How Do I Install Wire Mesh Concrete Slab
When it comes to reinforcement there may be some confusion out there on what direction to go, rebar, wire mesh, or nothing at all. There are some things to note before going forward with this decision. Although it is often assumed reinforcement will keep your slab from cracking, in reality it only reduces the likelihood of cracking. More importantly, if and when it cracks, it will keep the crack from opening up.
You could load your slab full of rebar, but if the is not prepared and compacted correctly, the concrete is likely to fail. A well placed control joint/contraction joint is your best bet to avoid unsightly cracking. Before this post dives too deep into cracking let me get back on track with reinforcement.Although reinforcing is not going to absolutely keep your concrete from cracking, it is still very important to make sure it is there and installed correctly. It acts as the skeleton to the slab, providing support throughout. So now back to the question, rebar or wire mesh. I’ve had the most success in building concrete patios using a combination of both.
I use a #3 bar (3/8″) spaced 18 inches on center placed at slightly above the 2 inch line of a 4 inch patio slab using a 2 inch plastic chair. Typically you want to place your rebar in the upper part of the middle third of the slab, but since I am using both, I want the rebar slightly lower so there is room for the wire mesh to sit in the upper part of the middle third.When it comes to wire mesh you will typically see 6 gauge and 10 gauge. For me, when using both rebar and mesh I feel the 6 gauge is overkill. The 10 gauge is a bit thinner and easier to work with and will serve the purpose of holding the top third together and help reduce the chances of cracking. When buying the 10 gauge it is absolutely essential to buy the straight panels and not the rolls. The rolls are very difficult to work with and will refuse to lay flat.
When it doesn’t lay flat the finishers will fight it during the pour, having a difficult time keeping it at least an inch below the top of concrete.I mentioned the use of a 2 inch chair. It is really important to use chairs. Many contractors will make the argument they can pull up the rebar/mesh as they pour the concrete.
Dragon ball integrale. Romania.
I’ve heard this many times over the years and watched them pour with this method. It is not precise and inevitably a significant portion of the rebar will be sitting on the dirt, not in the concrete, rendering it useless.
How Do I Install Wire Mesh Concrete Slab Floor
If it is going to sit on the ground, why go to trouble of even buying it?This recommendation is for a concrete patio not supporting any kind of structure. If you are going to build a cover of some sort on the patio additional reinforcement may be needed. But for a standard patio with foot traffic only, this combination works great. The extra expense of the mesh is typically not a big deal and worth the protection it adds. Hope this helps for your next concrete patio project.Concretetalk.org.