here to say, there is a reason we use/recommend what we do. Simply put, we want to deliver the best result, and we want it to last!
REBAR:
Concrete is very strong with compression (pushing together) but not so strong with tension (pulling apart). In order to reinforce this we add steel bars that have been deformed (rebar) which is good with tension. It will not stop the concrete from cracking, but will help the concrete to stay in intact if or when the concrete does crack.
We generally use rebar instead of mesh because it is stronger. It also allows us to tie new concrete into existing concrete when needed. In our experience mesh tends to get pushed to the bottom of the concrete slab which defeats the purpose of reinforcement. You want it to be towards the middle of the slab. Mesh is also very thin compared to the rebar we use; rebar is stronger.
Something else to keep in mind when researching mesh versus rebar is the geographical region that the information is coming from. Rebar is much better in our region with the extreme temperatures we tend to go through.
With rebar we make a grid pattern (much like what the mesh looks like) and set it on “chairs” and are able to pour the concrete over the rebar without it moving to the bottom of the slab.
**We put rebar on our estimates as “optional”. When reviewing your estimate make sure that you have everything you want listed and priced.
Wire Mesh Rebar
SEALER:
Concrete is a porous material meaning it absorbs moisture. The moisture that is able to absorb within this material freezes and thaws. This leads to cracking and spalling.
Sealing your concrete project helps to eliminate the amount of water seeping into it and causing the cracking. Sealing also helps preserve the color of your concrete.
CCD Enterprises uses 2 basic types of sealers for concrete. One concrete sealer is used right away when the concrete is poured. This would be a “cure and seal.” A second sealer is used 30 days after concrete has been poured and this is the concrete sealer that you can apply yourself. This sealer is referred to as a “penetrating sealer”.
If you are applying the concrete sealer yourself; we suggest to make sure you follow the directions listed on the container. If you have new concrete pay attention to how long you need to wait after the concrete is poured before you can seal it, what the temperature should be, how to apply it and etc.
Please feel free to give us a call with any questions that you may have.