▸ Equipment / Methods
The right tools, applied the right way.
Reinforcing-steel installation is a trade of precision. These are the specific tools, fabrication methods, and code standards we bring to every pool, wall, footing, and retrofit.
▸ Equipment
Tools of the trade.
Cutting & sizing
Portable abrasive chop saws for dry-cutting to length, high-leverage bolt cutters for manual bar sizing up to #5, and 18V cordless hydraulic/electric cutters that shear #8 bar in seconds. Bars are cut to the lengths specified in the approved rebar list — never trimmed to fit in the field.
- Abrasive chop saws
- Bolt cutters (manual)
- Cordless hydraulic cutters
- Bench-mounted shears
Bending & shaping
Hickey bars for manual field bends, portable hydraulic/electric benders (0–180° up to #8 bar), and bench-mounted rotary benders for production hooks and stirrups. All bends follow ACI minimum bend diameters (4× bar diameter for standard hooks) and the project's structural details — never field-improvised.
- Hickey bars (manual leverage)
- Portable hydraulic benders
- Bench rotary benders
- Circle benders for radius work
Tying & securing
Automatic battery-powered tie guns (MAX Twintier, Makita 18V cordless) tie intersections in under a second with consistent tension — 3,500+ knots per charge. Manual wire twisters and hand pliers with annealed tie wire (16.5 gauge) for tight-access and detail work. Every intersection tied to the approved spacing.
- Automatic tie guns (battery)
- Manual wire twisters/spinners
- Hand pliers + pre-cut tie wire
- Annealed tie wire (16.5 ga)
Spacing & support
Plastic and steel rebar chairs in various heights, concrete spacer blocks for vertical surfaces, and continuous bolsters and wheeled standees for mat reinforcement. ACI 318 and ACI 117 prohibit wood, brick, or rock for support. Chair placement: every other crossing for ≤12" spacing, every crossing for >12".
- Rebar chairs (plastic/steel)
- Concrete spacer blocks
- Continuous bolsters
- Wheeled standees
Layout & placement
String lines and chalk lines for grid layout, laser levels for elevation control, and measuring tapes and squares for bar placement to plan dimensions. Bars are laid out to the structural drawings and checked against the formwork before tying begins.
- String lines & chalk lines
- Laser levels
- Measuring tapes & squares
- Marking paint
Lifting & rigging
Crane coordination for large cage placement, forklift support for material staging, and manual carrying for tight residential access. Rigging follows the site-specific lift plan, with tag lines for controlled placement of pre-tied cages into deep excavations.
- Crane coordination
- Forklift staging
- Manual carrying
- Rigging per lift plan
▸ Fabrication & installation methods
How we approach every build.
Plan review & rebar list
We review the approved structural drawings, rebar list, and shop drawings before mobilizing. Bar sizes, grades, bends, splice locations, and cover requirements are identified. Questions go to the contractor and design professional — not the field.
Material staging
Bar is delivered pre-cut and tagged to the rebar list, or cut on site depending on project scope. Material is organized by size, grade, and placement location for efficient workflow and minimal handling.
Pre-tie or field-build
Cages and mats are pre-tied at grade when access allows — faster, safer, and more consistent. Walls, deep excavations, and tight-access sites are built in place. The method is selected by site conditions, not preference.
Place, tie, check
Bars are placed to drawing dimensions, tied at every intersection (manual or automatic), and checked for cover, spacing, and alignment before the inspector arrives. Tolerances per ACI 117: ±3/8" cover for members 4–12", ±1/2" effective depth for members up to 12" deep.
Post-installed reinforcement
Epoxy doweling for retrofits, extensions, and alterations. Holes are drilled, cleaned, and injected with structural adhesive per ASTM E488. Bars set to the embedment depth specified by the design professional — used for engineer-specified connections only.
Custom engineering coordination
Expansive soil: enhanced reinforcement per the geotechnical and structural design. Seismic: closed ties, spirals, and detailing per CBC Chapter 18 and ACI 318. Custom shapes: bent to the engineer's specific details. We install to the design — we don't design it.
▸ Materials & grades
Rebar we work with.
Bar grade and specification are called out by the project's structural engineer. We fabricate and install whatever the drawings require — these are the standards we see most often.
Carbon Steel Bars
Low-Alloy Steel Bars (Weldable)
Epoxy-Coated Prefabricated Bars
High-Strength Low-Carbon/Chromium
▸ Code compliance & standards
Built to code, every time.
California's Building Code adopts ACI 318 with state amendments and adds expansive-soil provisions that demand special engineering. We install to these standards — and we don't design around them.
ACI 318
Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete
Governs the design and construction of structural concrete. Current edition: ACI 318-25. California adopts it via CBC Chapter 19 with state-specific amendments.
ACI 117
Tolerances for Concrete Materials & Construction
Placement tolerances for cover, effective depth, and bar spacing. Cover: ±3/8" for members 4–12". Effective depth: ±1/2" for members 4–12", ±3/8" for >12". Prohibits wood, brick, or rock for bar support.
CBC Chapter 19
California Building Code — Concrete
Adopts ACI 318 with California amendments, including provisions for shotcrete and concrete slabs. All structural concrete in California must comply with this chapter and ACI 318 as supplemented.
CBC Chapter 18
California Building Code — Soils & Foundations
Section 1808.6: Foundations on expansive soils must resist differential volume changes and prevent structural damage. Must resist uplift or be isolated from expansive soil. Requires special geotechnical engineering.
CRSI Manual of Standard Practice
Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute
Industry standard for rebar detailing, fabrication, and placement practices. Defines bar sizes, bend types, and fabrication tolerances used across the industry.
Special Inspection
IBC Chapter 17 / CBC Section 1705
Rebar inspection is classified as periodic (not continuous). The special inspector verifies cover, spacing, and alignment before the pour. We have the steel ready and accessible for inspection.
Have a project in mind?
Upload your plans and we'll review the rebar list, scope, and access before we quote.
