What is the next step after installing a rebar cage?

The next step after installing a rebar cage is pouring concrete. The rebar cage plays a critical role in providing structural integrity to the concrete structure by reinforcing it, helping to manage tensile forces that the concrete alone cannot handle. Once the rebar cage is securely in place, it creates a stable framework for the concrete, allowing for proper distribution of loads and enhancing overall durability.

After the rebar cage installation, the common practice is to ensure that everything is aligned correctly and intact before proceeding with the concrete pour. This sequence is essential to realize the full benefits of the rebar as it needs to be encapsulated by the concrete to function effectively. Once the concrete is poured, it bonds with the rebar, forming a solid, combined structure that enhances the strength and resilience of the finished product.

Conducting inspections is usually done during or after installation to ensure that the rebar is correctly positioned, but it happens before or while the concrete is being poured. Similarly, setting forms may be required before pouring to contain the concrete but is not a direct step following the installation of the rebar cage. Installing anchor bolts typically occurs in contexts where fixtures or attachments are required to be anchored in place, which is not the immediate next step in the context of