NForce-Pro Fiber Reinforcement for Decorative Concrete - ASTM/CSA Compliant

Relatively easy to mix in dry mix. Improves strength and adhesion of concrete mix

I didn't read carefully when I ordered, but this product is not chopped glass fibers, but some sort of natural fiber. It is dark in color, and I have no idea of its strength relative to glass...

I have a decorative concrete company specializing in countertops, panels, fireplace surrounds and many other architectural elements. When I came across NForce-Pro fibers I was excited to have a green alternative for structurally enforcing my pieces. While there is a bit of learning curve to mixing the fibers as opposed to tradition AR fibers, once you get it nailed down you will be happy with the results. The strength was my biggest concern, however having successfully poured and installed three shower panels at 60" x 28" x 5/8", I can honestly say that from a strength standpoint they performed flawlessly.As far as finishing goes, if you plan on polishing/honing your surface there are a few options depending on the desired outcome. If you do NOT want to see the fibers then you will need to either spray or pour a thin face coat first and then mix/apply your HempFRC back coat. The other option is honing your surface down to the desired finish. From there you can leave the NForce-Pro fibers showing, which adds an earthy warmth to your piece. There will be a subtle texture even after sealing. If that is not your forte, then you can use a torch across the surface and it will burn fibers that are exposed leaving a void. You can then go back and slurry in a matching color or opposing to achieve different looks. One other fun tip, is that the fibers are shipped essentially in their raw state, which means the color will integrate into your concrete. The dark earthy brown/black color can create a unique marbled look on your cream finish if poured in one homogeneous fashion.As with all aspects of decorative concrete, your end result depends on your approach and preparation. Implementing NForce-Pro hemp fibers can yield some unique finish options, while also supporting the use of a sustainable product!

First time doing concrete of any kind. I used Quikrete countertop mix to make a 3" thick by 34" x 34" mailbox pillar cap with Nforce fiber and #3 rebar as reinforcement. The fiber out of the bag seemed to be quite clumpy with some twig size pieces. So, my inexperience combined with fear led me to pull it apart while throwing out the largest twigs and mix it into all of the concrete dry. My dosage took some research and math, but here is what I came up with: Low dosage = .9 oz per 80lb bag, Medium dosage = 1.05 oz per 80lb bag, and High dosage = 1.2 oz per 80lb bag. I used Medium dosage for my application. The fiber product did not show through any surface in the finished product. It only showed after dremeling some of the defined form lines leftover from the chiseled edge moulding and you can see those in the attached pics. The top is rolled slate and it is very smooth with no fibers showing through. The edges also have no fiber showing through. All in all, the product missed the 5 star because I felt there was too much effort in pulling apart the fibers and picking out the larger twigs. However, I think it worked as promised with regard as a fiber reinforcement.

I used these fibers to strengthen hypertufa pots. First I tried adding fibers to the dry ingredients, but found it utterly impossible to disperse/mix the fibers. In a second attempt I premixed the fibers with the water before adding to the dry ingredients. This worked much better, but it is still very challenging to keep the fibers dispersed in the water and in the final mix of materials. I was glad I found the water method, though, as at least gave some success. It appears that the fibers have added strength to the pots I made, but it is not truly possible to judge as neither those with or without have broken.

This is not like fiberglass reinforcement. It's made from hemp, and it is extremely hard to mix in. I poured a countertop last night and spent a considerable amount of time un clumping this product so it would be evenly distributed into the mix. Even adding it in At a weight of 50% of normal fiberglass (as per instructions), it was very hard to achieve a even spread. It made the mix very hard to mix, and had to dump it out and do it by hand. A test piece shows good reinforcement, but I would not use the product again due to the issues outlined above.Update: lowered to 1 star.If you grind the concrete at all, this product is exposed and soaks up water. It makes the countertop look like it has pieces of wood all through it. They do not grind smooth, it feels like hair sticking up through the concrete. A waste of a pour. 100 dollars worth of custom mix down the drain. Definitely not worth the price. Stick to regular fibreglass. DO NOT buy this product

I wanted to strengthen an 8x12 foot slab I was pouring, so I ordered and used two bags. I added it to the dry mix and added water. No issues. I cannot say if it will help, but is sure hasn't hurt either. Cannot tell it was added, even though it's a dark color. Concrete cured tightly with no cracks or stress marks...happy user.

I wanted to try it in cement I was using for stepping stones. It didn't work