In the coming months (if it ever stops raining), we will be building four concrete retaining walls. These will transition from the North side corners and either side of the entrance wall. I was concerned about steel rebar rusting in the “cold joints” created by connecting the new walls to the structure so I researched steel alternatives. I located a company in Salem, Oregon called Marshal Composite Technologies, LLC. They developed and manufacture Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (fiberglass) Reinforcing Bars called C-Bar. I spoke with their general manager, Cameron Crawford about purchasing fiberglass rebar for our retaining walls. Fiberglass rebar makes a lot of sense. It’s stronger and lighter than steel and can’t rust. Which is very important near a marine environment like our house. If only we had thought of this earlier and built our whole structure with fiberglass rebar. It would have extended our house’s 900 year life span by a few hundred years. Marshall Composite Technologies, LLC usually provides reinforcing rods for big projects like bridges, sea walls and large buildings. Our retaining walls are relatively small in comparison. Cam offered to donate the C-BAR we would need. I make it a general rule to never turn down offers of ice cream, chocolate or rebar, so we graciously accepted.
I sent Cam drawings of the walls we intend to build. Not only did Marshall Composite Technologiese donate all the fiberglass rebar we will need for all 4 walls, but their engineer figured out all the different lengths and bends we would need. When we arrived on Friday, all the bars were precut and bundled. Cam handed us a detailed schedule of the different lengths and where they will go in the walls.
Happy and grateful, we tied the longer pieces to the ladder attached to our roof rack. (to keep them stable), and headed home.
Thank You, Cameron Crawford and all the other fine folks at Marshall Composite Technologies, LLC. Your generosity is helping us fulfill a dream of building one of the most sustainable, GREEN homes in Oregon.