Question:
I did a search for fibermesh and found the company that makes it but the
sight did not really answer my questions. I am going to be pouring a garage
floor and would like to know if this can be used in place of the 6 x 6
square of wire mesh. Will the mesh do a better job of reducing separation
when the floor cracks?
If the wire mesh is used is there a good way to ensure it is in the
center of the slab? I have pulled it up into the center but that is not the
good a method. All it take is someone not to pull a spot and it could
separate in that area. The cement dobies I have seen are not that big and
don't support the mesh that well. Are there bigger ones out there, I had
thought of normal brick but that does not pass code here. Any ideas would be
appreciated.
Answer:
Neither will prevent cracking and some separation at the crack. I
believe that mesh or rebar will better resist vertical/horizontal shear
movement at the point of the crack. My fiber-reinforced concrete slab
has cracked in a couple of places where I believe the cuts were spaced
too far apart. So far the slab hasn't shifted vertically, but the fibers
that I see in the crack don't appear to be holdiing anything. I have a
pretty good base, so I don't anticipate significant vertical shifting.
