7/8/2023 0 Comments 10 gauge wire mesh concrete![]() In such situations it is better to increase the concrete thickness from 4” to 6” and use galvanized steel bars instead of welded wire mesh. In really cold climates you need to keep freeze thaw cycles in the equation too! Significant ground movement can also be a consequence of soil erosion, mild seismic activity and growth of tree roots. Some grades can swell or settle depending on moisture content levels. It could be that you require a concrete driveway that is able to withstand higher levels of load. Compressive strength of the concrete mix used.Thickness & construction of the “soil support system” below the driveway.Reinforcement such as rebars, wire mesh or fiber mesh.While concrete slab thickness is an important factor to determine the load bearing capacity of a driveway, there are other factors that play a role too. It can bear the load of passenger cars without cracking or failing. How Thick Should Driveway Concrete Be?Ī thickness of 4” for a concrete driveway is considered as standard for residential driveways. This objective is defeated if you do not reinforce the concrete driveway with welded wire mesh. The functional life of a concrete driveway, without wire mesh reinforcement, is significantly lower.Ī very important reason for choosing concrete rather than asphalt or gravel for your driveway is strength & durability. The concrete driveway begins to crumble at the pothole edges as car tires go over it. Rainwater collects in the potholes to form puddles. They are also detrimental to the lifespan of the driveway. The potholes in the driveway are not just ugly to look at. However, without reinforcement, the concrete sinks along with the grade resulting in potholes. ![]() The wire mesh keeps the driveway together and it remains level. Typically when sections of the grade sink, wire mesh reinforced concrete does not sink. You will be spending a lot of time and money on repairing and filling up the cracks. Rainwater will permeate into the concrete and corrode it from within. A concrete driveway, without wire mesh reinforcement will develop cracks. Without wire mesh reinforcement, your concrete driveway will sink, heave and crack within a season or two.Įven a well prepared subgrade, sub-base and base will settle in the first season or two. What Happens If You Don’t Use Wire Mesh in a Concrete Driveway?īuilding a concrete driveway without wire mesh reinforcement, just to reduce the initial cost is certainly not a good idea. Moreover, some local building codes may require the use of welded wire mesh in concrete driveways. Concrete driveway, reinforced with wire mesh, will be able to withstand tensile stresses, especially those caused by ground movement, a lot better. ![]() Concrete with compressive strength of 3000 – 4000 psi may have a tensile strength of just 300 – 400 psi.Ĭoncrete driveways are subject to tensile and flexural stress in addition to compressive stress. Unfortunately, concrete has a relatively poor tensile strength. Driveways typically use concrete with compressive strength between 30 psi. Concrete is an extremely strong construction material when it comes to compressive strength. ![]()
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