Rusty wire mesh

[FlameOut]

I bought some mesh and re-bar a few months back in anticipation on doing my floor. They have been sitting outside, and have rusted. I was told that they are useless now because you can't use rusty mesh or rebar in concrete. Is this true?

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

If you can't, there are a LOT of buildings in this country that are about to fall.....

 

[nate379]

You mean they sell non-rusty rebar?

 

[His200HerScout]

Did a salesman tell you that?

 

[Junkman]

Great......... now you come up with this information. Where were you 27 years ago when I built my home with rusty rebar, and rusty wire mesh? The only place that I know that uses coated rebar and mesh is in government projects, where they expect the building or bridge to last a 100 years. If you installed fresh, non rusted rebar and mesh in concrete, a year later, if you were to cut it apart, it would be rusted. Actually, the lime in concrete attacks the iron in the concrete, and that is the reason that they have gone to coated iron parts in the government jobs. It cost a lot more, and for homeowner use, it will make no difference in yours or my lifetime..

 

[Mike83]

Unless you have serious scaling on the surface, you're fine. Bare steel starts rusting as soon as it leaves the mill. Actually, the rust will increase the bond between the rebar and concrete, so you benefit!

 

[35mastr]

Little did you know. It was already rusty when you bought it.

 

[boiler7904]

Epoxy coated rebar is about the only kind that doesn't get installed rusty.

Rust isn't a problem unless you have cracks in the concrete that salt water can get to.

 

[tanveer]

Wire Mesh

A bit off topic but I’m looking for other suppliers of Woven mesh.

Woven mesh


Wire mesh

 

[londonsteve]

We use a lot of stainless re-bar on big projects. but if your re-bar aint flaking and you get enough conrete coverage its fine

 

[1969]

Someone is feeding you a bucket of BS. The only time rebar or mesh is shinny is when its setting on the floor of the factory.

 

[lakeroadster]

Old thread... but in case someone is researching this topic:

Page 8: “These findings confirm the results from previous investigations … that rust is not harmful to bond between concrete and steel”

http://rebar.ecn.purdue.edu/wwr/Library\Effect of Rust on Bond of Welded Wire Fabric.pdf