Product Basics
Q. What are carbon fiber concrete stitches, and how do they work?
A. NextStar Carbon Fiber Stitches are high-strength reinforcement staples used to repair and stabilize cracked concrete permanently. They work by spanning cracks like stitches in fabric—the pre-tensioned carbon fiber staples (10x stronger than steel) are embedded into slots cut across the crack, then bonded with industrial epoxy. This creates a "bridge" that:
1. Distributes structural loads away from the crack
2. Prevents further widening (unlike surface-level patches)
3. Resists movement from freeze/thaw cycles or settling
Unlike steel staples, they won’t rust and have a 44 sq.cm bonding area for maximum hold. Ideal for foundations, pool decks, and load-bearing walls.
Installation
Q. How do I install these stitches? Is professional help needed?
A. The process is very simple; all that is needed is to cut a ¾ to 1inch slot 12 inches long, vacuum or blow out the dust. Then insert with the epoxy provided.
Q. What tools are required beyond what’s in the kit?
A. A 4.5-inch hand grinder and vacuum or compressed air to remove dust from the slot.
Performance & Durability
Q. How strong are these stitches compared to steel or those of our competitors?
A. Nextstar stitches have a 2,884 MPa strength, but more importantly, have double the surface area of bonding. This is important because any carbon is unlikely to fail before the concrete does; thus, a larger concrete area is needed to achieve the full performance of the Stitch compared to competitors.
Q. Will they rust or corrode over time?
A. No Nextstar Carbon fiber stitches do not corrode or age, unlike steel products. Most steel products are installed with cement products and start to corrode right after installation.
Applications
Q. What types of cracks/concrete structures can they repair
A. Nextstar Carbon Fiber Stitches can be used on poured concrete foundation walls, vault, floors and deck crack repairs, including pool repairs or reinforcing.
Q. Can they be used on vertical surfaces like walls?
A. Yes the stitches can be applied in any wall, floor, or ceiling combination.
Q. How far apart are the stitches installed?
A. The typical installation spacing is 9 to 18 inches apart, depending on the amount of reinforcement required.
Warranty & Support
Q. What does the 10-year warranty cover?
A. The warranty covers the stitch itself against breaking under tensile load, provided it has been installed according to the instructions. It does not cover the concrete or the installation of any replacement.
Q. What if my repair fails? Who do I contact?
A. In the unlikely occurrence of any failure, contact our technical support team by contact form or phone 866-445-3984 ext 3
Comparisons
Q. How do these compare to Fortress/Rhino stitches?* (Bonding area, DIY ease, warranty)
A. The key difference is that the Nextstar Stitches are pre-tensioned, so they have the least stretch before holding any load. This keeps the crack repair from re-cracking.
Nextstar stitches have the largest bonding surface area, which means they can hold more than the competition.
Q. Why choose carbon fiber over steel staples or epoxy injections?
A. Carbon fiber has more resilience to environmental changes. Stitches are usually used with Epoxy Injections , epoxy by itself has limited tensile capabilities, but when used with carbon stitches, they complement each other as total reinforcement. Stitches hold the tensile load, and the Epoxy or sold crack fill holds the compression of the repair.
Technical Details
Q. What ASTM standards do they meet?
A. The products have been lab tested to meet ASTM C882, D648,D638,D792
Q. How long does the epoxy take to cure?
A. Gel in 1 hour and cure in 24 hours
Purchasing
Q. How many stitches do I need for my project?
A. Spacing: 9–16 inches
Q. Do you offer bulk discounts for contractors?
A. Yes, and we also offer custom-sized stitches .
Maintenance
Q. Can the repaired area be painted or coated?
A. Yes they can be coated after curing.
DIY vs. Pro Use
Q. Are these suitable for beginners?"
A. Yes these Carbon Stitches are one of our easier products to install.
Q. Why do contractors prefer NextStar?
A. Customer support is the most significant factor for our contractors, who often require fast technical assistance or a customized solution.