New Structural Crack Repair for Pools - Anchor Stitching

Oct. 8, 2012 - PRLog -- History
The Corps of Engineers, Waterways Experiment Station performed the first reported attempt to stitch cracked concrete in 1971 and the report concluded that stitching is viable and effective. The first known use of concrete stitching on a US highway was in 1985 and the cross-stitch cracks performed well overall, preventing lane separation and minimizing the settlement of the slabs. Both of these crack strengthening reports concluded that stitching is one of the best concrete strengthening techniques.

Stitching is applicable for a number of situations including to restore the tensile strength across cracks in swimming pools.

Stitching Verses Concrete Stapling or Pining
In the past, contractors often glued metal “U” clips, pins and plates around the crack in pools. Some designed and installed their own appliances. One such device involved a steel plate with one stationary pin and one moveable pin for tightening. Although the use of concrete stapling and pining was commonly performed in the past, it seldom worked in the long run. Often times these gadgets were not properly engineered and worsening the crack. Time after time the fractures reappeared and leaks reemerged.


How to Best Repair the Cracks
Frequently, the use of short concrete staples with pins is unsuccessful and these fractures reappear. Contractors often evaluate the costs and use the method that provides the optimal combination of strength, installation time, and cost. Concrete anchor stitching is generally less expensive than concrete stapling and pinning, and stitching is generally preferred by contractors because fewer materials are required. Proven to successfully repair cracked concrete, engineers often specify concrete stitching as the recommended solution.

Anchor Stitching - The Foremost Crack Repair Solution on the Market for Swimming Pools
The concrete anchor stitching technique involves the use of rebar, tensioned and anchored into solid concrete. Tensioning is achieved by tightening the anchor on the machined wedge applying force along the stitch. The stitch length should correspond to rebar spacing within the slab, bridging the crack and extending into the unaffected areas; spanning well into solid reinforced concrete. The stitch is tensioned by tightening down the anchor sufficiently, without causing the crack to migrate to another part of the slab. When stitches are anchored into the cement, loads are transferred into well intact reinforced areas. An engineered anchor stitch structural system is clearly the best solution to repair significant swimming pool cracks.

Where to Buy Engineered Anchor Stitches
SlabTite Anchor Stitches are distributed by Horner Xpress and considered the most cost effective structural solution. To learn more about SlabTite Structural Systems, visit http://www.SlabTite.com. To purchase call Horner at 800.432.6966 or visit http://www.hornerxpress.com/component/content/article/284...



References: ACI 224.1R-93 “Causes, Evaluation and Repair of Cracks in Concrete Structures” reported by ACI Committee 224 in the Journal of the American Concrete Institute, May-June, 1984, (Reapproved 1998), American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, MI