Re: Finishing Concrete Slabs

[BALEHEAD@delphi.com]

> It's also possible to add polyethylene fibers to the concrete in lieu of 
> wire mesh.  This helps keep the slab from cracking and thus more 
> attractive if it is going to be exposed.

These fibers cause a little difficulty in getting a perfect finish to the
slab, and often stick up out of the surface.  One can easily singe them off
with a torch, however. > 

> I'm  also hoping to find  anyone who  has used the fiber admixture in 
> stucco in lieu of chicken wire. Anyone.
>
IMHO, fibers, which are commonly used in scratch/brown coats, will reduce
smaller cracks but cannot replace the structural contribution of wire lath. 
Even with a big crack, the wire lath will continue to do it's work, holding
the building together, and the piggy who used wire lath instead of crushed
cigarette filters will, indeed, have the last lath.... 

John Swearingen
                    Skillful Means Builders
                    www.snowcrest.net/smb
                    somewhere in California
                    
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