Everything You Need to Know About Surplus Rebar
Reinforcing bar, known by just about everyone as rebar, is not an uncommon construction material. In fact, we’d imagine even people outside of the construction trade know what rebar is. What you may not know, however, is how many types of rebar there are, and what those various types might be used for. We’re here to help.
While there are six or more types of rebar, we’ll talk about the most common options, especially since they’re the most likely to be found as surplus rebar at your local surplus steel supplier.
Carbon Steel Rebar
When you think of rebar, carbon steel rebar is probably the first thing that comes to mind. That’s because this is the most common type of rebar used to reinforce concrete.
Carbon steel rebar is hot rolled and then deformed with various patterns to make forming a strong bond with concrete more likely. Without the deformations, rebar would be a solid, smooth bar with nothing to catch and hold the concrete as it dries.
While carbon steel rebar is the most common, it’s important to note that it’s the least corrosion resistant, so if you’re planning to use surplus rebar in a humid environment, damp soil, or near salt water, you may want to consider a different variety.
Galvanized Rebar
When using rebar in a damp environment or near soil that could hold water after rainfall, you’ll need to be aware of its tendency to corrode. The first option for better corrosion resistance is galvanized rebar.
Galvanized rebar is coated with zinc after the deformations are made. This means it will hold up to damp or even marine environments without compromising the bond the rebar creates with the concrete.
It’s important to note that the corrosion resistance is enhanced but not perfect. Galvanized rebar can, over time, rust or break just like carbon steel rebar.
Epoxy-Coated Rebar
Another option for corrosion resistance is epoxy-coated rebar. With this option, like the galvanized, the epoxy is added after the deformations are created, so the concrete bond can still occur. This protection makes the rebar useable in wet environments, such as concrete for shipping yards or marinas, or when building bridges or buildings near salt water.
Before using epoxy-coated rebar, be sure to examine each piece closely. While the epoxy coating is effective, it can also be easily damaged during handling. If used with a damaged epoxy coating, the rebar could rust or break sooner than expected.
Stainless Steel Rebar
Perhaps the most effective anti-corrosion rebar is made from stainless steel. This makes stainless steel rebar a great choice for highly corrosive and harsh environments.
The drawback here is that, while stainless steel rebar is likely the most effective, it’s also the most expensive. Choosing galvanized or epoxy-coated rebar for mildly corrosive environments and saving your budget for stainless steel rebar for extremely harsh environments is probably the best use of your project budget.
Whichever you’re looking for, Texas Iron and Metal can help you find surplus rebar options. We keep a lot of rebar in stock, and we can also help you locate any rebar we may not have on hand. Reach out and we’ll get you a quote as soon as we can.