Reinforcing material, commonly found at national hardware retail locations, significantly enhances the tensile strength of hardened cement mixtures. This product, typically composed of interwoven metallic strands, serves as an internal support structure within poured foundations, slabs, and walls. For example, embedding this material within a concrete patio slab mitigates cracking caused by expansion and contraction due to temperature fluctuations.
The inclusion of this reinforcement offers numerous advantages, extending the lifespan and durability of the cement structure. It provides crucial resistance against stress, impact, and the inherent brittleness of hardened cement compounds. Historically, similar methods of reinforcement, using materials like straw or animal hair, were employed to improve the integrity of early construction. Modern metallic reinforcement offers a far superior and more predictable level of structural integrity.
