MADE IN CANADA
Common Questions.
From technical tolerances to logistics, get the data you need to keep your project synchronized.
Product Basics: Slab Chairs vs. Footing Chairs
What is the difference between a Slab Chair and a Footing Chair?
It comes down to where you are pouring and what you are holding.
Slab Chairs are engineered for flat surfaces, compacted gravel, and vapour barriers to hold wire mesh grids or flat rebar layouts.
Footing Chairs are built for raw, uneven dirt trenches to hold long, straight parallel rebar rods
Can I use a Footing Chair on a flat vapour barrier?
No. Footing chairs are designed to dig into the dirt like a kickstand. If used on a flat slab, they could puncture your plastic vapour barrier. Always use Slab Chairs for flatwork over plastic.
Footing Chairs (For Dirt Trenches & Grade Beams)
What is the difference between a Slab Chair and a Footing Chair?
Absolutely not. Our Footing Chairs feature a 1-1/2" deep "Zero-Tie" lock slot. You simply drop the heavy rebar into the cradle, and it is physically trapped by gravity and friction.
Will the chairs tip over in the mud when bumped by a pump hose?
No. Single-point plastic cones tip easily, but Synchro Footing Chairs feature a massive 6-inch-wide "Snowshoe" A-frame base. This acts like a heavy-duty kickstand that absolutely will not tip over under heavy construction traffic or flowing mud.
Will these chairs help me pass municipal code inspections?
Yes. Synchro engineers the footing seat at exactly 3-1/2" high. This creates a built-in 1/2" safety buffer on uneven dirt, practically guaranteeing your crew will pass strict 3-inch clearance codes on the first try.
Do I need to measure the distance between parallel rebar rods?
No, put your tape measure away. Our 2-Bar, 3-Bar, and 4-Bar chairs are pre-welded at the factory with exact spacing (e.g., exactly 8" apart).
Slab Chairs (For Flat Floors & Pads)
Will Synchro Slab Chairs puncture my under-slab vapor barrier?
No. Unlike sharp, narrow metal chairs that punch straight through plastic, Synchro Slab Chairs feature a wide, multi-leg footprint. This safely distributes the weight of the steel and heavy work boots across the plastic sheeting.
Do I need to zip-tie my wire mesh to the Slab Chairs?
No. Synchro’s steel cradle design uses the natural weight and friction of the steel mesh to lock it securely in place via gravity.
Durability & Engineering (Steel vs. Plastic & Dobies)
Why should I pay more for Synchro steel instead of cheap plastic chairs?
Plastic chairs cost you heavily in failed pours. First, plastic becomes brittle and shatters in cold Alberta weather under heavy boots. Second, thick plastic blocks wet concrete, creating a "vibrator shadow" or air void beneath it. In winter, water enters that void, freezes, and expands by 9%, cracking your concrete from the inside out. Synchro's thin steel allows wet concrete to completely encapsulate it, and steel expands/shrinks at the exact same rate as concrete, giving you true freeze-thaw protection.
Are Synchro chairs better than concrete dobie blocks?
Yes, primarily because of labour savings. Dobies are incredibly heavy to carry through the mud; they only hold one bar at a time, and they still require your workers to hand-twist tie-wire. Synchro chairs hold up to 4 bars instantly, weigh a fraction of the amount, and require zero hand-tying.
What is the breaking strength of your chairs?
Synchro chairs are bent from heavy-gauge carbon steel with a massive 4,850 lbs breaking force. They will not buckle or crush.
Manufacturing & Ordering
Where are Synchro chairs manufactured?
Every single steel chair is manufactured using automated 3D CNC wire-forming equipment right in Carbon, Alberta.
Can I get certification paperwork for commercial builds?
Yes. Synchro uses 100% traceable certified Canadian carbon steel. We provide full Mill Test Reports (MTR) so your paperwork is instantly available for commercial inspectors.
Do you do custom sizing or unique clearance heights?
Yes. Because we use programmable CNC machines, we can reprogram our equipment in minutes to bend custom spacing or unique clearance heights for your specific engineering blueprint.
How do I order custom sizes or get a bulk quote?
We use a frictionless "Text-A-Sketch" ordering system. Simply draw your broken part or custom dimensions on a scrap piece of paper, text a photo of it from your phone to (587) 608-5451, and we will text you a formal bulk estimate within 24 hours.
