Steel Reinforcement Mesh

If you work with concrete, there is a very good chance you may need steel reinforcement mesh!

Why? Because While the best concrete mixes create robust, resilient support, there is sometimes the need for reinforcement for extra support. 

What is Steel Reinforcement Mesh? 

Steel reinforcement mesh is, essentially, matted, interlaced steel, welded together. It works as a type of foundation, gripping concrete while it sets. Therefore, it helps to give concrete that extra bit of foundation support even before it fully cures.

The primary purpose behind steel reinforcement mesh is to give support. It helps to provide tensile, balanced strength for setting concrete.

When is Steel Reinforcement Mesh Used? 

Reinforcement mesh is commonly used in concrete slabs, wall and road engineering. Where additional strength and balanced hold is required for setting concrete, reinforcement mesh effectively ‘sets a template.’ It’s also commonly used in large-scale construction, as well as in foundation building.

You will commonly find steel reinforcement mesh used in flooring construction purely for sustainability. It is, crucially, used for strength - not always for preventing cracks, as some misconceptions claim.

What’s the Most Common Size of Steel Reinforcement Mesh in Use?

 Standard steel reinforcement mesh measurements include 2m x 3m, 2m x 4m, and 2m x 6m. Steel wire diameter will generally vary from anywhere between 6mm and 12mm, too.

Openings in the mesh don’t tend to vary too much concerning size. The smallest standard is 100mm x 100mm, with 150mm x 150mm in the mid-range and 200mm x 200mm largest. However, different applications will, of course, have different needs.

Steel reinforcement mesh can grow to be quite heavy depending on the scale of your foundation. In heaviest case scenarios, you may find mesh to weigh up to 18kg per square metre - or at lightest, 2kg per square metre.

With that in mind, we have all of your mesh needs covered with products such as A193 mesh, A142 mesh, A393 mesh, B785, B1131, B503, B385 and B283.

What Are Flying Ends?

Flying ends are found, as you may expect, at the ends of your mesh sheet. They are used to help keep a level balance of reinforcement across a concrete set. Essentially, a flying end is where you will find bars pointing one way to reduce build-up.

Steel reinforcement mesh is designed and fabricated to offer weight balance to setting concrete. Often, that is only possible through the use of flying ends.

Is Reinforcement Always Necessary?

Steel reinforcement mesh is, by far, one of the most important assets in concrete labouring in the modern era. However, it is not always essential to all projects. By and large, reinforcement is more necessary for larger-scale projects. That said, it is crucial for concrete applications where foot or road traffic is to be expected.

Concrete alone cannot always hold its own. That is why strong, tightly welded steel mesh is so crucial for the most tensile of construction needs. It’s widely regarded as the industry standard, and that’s unlikely to change.