A Look At The Pros And Cons Of Using Fiberglass To Reinforce Concrete

Concrete is perhaps one of the most heavily relied upon construction materials ever, and its basic form and composition has been the same for many years. However, efforts to reinforce concrete have brought about things like fiberglass reinforcing fibers that are incorporated into the mix. Here is a look at some of the pros and cons of adding fiberglass fibers to concrete. 

Pro: Fiberglass reinforcement helps prevent cracking due to stress or age.

The biggest advantage of having concrete that is formulated with fiberglass is the fact that the concrete will not be as brittle once the project is done and the concrete is cured. The material will be more resistant to direct impact, less prone to cracks due to breaking, and overall more resilient so that it can last for the long term. Using rebar has been the go-to for concrete reinforcement for a long time, but even rebar does not provide the same sustainability when it comes to cracks or breakage. 

Con: Adding fiberglass to concrete will make the overall project more expensive. 

Of course, any added material that is being incorporated into a concrete mixture is going to make the overall project a little more expensive. However, fiberglass is one of the most affordable fiber additives when compared to something like steel or nylon. Therefore, fiberglass helps construction companies get the fibers they need for reinforcement without having to spend a lot of money to do so. 

Pro: Fiberglass reinforcing for concrete helps make the material less porous.  

One thing that is undesirable about traditional concrete is that it is a porous material, which means water can see or bleed through in certain settings and cause problems beneath the concrete. If you want concrete that is more resilient to moisture, adding fibers, especially fiberglass fibers, can help to deter that problem. 

Con: Incorporating fiberglass into concrete can make the project take a little longer to complete. 

Adding fiberglass fibers to the concrete during installation can take a little extra time, and working with the fibrous material is different than working with straight concrete. Therefore, projects done with fiberglass-reinforced concrete will take slightly longer to complete. 

Pro: Fiberglass fibers will give the concrete a unique look when finished. 

Once the concrete has cured, some of the fibers are going to naturally be visible from the surface. Therefore, the finished product will have a unique, textured look that would not otherwise be present without the fibers incorporated. 

For more information, talk to a professional about fiberglass reinforcing for concrete.

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