Almost any construction project that involves large slabs of concrete is going to require some concrete reinforcement. That’s a fact. But the way you go about reinforcing the concrete may not be as clear-cut.
That’s because there is more than one way to reinforce concrete. The two most common methods of concrete reinforcement are conventional slab reinforcement and post-tensioned slab on grade reinforcement. Which method is best for your project will depend on a number of factors, which we explore in depth below.
Tendon Systems is a leading provider of concrete reinforcement, construction and restoration services. To get help with your concrete construction project, reach out to us today.
At Tendon Systems, we specialize in post-tensioned slab on grade reinforcement. That’s because we believe post-tensioned slab on grade offers undeniable advantages over traditional concrete slab reinforcement.
Post-tensioning isn’t something you can see in a slab on grade foundation with the naked eye. Instead, this term implies a process that was completed before the foundation had to bear its intended service loads.
Post-tensioning tendons are steel cables that are placed inside the foundation’s mold form before the concrete is poured. The post-tensioning of the cables happens after the foundation’s concrete is poured but before load stress is applied to the slab on grade foundation. Inside their plastic sleeves within the newly poured concrete, the cables are pulled tight and anchored to the slab on either side.
This is called “post” tensioning because it happens after the concrete is poured, but it happens before the foundation has to bear any real weight.
Post-tensioned slab on grade offers several key advantages. Chief among them is this type of slab’s ability to withstand more pressure without cracking. This advantage comes from the fact that the interior cables are already placed under stress. That means the concrete is held tightly together, and the cables are contributing their reinforcing properties at all times.
The following are some other pros of post-tensioned slab on grade:
Post-tensioning is considered the gold standard of concrete slab reinforcement, but there are some potential drawbacks in certain situations:
Like post-tensioning, conventional slab reinforcement isn’t obvious when you look at a completed slab. It’s all about what’s done — or not done — to the slab in the construction process.
The conventional slab reinforcement process is similar to the post-tensioning process. Steel cables called tendons are placed inside a concrete slab foundation to add tensile strength. But there is a key distinction between conventionally reinforced slabs and post-tensioned slab on grade: in conventional reinforcement, the cables are not stressed before the slab has to bear its load.
Ultimately, this means that the interior steel tendons will not resist a load until the concrete slab has been compressed or cracked to the point that the service load places stress on the tendons.
In truth, conventional slab reinforcement offers few advantages over post-tensioned slab on grade. However, there are a couple of pros of conventional slab reinforcement that could apply in some situations:
Conventional slab reinforcement simply doesn’t hold its own in the post-tensioned slab on grade vs. conventional slab reinforcement fight. Here are a few of the key disadvantages:
There’s more than one way to reinforce concrete, but there is only one concrete construction services partner that does it best. At Tendon Systems, we work hard every day to provide the highest quality post-tensioned slab on grade reinforced concrete available anywhere.
We believe we accomplish that mission — just ask any one of our countless happy customers how their concrete is holding up. To discuss your concrete reinforcement needs with certified professionals, reach out to Tendon Systems today. Give us a call at (678) 835-1100 or contact us online.