Do I want to use fiber reinforced concrete for the basement floor slab and garage floor slab? Someone told me that it doesn't finish as nice as concrete with no fiber.
The basement floor will mostly be carpeted and I intend to paint the garage floor with an epoxy paint made for garage use.
Gary
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Hey! Aren't you supposed to be working?
My new shop has the fiber reinforced cement, it does not have as nice as finish as regular concrete, but I think a lot of that has to do with who is doing the finishing.
Far less cracking than regular cement, I would highly recommend it. [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
When you say it doesn't have as nice a finish, is it suitable for painting? I mean it's not like a broom finish or anything like that, right. Just maybe not as smooth as a steel trowel would leave?
Gary
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Hey! Aren't you supposed to be working?
Gary, my new workshop has a slab floor with fiber reinforced concrete. The finish is not as rough as a broom finish but somewhere inbetween that and a smooth finish. It's good for traction when slick but you probably wouldn't want it as a finished floor in a house.
But it's suitable as a garage floor?
Did you paint or seal your slab?
Gary
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Hey! Aren't you supposed to be working?
It is very suitable for the garage, I have not painted or sealed my yet, still finishing off the inside.
What is advantage to fiber? Does it hold up better to resist cracking? Reason I'm curious is I have a !8x20 shed I'd love to get a floor in but I'm afraid with cocrete it will get all busted up by frost(live in western Pa) any ideas? Thanks
The fiber reinforces the concrete, giving it more tensile strength. If you want to add yet more strength, put reinforcing fence (wire) in the concrete as well. Do this on a good base and you should be able to keep the concrete from busting up. If concerned, I would also pour at least 5" thickness. The entire floor should act as a single piece, and float with any frost that might occur. If the shed is heated, adding insulation around the perimeter of the concrete pad will help hold the frost back too.
If you want to work with reinforced cement on a small scale, the fiberglass is available in 1 and I believe 3 yard bags. I bought a 1 yard bag and it was about $5.00. The brand name was "stealth" and the stuff reminded be somewhat of the inside of a milkweed pod. Shiny white fibers about 1/2 inch long. With the average bag of sackrete being about 1/2 cu foot, it doesn't take more that a good pinch of fiber.
SHF
The fiber glass is easier but the best system for a slab is still rebar and reinforcing wire. It is very hard to get a mason in our area to use anything but the fiber.
I do not have a slab in my barn because it is on fill and I want to wait for settling. I also want a rebar and reinforcing wire system but the masons are too busy to give me a quote. Strange I can get all the bids I want if I go with the fiber. I will look around in the spring and see if I can find a mason that still knows how the use rebar.
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