Steel or composite rebar?
This year I decided to put a garage on the site. Of course, you need to start with the foundation. A list of materials was compiled, and I drove to a hardware store. A large item of foundation costs is reinforcement for the internal frame.
I didn't think that any questions would arise in the choice of this material. Still, it is clear: you take steel reinforcement of the desired section and make a frame. But at my request to show the fittings, the seller asked: "Steel or fiberglass?"
This question interested me. I decided to listen to what the seller would offer me. I asked him to tell what kind of fiberglass reinforcement it is, and what is better to take.
The consultant talked for a long time about why composite is better than metal. And, of course, he persuaded to take her.
Here are his main arguments:
- the material is lighter than steel;
- does not lend itself to corrosion;
- has less thermal conductivity;
- has a low coefficient of thermal expansion;
- tensile strength is higher in comparison with steel reinforcement of the same section.
The last point made me especially happy. It turns out that when installing a reinforced concrete structure, reinforcement of a smaller diameter can be used. Interesting!
With all of the above fiberglass reinforcement is cheaper than its steel counterpart.Just a builder's dream.
It became clear that the seller was interested in selling me the composite. Apparently, fiberglass reinforcement is the product that the employer will pay more for. I didn't buy the fittings from him that day. Since all the questions about the cons, the seller told me that they simply do not exist. Yes, indeed, a builder's dream.
What is really worth saying about composite rebar?
In general, the seller did not lie. Indeed, fiberglass reinforcement is superior to steel in some of its characteristics, but of course there are also disadvantages. Here are the main ones:
- easily bends - the elasticity of composite reinforcement is 4 times lower than that of steel;
- if it is necessary to weld the rods into the end, metal rods at the ends of the rods must be installed at the factory;
- such reinforcement cannot be shaped at a construction site - for this, factory rods of the required shape are needed;
- heating up to 600 degrees destroys the plastic compound that binds the fibers. Therefore, it is necessary to protect the structure from possible fire.
I will probably be conservative, but in the end I chose metal fittings. Although builders are actively using fiberglass in low-rise construction. No special calculations are required in foundations. But in the production of floor slabs, additional calculations are needed, because composite reinforcement is less elastic.
I hope the pros and cons of composite reinforcement given in the article will help you decide which material to use in a particular case. Do not trust corrupt sellers; seek the truth yourself.