Patio with fiberglass reinforced concrete

[CypressCajun]

Hi all: Underway with my pool build and in a couple of weeks, my patio will be poured (~900 sq/ft or so of decking). Has anyone used/recommend upgrading to fiberglass reinforced concrete to help prevent cracking? I asked my builder (by suggestion of some family members) and the builder says it does help and is getting me a quote.

Thanks!

 

[MWengineer]

I've heard positive things about fiber reinforced concrete. The fibers (glass, polypropylene, or steel) don't do much to stop any structural cracking due to poor foundation soils/settlement and are not a supplement for rebar. They control shrinkage cracking due to stresses developed during initial curing.
The contractor that poured a 22'x38' driveway (with control joints) at my Mom's used polypropylene fibers. Didn't bother to do anything to cure the concrete on a sunny August 95 deg day. It was 12 hrs before I got there to find bone-dry white concrete and starting soaking down the slab, but almost 2 years later there is no cracking.
If its in the budget, I'd do it.

 

[sktn77a]

We had the fiberglass shavings in our concrete driveway to prevent cracking - it didn't. Within a month, the first crack appeared and we've have several others over the last 9 years. The original concrete (25 years old with no fiberglass reinforcement) did better.

 

[jimmythegreek]

its always better to add the fibers, and its cheap. what quote does he need has he never done concrete or used fiber mesh? from either supplier I use near me its 10 dollars a yard extra to the mix rate of the concrete. so a full truck for me is 100bucks extra, no brainer.