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driveway question
floorlab	04-11-2008 19:49:23
Member Posts: 192 Joined: 07-14-2007	Hey guys, I am a polished concrete guy and I have a question about driveways. Not sure this the right forum but here goes. My wife's sister is getting quotes from contractors to pour their drive way and one guy is saying he will put fiber reinforcement in the mix instead of wire mesh. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? thx for the help.

duggie	04-11-2008 21:15:36
Member Posts: 23 Joined: --	Personally I prefer fibre mesh over wire for a number of reasons. 1. Wire rusts and will break down concrete over time. 2. Most times the wire ends up at the bottom of the concrete reason being is after it is pulled up and into place the skreeder or skreeders are still working on top of it therefore driving in down onto the gravel. 3. Fibre mesh is basically 3 dimensional since it is mixed in the load when the concrete is laid out the fibre mesh is interwoven throughout the concrete in all directions. It is also more cost effective and I personally use Stealth mesh fibres which i find lives up to it's name even in Exposed concrete. Not yet have I had to burn hairs with a torch

suntacsys	04-12-2008 14:18:56
Member Posts: 1160 Joined: --	lab, the ONLY 2 times wire mesh comes into play is: 1st, WHILE the conc is plastic ( green ), it adds tension strength; & 2nd, after the conc cures when it holds the broken pcs together :-) more important than anything else is grading & compaction of base, slump, w/c ratio, drainage considerations, JOINT PATTERN, AND DEPTH & TIMING OF INITIAL CUT,,, if they worry about those, you don't need mesh OR fiber in a driveway,,, since most don't, mesh's been add'd by owners/engineers/designers & many contractors think its needed as a result. but it ain't no matter what anyone sez ! ! ! best [the original] we-don'-need-no-steenking-mesh yic-yac

MC	04-12-2008 17:21:52
Member Posts: 764 Joined: 05-20-2007	I agree with both. Sun has a good point that what really matters is sub grade prep, mix design and placing/finishing. I use fiber mesh everynow and then especially in the hotter months because it helps some with shrinkage cracks. But thats it, once the concrete has cured they do nothing. I hate wire mesh and never use it. I laugh when homeowners tell me "well the other guy said he would use wire mesh for no added costs" Duggie is right about that

floorlab	04-12-2008 20:16:02
Member Posts: 192 Joined: 07-14-2007	thx guys. it's been a big help.

suntacsys	04-13-2008 03:30:13
Member Posts: 1160 Joined: --	forgot to mention this part,,, had our d/w replac'd last yr,,, cost quoted incl rip out w/bobcat - container & disposal - cut/fill soft base in spots - regrade - vibratory roller - place & screed 3,500# - bull float - broom finish - saw 1" jnts next day 0700 - drive on it 3rd day,,, some crazing from finishers ' blessing ' their work but no fiber or wire. slab sizes're w/i aci specs & w/longitudinal jnt which's rare in d/w work here,,, also saw'd a short jnt at either throat flare radius. cost less than i could've done it myself & found a new d/w sub in the process. best [the original] we-still-don'-need-no-steenking-mesh yic-yac

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