rebar ties/spiral availability

[kylesito]

I am working on a side project designing circular piers for minor structures...cabins, storage sheds, etc. The owners are most likely do-it-yourselfers or small time contractors who may not be familiar with procurring steel reinforcement from a fabricator.

The piers may extend 2-3 feet out of the ground in some instances and so I want some vertical steel in there and would subsequently want some kind of confinement/circular ties along with it.

I know you can get #4 and #5 bars in small lengths at Lowes and Home Depot but I am worried about the availability of ties/spirals for the average builder. Does anyone know if these are available commercially in a box store or similar? Has anyone used an alternative that is more readily available for these type of situations?



PE, SE
Eastern United States

"If a builder builds a house for someone, and does not construct it properly, and the house which he built falls in and kills its owner, then that builder shall be put to death!"
~Code of Hammurabi

 

[Jc67roch]

For lightly loaded, small piers (with similarly small vertical bars) I have used welded wire mesh (WWM) in place of ties or spirals. DIY can relatively easily bend it into a circle or square using pipe or tubes as forms. Be sure to lap it - maybe even double it around the circumference to get the steel area you need and ensure it's anchorage.

 

[JedClampett]

I've stopped specifying spirals everywhere because of all the grief I get from fabricators. I say, I get free capacity for use of spirals (due to the larger phi factor). They respond with it's a California detail and they can't get it. As I never win these arguments, I give in.
As far as ties, I suspect they're not available in Home Depot but any reinforcing fabricator can bend them.

 

[TXStructural]

Some contractor's supply houses carry prefabricated ties. The problem with small diameter bar spirals is the difficulty bending them and then getting them to the right pitch, it requires a lot of force in small diameters. Wire spirals are easier, but I'd recommend asking locally, because there is wide variation around the country.

Also, there is no problem with square ties in a small, round pier. These are quickly produced in automatic bending equipment from many fabricators. Once a contractor does this one time, s/he will ALWAYS go to a fabricator because it is just too easy and inexpensive. Encourage the contractor to seek out a fabricator and just call or drop in. Typically, the cost will be the same or less for fabricated bar than for straight material from a retail supplier.

While I never advocate on-site bending due to quality control issues (bend radius, etc.) and safety, for DIY the suggestion to use WWR is a good one.