Get Pro Builder in your inbox. Pound in two stakes about 1 ft. from the ends of the form positions. Seven days is best for a driveway. Most sidewalks do not require to be reinforced with rebar. ( 25 to 50 mm ) for a fully bonded concrete overlay placed on a base slab that is practically free of cracks and in which the concrete is sound, clean, and of good quality. If the forms extend below ground, pack soil against them. Whether you pour concrete for a walkway or patio, a strong gravel base is required to prevent the concrete from cracking and shifting. Get 5% off your first online order when you subscribe to TWPs newsletter below to receive the latest news, updates, and special offers! What can I use instead of rebar in concrete? Do you need wire mesh in concrete sidewalk? Whether you pour concrete for a walkway or patio, a strong gravel base is required to prevent the concrete from cracking and shifting. A giant ready-mix truck driving up to your house can be intimidating. Use 1-1/2-in.-thick boards (2x4s, 2x6s, etc.) Keep a sidewalk or patio damp for three days. Once the wire mesh is in place, you can pour the concrete, flatten it, level it, and then cure it. Expansion strips are asphalt-impregnated fiber strips that compress when concrete expands to prevent heaving, cracking and buckling. wider on both sides of the paint marks to leave room for forms. We recommend our users to update the browser. QUIKRETE Concrete Mix is a good general-purpose mix for sidewalk and slab work. Reinforcing concrete sidewalks with wire mesh helps to bridge over small imperfections in the subgrade. Methods of Reinforcing a Concrete Driveway, How to Get Rid of Thousand-Leggers Without Getting Grossed Out, How to Floor Your Attic for Storage Without Wrecking Your Roof, Amp Up Your Homes Curb Appeal and Web Appeal in a Weekend, Spool Pool: The Hot New Trend for Cooling Down. Iron rake to move around wet concrete. After the truck emptied, we installed a temporary bulkhead while we finished the first half. Is Wire Mesh Necessary in a Concrete Driveway? At this site, we didnt need a building permit to pour a residential sidewalk on private property. Some form of reinforcement is necessary for concrete driveways since the flexural load applied by vehicle traffic is high and could damage the concrete. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. However, a wire mesh can be helpful in holding the sidewalk together when it does crack. WWR, partially buried in the subgrade, has little value. Dont make a step thats shorter than 4-inches. What is the minimum width of sidewalk? Reinforcing concrete with rebar or wire mesh not only makes the concrete strong, but it also significantly curtails the number of cracks that appear in that concrete down the line. If a roll is a little too short for the job, finish up the rest with these sheets rather than buying a second roll. Only use the bull float right after screeding if theres no bleed water present. You can throw in a bulkhead and order the rest later. Bonus: Your sidewalk will be stronger and last longer than many professionally poured concrete sidewalks. Pick up 4-ft. expansion strips for each 30 ft. of the sidewalk and for ends where the sidewalk abuts other unyielding masonry surfaces such as driveways, other sidewalks, house foundations and steps. Power washing is a mesmerizing activity, but is it effective in cleaning concrete surfaces? If clumps of concrete start gathering or you feel the texture is too rough, the concrete is still too wet to broom. For only 4 inches of concrete, wire mesh or additives work best. Your email address will not be published. Walkway & Sidewalk Cost. How often do you put expansion joint in sidewalk? It's a heavy, heavy wire. Use sweeping motions, lifting the leading edge of the float slightly. Usually, before the concrete ever makes its way into the process, a base of gravel is laid. $Mi`TH"0;Dma`2 ,rL S@zTAlI0$q @g` 5 Tip: If you dont have a place to dump excess soil and sod, rent a trash container for a couple of days. The bottom of the trench will be about 6 in. Form Concrete Sidewalk Curves with Hardboard Fiber cement board siding is intended for exterior walls, but it's also great stuff for forming curves because it's flexible and cheap. No, they do not. If a sidewalk crosses a driveway or other space where larger vehicles will be crossing, it is suggested to increase the thickness of your concrete to six or eight inches. The degree of this expansion is indicated by the thermal expansion coefficient, which is the same for steel and concrete. Whether you're hiring a contractor or are planning to tackle the project yourself, it's helpful to have a general idea of the process. And when installers do use chairs, they must take care not to knock the wire off the chairs during the pour. A 4-inch-thick slab cast on the ground and in constant touch with it will float, with no need for rebar. In addition to the earth-moving equipment for the excavation work, youll need: Sod cutter if you have lots of grass to cut through. This lessens the likelihood that sinkholes will develop. Sign up today! FV"bhXCP@Ip`9#erLJZ V! QUIKRETE Concrete Mix is a good general-purpose mix for sidewalk and slab work. The size and placement of rebar based on the slab length, width, and thickness should be identified. Reinforcing concrete sidewalks with wire mesh helps to bridge over small imperfections in the subgrade. The design life of concrete is approximately 30 years. p Steel, on the other hand, has high flexural strength. Anchor the sides of the plastic with boards, bricks or stones to keep it from blowing off. So if rain is forecast, be prepared to cover your hardboard forms. A good rule of thumb is to order an extra 5 percent rounded up to the next 1/4 yd. base of gravel under 4-in. your inbox. Need Wire Mesh Discs, Laser Cutting, or Slitting Services? Most U.S. homeowners pay between $6 and $12 per square foot for installation of a new concrete walkway. Also, another situation where wire mesh can offer benefits is when a poor or weak subgrade exists and may be expected to move or settle. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet lorem ipsum dolor sit amet lorem ipsum dolor sit amet. When freshly poured concrete sets around wire mesh, it grips onto the mesh, which effectively inhibits its internal movement in the horizontal plane. Wait until it disappears before using the bull float or hand float. Dumpsters overflowing with lumber are merely a symptom. Rebars cost depends on the bars thickness and thus varies considerably. They are the reason sidewalks have lines in them. It should be ok to pour concrete over your gravel walk although you might want to give the concrete a little more depth along the sides. If theres a chance of rain on the pour day, cancel the order and set it up for a different day. So before you pour, take five minutes to cut off any protruding stakes. Repairs to differential settling dont leave the greatest impression on homebuyers. But other soil types will expand and contract with weather conditions and can crack overlying concrete. Position the wire mesh about two inches from the forms, using heavy-duty wire cutters to cut the edges as needed. Wire mesh is a steel grid used to reinforce concrete. More commonly there are continuous steel bolsters which are laid parallel to each other as often as is required to support the mesh and any traffic on top. Do Concrete Slabs Really Need Welded Wire Mesh? Concrete and cinder blocks look similar and have been used interchangeably. The only difference between the line of flattened earth and soil and the line of concrete should be the thickness of it. lower than the other in level areas to prevent ponding or ice accumulation during the winter. These marks will eventually fade (ours took two months to disappear) and cause no lasting damage. Suppliers add a chemical that traps microscopic air bubbles to help the concrete handle the expansion and shrinkage caused by climatic changes such as freezing. Your goal is to create a flat, ridge-free surface for the broom finish. Gravel is ordered by weight, not volume like concrete. Click to see full answer. The total price will include the labor for concrete work and the cost of the materials. DONT LOSE AN EYE! endstream endobj 62 0 obj <>stream Another important point to consider as you lay concrete is to never lay the mixture directly onto grass or sod. Concrete pavement road mesh comes in different sizes than the above standard sheet mesh and is typically more heavy duty. Wire mesh is available in stainless steel and polymer varieties, too, although these are often more expensive. 2. But for bigger projects like driveways or patios, dont mess around with a hand float. Ask for 5 percent air entrainment in the mix. Bleed water is water that migrates to the surface from the fresh concrete in small pools. If its rough and chunky, add a smidgen of water. The base is usually four to eight inches thick and must be even and packed down before you begin pouring. Dig out about 3 in. Divide this number in half to get the amount of steel mesh needed for the job. Drag the broom over the concrete in parallel, slightly overlapping strokes. Wire mesh is made of thin steel bars tied together in a square mesh pattern. But if it was like a driveway or a patio, they would. Want to have your new driveway featured in TWP Inc.'s online gallery? When it comes to concrete, you can't avoid cracks entirely, but wire mesh reinforcement will help hold the material together when they do occur. ft. 27 = 2.93 cu. Tree roots, stones and heavy clay made for tough digging. Generally, the thicker you pour concrete, the stronger it gets. Placing the rebar at the bottom of the slab will provide no benefit to the concrete. We carry galvanized and welded stainless steel wire mesh suitable for concrete reinforcement. Concrete slabs poured on the ground with a properly prepared and compacted base, and that isn't expected to support heavy loads, doesn't require rebar. Usually, expansion joints should be no farther apart than 2 to 3 times (in feet) the total width of the concrete (in inches). That means placing the wire on chairs to hold it at the correct height (seebelow). An ordinary sidebar simply doesnt need the extra support given through reinforcing it. check out our expert tips, tools and planning advice to guide you through concrete demolition that will save you big bucks. below grade to allow for 4 in. Divide the gravel volume by 1.4 to calculate the tonnage to order (see Order the Right Concrete Mix below for help). Read More Cinder Block vs. Round over the outside corners with an edging tool. The accuracy of this theory depends on where the wire mesh is placed and how well the subgrade is designed and compacted: When wire mesh is installed in the lower 1/3 of the slab, it will have increased flexural (and in turn tensile) strength when one point load bends the slab downward. That's where the similarity ends, though. While there are some exceptions, reinforcing a driveway is generally worth the investment. Worse, when a crack does develop, the lack of WWM can be a real weakness. hTRn0[t8C>-N ;Ci$`w{ pPhpfDo7d>\ olLq;S!b~u [!MxkzI7x p1B(u.mYz/. Conversely, fiber reinforcement is incorporated in the fresh concrete during the mixing stage, thus taking no space on site and cutting down on pour preparation time. In most cases, the answer is YES! The grooves in concrete are called control joints because they control cracks in the surface. ,BO:|AP%hiBhR feNH >d* Mjo First, you'll need to install your forms, which will essentially frame the driveway and keep the concrete in place before it sets. Resist the temptation to remove the forms; wait until the next day. If you live in a frost-free climate with a natural sand base with good drainage, you can pour right on top of the sand. Take heed. for each foot of sidewalk width. Cement vs Concrete: Whats the Difference? Upload your photos to Instagram using the hashtag #TWPWireMesh. Dont work concrete with bleed water present; wait until it reabsorbs or evaporates. Often, fiber mesh concrete is less expensive than wire mesh concrete. Curing compounds are available at home centers. Tell them youre pouring an exterior sidewalk and theyll recommend the correct bag mix (ratio of cement to gravel and sand). Rest a 4-ft. level on top of the gauge board to keep forms level from side to side. (the size of the grid openings) steel reinforcing mesh to lay in the whole sidewalk trench. Wear gloves (rubber gloves are the safest bet). And of course, the builder has to pay for the repair. Luckily, new concrete, Read More Can You Pour Concrete Over Concrete?Continue. The added strength of steel is especially crucial if your subgrade isn't up to par. For a long-lasting concrete sidewalk, plan on a 4-in. A garage slab or the garage concrete floor does not need rebars, provided it is 4 or less in thickness. In either case, blocks should be used under the reinforcement to keep centered within the concrete. There is one reason to delay floating, though: If puddles of water form on the surface after screeding, wait for them to disappear before floating. Depending on whether you want We ordered a 10-yard unit that handled everything we dug out. Here's why. One can only imagine the results of thin concrete. Subscribe to TWPs newsletter to receive the latest news, updates, and special offers! If one . The added strength of steel is especially crucial if your subgrade isn't up to par. Is Wire Mesh Necessary In Concrete Driveway? Crusher run (a mix of crushed stone and stone dust) is one of the best base materials for concrete flatwork. To form consistent, parallel sides for a curved sidewalk, build one side first. Loading docks or dumpsters pads may be as thick as 12 inches. Hold the mesh 2 in. Also, pick up enough wood stakes to anchor each side of the form every 3 ft., a 1-lb. x 16-ft. plank won't cost much, and you can cut it to any width you need. This presents a challenge during concrete placement as the workers have to walk on or maneuver around the elevated wire mesh. Additional reinforcement can be made to improve the life, appearance, and durability of your concrete. While the polymer varietys cost is sometimes comparable to that of the traditional steel variety, the stainless steel version is far more expensive. Do you need gravel under concrete sidewalk? A common thought process is that steel wire mesh keeps the slab from cracking. Simple slabs for small foundations, bases, etc., normally 4" to 6" We carry galvanized and welded stainless steel wire mesh suitable for concrete reinforcement. While your thickness should be uniform, slanting the sidewalk ever so slightly away from a nearby home or building will allow drainage not to build up around it. These are positioned before pouring the concrete and tied together with thin wire ties to prevent movement during the pour. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information. A 12-in. Not only that, but with our in-house measuring, laser cutting, and roll slitting services, you can get the exact size you need for your driveway. Upload your photos to. You may have to rinse off the broom occasionally to avoid a too-rough finish. 94 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<6E94CB7FB6438A9C2C7CD346E089A6B2><2985469D07C882429ABD771F0D28463F>]/Index[56 61]/Info 55 0 R/Length 158/Prev 324698/Root 57 0 R/Size 117/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream When a flexural load is applied to the concrete, its natural inclination is to give way and form cracks. The cost of a concrete walkway can vary widely depending on its size and finish. Wet concrete on skin can cause everything from mild redness to third-degree, permanently disfiguring chemical burns. Do you need wire mesh in concrete sidewalk? Cut it to length with a pair of bolt cutters. Do Sidewalks Need Rebar? The thickness of the sub-base none normally required. rN(}6pWnTv_RvAIy5vV ?;w;*_}eUwjxS^>fe'CEV[f.o_9=X+ @7@*j v~-_ ^z"5#m5mM qwsEwFF&8dIx&Tku?+\4'vn0gAX U/wzI//{ $yG|U*tUow1i?Wp{ulUK;. A brownbagg | Apr 23, 2009 01:50pm | #4. but wire mesh is always on the bottom so fiber does a better job. For perspective: its compressive strength is roughly ten times greater than its flexural strength. Yes, fiber mesh is excellent reinforcement for concrete driveways. When you see signs of drying, lift the plastic and gently sprinkle on more water. It's a heavy, heavy wire. In essence, the more the weight the thicker it should become. Do you need gravel under concrete sidewalk? Any type of metal mesh that you may have lying around can be used as a substantial support for concrete. Concrete blocks, being far superior, have overtaken the market. Heres how: Multiply the length of your sidewalk times the width times the depth (4 in. Using our sidewalk as an example: 60 ft. (long) x 4 ft. (wide) x .33 ft. (deep) = 79.2 cu. Concrete broom (use the handle from the bull float). Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. Long story short, yes you can pour concrete over dirt. Leave the plastic on for a day, then keep the concrete wet for a few days by occasionally running a sprinkler or soaker hose to slow down the curing process. This is probably due to the fact that concrete is a very durable building material with many advantages. After that, youll know exactly what you can handle. T-square, measuring tape, masons line, pickax, rake tample, hammer or half-hatchet, darby or bull float, hand float, finishing trowel, bricklayers trowel, edger. Without rebar reinforcement, concrete is highly prone to cracks due to tension forces. advantages and disadvantages of fiber mesh concrete here. However, pouring a thicker concrete sidewalk is usually unnecessary and you would therefore be wasting resources. If youre using 2x4s or 2x6s, place stakes no more than 3 ft. apart. Powered by Mai Theme. How much does it cost to pour a concrete walkway? On a sidewalk, space joints 5 ft. apart or less; on a slab or driveway, no more than 10 ft. apart. This is of course poured in under ground, so the layer of gravel doesnt add to the visible height of the actual sidewalk. hardboard siding ripped down to 6-in. Fibre mesh is used to reduce water loss from the concrete as well as enhance its structural strength. Pack dirt against the outside and gravel against the inside of forms to add support when pouring and to achieve smooth curves. Plus, if you have a concrete walkway that needs to be redone, check out our expert tips, tools and planning advice to guide you through concrete demolition that will save you big bucks. Rest the screed board on the forms and use a sawing motion while pulling the board toward the end of the pour. This type of mesh is also used to create a higher impact resistance in the concrete, prevent thawing, and increase its strength. Not only that, but with our in-house measuring, laser cutting, and roll slitting services, you can get the exact size you need for your driveway. An ordinary sidebar simply doesn't need the extra support given through reinforcing it. /b@>0abb2Di8a1#%d6F$E'q`KZC05tbAp9g$DSv1JnD1FK^h|w1K"hD(C Concrete, while strong in compression, is weak under flexural loads. Youll also find out if curves are too sharp for the bending qualities of the siding. But if it was like a driveway or a patio, they would. Although you can walk on concrete the day after finishing, it takes about a month for it to reach most of its full strength. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The mag float glides easier for less arm strain. Thatll not only give you the overall shape but also provide the forms to mark the outline for digging. Then go all along the forms with a hammer, tapping the sides. Additionally, as the concrete is being poured, stainless steel mesh panels stay in position. Sign up for our newsletter! (We didnt only because it was very warm and humid. Also, it will help evenly distribute the weight of cars on your driveway. How To Do Exposed Aggregate Concrete Using Sugar? Youll also use it to soften transitions between edges, corners and control joints after theyre cut in, and to smooth ridges you produce with the groover and edger. Additional strength can be found in concrete by using a stronger cement powder. Slice off sod with a sod cutter, then dig out the rest of the sidewalk path to a depth of 6 in. Unlike wire mesh, this particular type of reinforcement provides more than just a single layer of support-it . However, the wire mesh is capable of withstanding this applied load and only flexes slightly. How to Repair | Video, How to Build an Outdoor Bar with Concrete Block | Video, Concrete and Masonry Painting Prep Made Easy, Find a Good Contractor to Replace a Concrete Driveway. Wait until any bleed water disappears and hand float the surface with a magnesium float, starting at the beginning of the poured concrete sidewalk. Itll keep you out of the hospital waiting for skin grafts. . But aboveground, on cement steps, curbs or walls, the results can look like Swiss cheese. Replace that ugly, cracked walk with a flat, smooth new one. What Happens if a Sidewalk is Poured Too Thin or Too Thick? Tip: If the concrete gets away from you (sets up faster than you can finish it), just concentrate on getting the hand floating, edging and brooming done and forget the control joints for now. No, you do not need rebar for a 4-inch slab of concrete on grade. Also, it will help evenly distribute the weight of cars on your driveway. Quikrete fast setting concrete is just as strong as regular concrete. Proper installation that provides maximum strength requires the mesh to be raised off the ground so that when the concrete sets, its in the lower third of the slab depth. Steel mesh and expansion strip prevent heaving, cracking and buckling. Stick to sidewalk projects in flat or gently sloping areas. See, concrete by itself is only strong in compression. To keep your finished sidewalk dryslope the forms. Each day, our editors assemble the latest breaking industry A few drops of concrete isnt dangerous, but avoid practices like working in concrete-sodden clothes, concrete-filled boots or gloves wet with concrete juice. The right amount of water is carefully measured at the plant. We carry galvanized and welded stainless steel wire mesh suitable for concrete reinforcement. Now in a sidewalk, typically they don't put metal mesh in; they don't put the mesh in there. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. When concrete is hard enough so you cant make an impression with your finger, gently spread the plastic. But if it was like a driveway or a patio, they would. Pouring Concrete Patio: A First Timers Guide, Drilling Concrete and Installing Fasteners, Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Buy a 16-ft. 24 to stiffen the stack of siding and wrap packaging tape around the whole works for the ride home. Conversely, rebar comes in single bars of varying thickness cut to size on the construction site. Metal mesh ranges from chicken coop wire to fencing. Dump the concrete into the forms. crushed rock is easy to shovel and packs well so you can run heavy wheelbarrows on it without the wheels bogging down. Wear safety glasses; concrete will splash. load per square inch without failing. -to increase flexural strength of the slab . What Happens If You Seal Concrete Too Soon. But the best base depends on climate and soil conditions. If the thought of pouring a concrete sidewalk scares the bejeebers out of you, dont feel like the Lone Ranger. Wire mesh on concrete functions as reinforcement, preventing crack formation during temperature changes and under flexural loads. Follow the tips and advice in this article, get ahold of the right professional-grade tools, line up at least two reliable, beefy helpers and pick a good weather day, and youll end up with a long-lasting, attractive poured concrete sidewalk youll be proud to carve your initials into. As long as a driveway or parking lot isn't regularly driven on by semi trucks and other heavy vehicles, welded wire mesh will work well. A firm, well-drained base is the key to crack-free concrete. Wire mesh and rebar are both made of steel and used to reinforce concrete. Fill lower areas with fresh concrete and repeat screeding over the same area. Placement and bar diameter are important to the structural strength of the concrete. COPYRIGHT 2023 PROFESSIONAL BUILDER. above the cut grass height for easy mowing and a nice appearance. Unlike some rebar grids, you can count on the consistent size and spacing of. Below is a little more about the subgrade, or base layer. Enjoy! Your email address will not be published. Its a heavy, heavy wire. Wire mesh requires considerable space on a construction site since these sheets are delivered to the site, where they must be cut and placed before pouring the fresh concrete. This lessens the likelihood that sinkholes will develop. Wear safety glasses and make sure you and your partner understand that neither of you steps off an end without warning the other. Wear long pants and long sleeves to protect your skin. Plus, fake it until you make it with these cheap landscaping fixes that look expensive. back from the forms. Sidewalks chart paths all over the world that connect society together, and while it does take a lot of concrete you would be surprised to see the attributes and thickness that make up such a well-used path. news, hottest trends, and most relevant research, delivered to Wire mesh is generally cheaper to use than rebar since it utilizes only thin steel bars. Wire mesh in a slab can offer tensile/flexural strength to the concrete, spreading loads over more area. except on curves. Wire mesh is the traditional method of improving concrete's flexural strength in flooring applications. Lets find out. Youll get a nonslip texture and hide imperfections left by floating or troweling. It's a heavy, heavy wire. Order the concrete a few days ahead. Why do sidewalks have built in cracks? A concrete sidewalk is a great addition to any home that can go a long way toward adding some curb appeal. Gravel protects concrete from these shifting conditions. By taking into account the weight of the load each slab of concrete must bear will help in determining how thick your concrete needs to be. The past decade has seen many production builders switch to synthetic fiber mesh reinforcement for concrete slabs to help reduce surface cracking. Learn more about why in this article. Direct alternatives to rebar include the use of aggregate materials or metal mesh. Do you need wire mesh in concrete sidewalk? Concrete might be the cheapest building material on the planet. Rebar is recommended on concrete measuring 5 - 6 inches thick. If your grade has dips or level sections, slope the sidewalk in those areas by dropping one side of the forms 1/4 in. What is the best material to reinforce concrete with? Thicker concrete doesnt yield quite the bad results that thin concrete does. A full ready-mix truck at the curb with no way to unload it is expensive. After screeding concrete, the next step is to float it. Concrete roadways, platforms, and structures typically require some type of reinforcement to help reduce cracking and prevent architectural failure. In the process, many of these builders have completely eliminated traditional welded wire mesh (WWM). In order to have a strong sidewalk that wont scale, spall or crack, cover the sidewalk with plastic sheeting after brooming. drywall screws. drywall screws. -:Hv3tDbJ$8 :# 'GP`{Wu D;=4iDi-)!7!g Wetter mud may be easier to place (fill the forms), but the wetter the mix, the weaker the concrete. s3fgL``' b, P} L3y be |Fa 0V Rebar is recommended for concrete that is 5-6 inches thick; however, a 4-inch slab of concrete on grade that is cast on the ground and in constant contact with it will float without rebar. QUIKRETE Concrete Mix is a good general-purpose mix for sidewalkand slab work. Work in the opposite direction of screeding and push the bull float away from you, slightly lifting the leading edge, then pull it back while lifting the back edge. The splice will smooth out the curves at butt joints. More recently, fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites (e.g., glass, carbon, and basalt) have been engineered and used in full-scale construction projects. Fiber mesh is made up of fibrous materials like synthetic fibers, glass fibers, natural fibers, and steel fibers. While thats true of the bull float and broom, youll need to switch between the hand tools throughout the finishing process as the concrete firms up. Do you need stone under concrete? Fiber mesh limits microcracking - essentially makes it easier to get a better cure. Every builder whos poured a concrete slab or walkway has a horror story about forms that bulged or even collapsed under the force of wet concrete. Io`pLrw'|U=k( _]+kQ!D1SB To ensure a strong sidewalk, avoid very hot days and days that are followed by freezing nights. Unless the mix is too dry to get down the chute, forget it. deep between the forms. 2) Temperature stress (usually in slabs) is minor compared to bending stress and mesh can "help" absorb this stress. Experts recommend using heavy-duty wire mesh on private roadways. Question: How Much To Have Concrete Poured? But if you have reinforcing steel bars that go through it or the wire mesh, that makes it a lot stronger. Screw short blocks onto the bottom spaced the same width as the sidewalk. Here, a large sheet of wire mesh is placed in the area where the slab will be constructed and kept in place with spacers and wire ties.