I was looking through my Menards weekly sales add and noticed that they have fiberglass rebar on sale.  This is a new product for me.  Have any of you seen this material used anywhere?  The following description is from Menard’s website:

Ditch the steel rebar for the next generation of concrete reinforcement! LiteBar is a glass fiber reinforcing bar that is built to be stronger, lighter, and rust free. LiteBar significantly reduces install time and cuts down on transportation expenses as it is 7 times lighter than steel rebar. LiteBar has a higher tensile strength and lower tensile modulus which means concrete is less prone to cracking. LiteBar does not rust which means no more corrosion cracks. LiteBar also springs back and stays centered when stepped on or driven on. Ask for LiteBar by LiteForm!

They claim 7/16” fiberglass bar can be used instead of ½” steel bar for horizontal applications.  Danl

never seen it used..

Wonder if it costs more?

Saw the same ad Dan. Is new to me also. Thought I would check out the inter-web to learn more about it when I get a-round-tuit.

1 hour ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

Wonder if it costs more?

It's advertised at $4.99 for a 20' stick at construction suppliers around here. I think that's a little cheaper than steel. Concrete guys love it. 

Does it says anything about being bendable.  I wouldn't think so but it seems like everything I have formed in the past had lots of bending. But I guess a person could just cross it over each other and wire twist tie it together.. Maybe some of these bridges and things in the wet areas will last longer..

Can it be bent?   About every job I have been on,  the steel rebar either needed bent, or it came off the truck shaped for that spot....like uprights in walls, corners need tied in...piers of every kind need "stirrups" bent around uprights, to make a cage....

 

Another question....does concrete even adhere to the glass bar?    Those ridges on the steel rebars are there to grab onto the concrete. 

 

How does ones cut a glass bar for length?

Menards ad say it is for horizontal applications so I doubt it can be bent.  The outside of it is rough with a spiral down it so concrete can adhere.   A ad for it shows it being cut with a angle grinder with a cut off wheel.  Haven't seen it used yet but in the salt belt it would be an advantage.   Roly

On 10/2/2018 at 8:14 AM, Grandpadave52 said:

Saw the same ad Dan. Is new to me also. Thought I would check out the inter-web to learn more about it when I get a-round-tuit.

OK, here ya go!

 

I've only seen it used for slabs and footers. No bends needed. Somebody's gonna come up with a set of bends that slip over the rebar, and make a fortune.