Concrete garage floor pour with mesh

[foodie]

Hi guys I am new here and just a gal who is reading all of your wonderful posts regarding new garage floors. I am having a total tear out and new floor replaced. I live in Michigan. Thank you for all of the details. My question is this. I am definitely going to tell the concrete contractor I want #4 rebar 12 inches on center. I am planning on putting down porcelain tile, I have a tile guy for that.
However the tile guy stated to use the mesh in the concrete so that it sticks up through the floor and it will give the porcelain tile a better grip. I disagree. When looking at the posts regarding back buttering the tile and thin set on the concrete there should be NO air pockets. Can you please help with this question and answer. Is it okay for some of the mesh to stick up through the floor. This really does not seem correct to me. But I am just a novice and learning. Thank you in advance for your responses.
Dakota I have PM you earlier about another question.
Thanks guys!!

 

[rburke65]

I assume he is referring to "fiber" mesh? No expert here, but I've never heard of this.

 

[JStar4]

The floor will be flat the mesh is hair like and if it does stick up not a big deal but if he uses good thin set i doesn't matter either way

 

[Jinks]

Clarify with your tile guy. "Mesh" in concrete usually refers to "wire mesh" to us old guys. He probably means "fiberglass". If that's what he means it's not a problem, most concrete today includes fiberglass unless you request it not be included. With rebar & fiberglass you'll be fine.

 

[foodie]

Oh guys,...you are all the best! Thank you so very much for easing my concern. Yes I will make sure it is the fiberglass in the cement mix. I am thinking that is what he meant perhaps, because he stated it is like small hair fibers sticking up through the concrete.
Thanks again

 

[Dakota00]

However the tile guy stated to use the mesh in the concrete so that it sticks up through the floor and it will give the porcelain tile a better grip. I disagree. When looking at the posts regarding back buttering the tile and thin set on the concrete there should be NO air pockets. Can you please help with this question and answer. Is it okay for some of the mesh to stick up through the floor. This really does not seem correct to me. But I am just a novice and learning. Thank you in advance for your responses.
Dakota I have PM you earlier about another question.
Thanks guys!!

Fiberglass fibers sticking out of the concrete is normal and isn't an issue. What is important, the installer properly keys in the thinset during installation. This will ensure that extra "bite" needed for the thinset to adhere to the concrete with the exposed fibers.

PM replied too!

 

[James-W]

Welcome to the forum.

I am certainly not a porcelain tile expert so I can't really say one way or another as to the mesh making the tile adhere to the concrete better. My gut feeling is that it would have minimal value, if it has any value at all. The mesh is fine for the concrete itself, but as to making the porcelain tile stick better to the concrete, I could be wrong but I have my doubts. Perhaps a professional tile layer will chime in and give us some first hand information on this.

 

[foodie]

Quick question to all of you wonderful guys. Is poly mesh the same as fiber glass in the cement mix??

 

[machsnell]

Quick question to all of you wonderful guys. Is poly mesh the same as fiber glass in the cement mix??

I believe he means to say fiber instead of mesh. Mesh is typically referring to welded wire fabric (wwf).

There is macro fiber and micro fiber that you can get in concrete. It is added and doesn't come in standard mix designs.

The standard fiber which is larger is almost like little cut pieces of poly masonry line. Which is noticeable in the finish of the concrete.

The micro fiber is small single fibers that are not noticeable in the finish.

As to whether or not either helps tile I don't know. I do know I have had excellent results with fiber pours we have done over the last 10 years.

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[ConCretin]

I am definitely going to tell the concrete contractor I want #4 rebar 12 inches on center.

We all love our rebar but I think you could save some significant money here. That amount of rebar is way overkill. Give my thread a read for additional info on slab reinforcing.

I agree with the prior comments, your tile guy is probably referring to fiber mesh. I have a hard time believing that the fibers would improve the bond very much but I'm no tile expert.

Good luck with your placement!

 

[Kaizen]

I just used mesh on my 30x36 Alaska slab. Rebar on the edge of course. Two years later no cracks. Do make sure your concrete guy does expansion joints that will line up with full tiles. Or have the tile guy cut after pour in a few days. Otherwise if it cracks where it wants it will crack the tile. This way it will be on a grout joint. Might even ask him to use colored caulk on the joint instead of grout


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[foodie]

Thanks again guys. LLWilly I will read your thread. And see what the recommendations are fore rebar. I will see what the cement contractor says about the fiber, either way I think it will help to make the slab last longer and especially with the tile application. And yes you are all correct, I asked the tile guy what he was referring to and he meant to say fiber mesh.

 

[foodie]

I just used mesh on my 30x36 Alaska slab. Rebar on the edge of course. Two years later no cracks. Do make sure your concrete guy does expansion joints that will line up with full tiles. Or have the tile guy cut after pour in a few days. Otherwise if it cracks where it wants it will crack the tile. This way it will be on a grout joint. Might even ask him to use colored caulk on the joint instead of grout


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Kaizen, so if I am reading this correctly, the tile guy should line up a tile edge with an expansion joint and fill that with colored caulk? This garage is only 250 sq feet, and I only have one control/expansion joint in there now.

 

[joes169]

We all love our rebar but I think you could save some significant money here. That amount of rebar is way overkill. Give my thread a read for additional info on slab reinforcing.

Good to see you're back, some of the concrete information here in the last year or two has been pretty "interesting" to say the least in your absence. As another contractor, I totally agree that #4 rebaron 12" centers is complete overkill. Especially considering the floor is being replaced and the fill under it has likely had decades to settle.

A simple set of control joints sawn within 24 hours or so of placement will suffice, if installed correctly. Far simpler, cheaper, and more reliable at preventing errant cracking than high density rebar placement.

As for the term "poly mesh", I'd have to assume that is in reference to polypropylene fibers, which is probably 99% of the fibers that go into residential concrete. They're not a direct replacement for steel re-enforcement, or macro fibers for that matter, by any stretch.

 

[Kaizen]

Kaizen, so if I am reading this correctly, the tile guy should line up a tile edge with an expansion joint and fill that with colored caulk? This garage is only 250 sq feet, and I only have one control/expansion joint in there now.

Correct. So you would have two 12x12 squares. So if it does crack the tile is not affected. Ideally I’d position it do you have full tiles at the entrance and any cut at the rear.


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