Published 2026-10-22 · last updated 2026-10-22 · Remarkable Group
Stainless steel helical bars are a common, proven method for masonry repair and anchoring. A composite helical bar (carbon, AR glass or basalt) is more attractive where weight matters, where electrical conductivity is undesirable (then AR glass or basalt, since carbon does conduct), or where an extra corrosion margin is wanted beyond what stainless steel already offers. In a standard situation without those specific requirements, stainless steel remains a logical choice.
Anyone specifying a helical bar for masonry repair or anchoring usually chooses between two families: stainless steel helical bars and composite helical bars made of carbon, AR glass or basalt. This article compares them honestly, without presenting either as "always better".
The comparison is in relative terms: this is not a decision tool on its own, but a first orientation.
| Property | Stainless steel helical bar | Composite helical bar (carbon/AR glass/basalt) |
|---|---|---|
| Corrosion | Resistant under normal conditions; in an aggressive environment (chloride, prolonged moisture) even stainless steel can develop pitting corrosion over a long period | No metal, so no electrochemical corrosion process in any environment |
| Weight | Metal: relatively heavy | Lighter, especially with carbon and fibreglass |
| Electrical / magnetic conductivity | Conducts electricity and is (depending on the stainless steel grade) slightly magnetic | AR glass and basalt do not conduct; carbon does conduct electricity. None of the three is magnetic |
| Tensile strength | Proven, standardised stainless steel grades | Varies strongly per material: carbon can be higher, fibreglass and basalt are generally lower |
| Experience and familiarity among contractors | The common method for decades, widely known | Growing, but less long established than stainless steel |
| Price class (relative) | Medium | Varies: carbon generally higher, fibreglass often close to or below stainless steel |
Stainless steel helical bars are a proven method with decades of practical experience. For a standard situation, without special requirements on weight, electrical conductivity or extreme corrosion exposure, stainless steel is still a logical, well-founded choice: the material grades are standardised and contractors know how to install them.
Composite helical bars gain ground where one or more of these factors play a role:
metal and therefore have no electrochemical corrosion process. That makes them interesting in an environment where even stainless steel carries risk in the long term (for example prolonged damp or chloride-exposed situations).
simplify installation, especially at hard-to-reach locations.
and are not magnetic; that is relevant near high voltage, with lightning protection, or where magnetic neutrality is required.
stainless steel; carbon is generally more expensive. This differs per project, so work it out rather than assuming it as a fixed advantage.
Remarkable products: CONNECTOR Wall Crack Anchor and CONNECTOR Staple Anchor, both available in AR glass, basalt or carbon, and CONNECTOR Endless Rope as a cut-to-length chemical anchor. A full overview is available on the product category Anchoring.
This comparison orients the material choice; it does not replace a structural assessment. Which diameter, which material and how many anchors are needed is determined by the structural engineer based on the load and the applicable standards. See also the article Repairing a crack in masonry with non-corrosive reinforcement for the broader trade-off around crack repair.
Not necessarily. Stainless steel helical bars are a common, proven method that has been used for decades and that many contractors have experience with. Composite gains ground mainly where weight, electrical conductivity or an extra corrosion margin matter; in a standard situation without those requirements, stainless steel is still a logical choice.
Stainless steel resists corrosion under normal conditions, but not indefinitely: in an aggressive environment (chloride from de-icing salt or seawater, prolonged moisture), even stainless steel can develop pitting corrosion over a long period, depending on the stainless steel grade used. Composite materials contain no metal and therefore have no electrochemical corrosion process, in any environment.
That depends on the material and the product. Carbon composite can have a higher tensile strength per kilogram than stainless steel; fibreglass and basalt are generally lower. Which strength is needed is determined by the structural engineer based on the load, not by the material in advance.
That differs per project and material: carbon is generally the most expensive composite material, while fibreglass often sits close to or below the price of stainless steel. Work this out per situation; the right choice is not automatically the cheapest one, but the one that fits the environment and the load.
CONNECTOR Wall Crack Anchor and CONNECTOR Staple Anchor are both available in AR glass, basalt or carbon, alongside CONNECTOR Endless Rope as a flexible, cut-to-length alternative. None of these products is made of stainless steel; stainless steel appears in this article only as a comparison material.
Our specialists will gladly help you choose the right material.