Frequently Asked Questions

 

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Finishing

Questions:


NO, the vibration of the laser screed brings cement paste to the surface and covers almost all exposed fibers. Those not covered will be burned off with any power trowel finish. The possibility of replacing conventional steel mats with High Volume Synthetic Fibers allows for a much easier laser screed placement and finishing process.
The use of a stiff bristled broom used in only one direction will help align surface fibers with the texture ridges, making them considerably less noticeable.
What you gain in finishability, you lose in long-term durability. Exposed fibers are your assurance of a properly distributed three-dimensional reinforcement. Any fibers that appear on the surface will quickly wear off under light traffic. Using the "invisible" fiber types just for finishing reasons hurts the long-term durability of the concrete slab.
Surface fibers will not react with sealers and/or interfere with carpeting, tile, etc. A heat torch could be used if necessary to remove any fibers that might be of concern. Contact FORTA® for additional testing regarding adhesion of coatings and toppings of FORTA-reinforced concrete slabs.
Because of its three-dimensional cohesive nature, fiber-reinforced concrete has the appearance of being less workable than plain concrete. In actuality, the visual slump may be reduced slightly but the flowability remains nearly same. Caution; never allow water to be added at the job site to bring back slump loss. The use of a super plasiticizer is recommended to increase slump if needed.