Concrete Reinforcing Mesh Calculator

How to Estimate Concrete Reinforcement Mesh

Mesh may be wire or made of fiber. Metal mesh is laid before the concrete is poured, then lifted to the center, while fiber mesh is placed in the concrete evenly as it is poured.

Both these materials are common for projects like sidewalks and patios that may not hold heavy loads. The amount of mesh reinforcement needed for a project can be calculated in a few easy steps.

Step One: Calculate the Slab Area

The first step to estimating reinforcement is to find the size of the concrete slab that will be poured. If you already know this figure, then you can skip ahead to the second step.

The area of the pour can be found by multiplying the length in feet by the width in feet. The result is the square footage of the slab. Here’s the formula to find area:

For shapes other than a rectangle, you’ll need the appropriate formula to calculate the area, or you can use a square footage calculator.

Step Two: Calculate Mesh Coverage

The second step is to find the coverage of the mesh roll or sheets that will be used for the project. Sometimes the coverage in square feet is provided by the manufacturer, but if not, it can be found using the area formula above.

Step Three: Divide Slab Area by Reinforcement Area

The final step in estimating the number of rolls or sheets of mesh reinforcement is to divide the square footage of the slab by the square footage of the reinforcing mesh. This is the formula: