Concrete Reinforcement: Wire, Rebar, or Fiber?

When having a concrete project completed, one of the most important factors is reinforcement selection. There are many contractors that do not give you a choice, but why? Here we explain the most common three types of reinforcement in residential concrete, and what each is good for.
Concrete reinforcement is designed for a couple functions. Structural stability and crack control. As we go through this quick guide, we will touch on both.

Wire Mesh:

Wire mesh has been around for a long time. It is still widely used in residential and commercial concrete depending on application. Wire is a great reinforcement for concrete. It has upper end crack control properties, and medium structural stability. The con to wire is application through the pouring process. It is designed to be at mid-depth in the slab for ultimate functionality. It can be propped up, but often it is just laid on the ground and poured over. Even if the wire is pulled up during the pouring process, the act of placing the concrete typically walks the wire down back toward the bottom, and negates some of its’ designed benefits.

Rebar Reinforcement:

Rebar is a great reinforcement for concrete. It is on the upper end of crack control, and high end structural. Rebar is similar to wire in one way, it is designed to be mid-depth in a slab, and requires propping up to hold in place during the pour process. The good news is that with the larger diameter of the rebar, and wider unit spacing than wire, it tends to stay in place during the placing of the concrete.

Fiber Mesh:

Fiber is not new, but definitely newer on the spectrum of reinforcement. It has solid crack control properties, but low end to zero structural capabilities. If you are pouring a non-structural fully constrained floor, i.e. a basement or garage, then fiber works fine. If you are pouring a driveway, we do not recommend it. We have seen many driveways separate, settle, and move when fiber was the only reinforcement used. This also depends on your soil type and subgrade preparation.
Making your concrete project last is the ultimate goal. Understanding your options, and helping you determine what is best is where we come in.
There are more factors to crack control and overall project longevity, but now you can understand what reinforcement is available, and what it is used for.