Reinforce Concrete With An Affordable Addition That Makes Walkways More Durable

If you simply don't have the time or the desire to incorporate innovative walkway designs into your yard, you may just want to settle for some nice concrete paths around your home and garden. Even if you intend to stain the concrete to give your walkways a fresh look, you'll want to ensure that they'll be durable, so they will last for many years. Although concrete is a solid option for walkways, and it's not all that difficult to lay, it can be prone to damage and cracking when exposed to extreme weather conditions and changes in temperature. That's precisely why it's always a good idea to reinforce your concrete paths with an affordable addition known as welded wire mesh.

This mesh sits within the concrete to provide additional strength and durability, thus preventing cracks and movement in the walkway. Welded wire mesh consists of steel wires that are welded together to form a grid pattern. For use as concrete reinforcement, it's available either in panels or rolls. It bears similarities to the rebar that is most often used in driveways, but it's much lighter and easier to install. It's also relatively affordable, as it's often less than half the cost of rebar. Welded wire mesh is also a sustainable option for reinforcing concrete paths because it can be made from recycled steel.

If you've chosen to construct your own concrete walkways, you'll need to know how to correctly utilize the welded wire mesh so that you gain the benefits from the strength it can provide. It's important to get this right so that the mesh can distribute its strength right through the concrete path. When working with the mesh, it's a good idea to wear gloves because the edges can be quite sharp, so you want to take care when handling it.

Once you've prepared the ground for the installation of the walkway, lay the wire mesh down to cover the area. Then, pour some concrete directly on top of the mesh to about half the final thickness. Next, you want to lift the mesh so that it sits on top of the concrete slab, and then pour the remainder of the concrete on top. Alternatively, you can raise the mesh above the ground before pouring the concrete by using mesh chairs or small rocks. Mesh chairs are small supports made from plastic or steel. This procedure ensures that the mesh is positioned in the middle of the concrete slab so that it can provide the durability and strength that you need. While plain steel welded wire mesh is affordable and suitable for most situations, homeowners in coastal areas may want to opt for stainless steel or galvanized wire mesh to provide better corrosion resistance. Finally, you can make concrete set faster by using the correct water temperature when mixing.