After World War II, Europe needed to be rebuilt fast. The war had left millions homeless, destroyed factories, roads, and bridges, and bankrupted Germany and Britain. People needed new infrastructure to get back to normal life. Builders turned to welded wire mesh for its strength and affordability in reinforcing concrete. Projects required fewer workers to complete, saving on valuable labor costs. Plus, using factory-made wire mesh for construction was faster than other methods.
Contractors still count on welded wire mesh for various building projects today. In Europe, more than half of reinforced concrete projects use wire mesh. Buildings worldwide have survived earthquakes because of the material's durability, and welded wire reinforcement helped pave tens of thousands of miles of highways. Thanks to advancing technology, construction and building mesh comes in a wide variety of wire diameters and materials, including wires coated in zinc and epoxy to prevent corrosion.
There are various reasons contractors like to use wire mesh:
- - Project costs are 20% cheaper, on average.
- - Slab reinforcement is four to 11 times faster than with traditional rebar.
- - Welded wire mesh comes pre-assembled.
- - The size and spacing of bars stay consistent and precise as the concrete is placed.
- - Bars are less likely to be bent incorrectly.
- - Welded wire mesh makes concrete stronger with a higher tensile strength.
Wire Mesh for Construction is an Innovative Alternative
Contractors have long struggled to decide if they want to use synthetic fabric or welded wire mesh in their projects. While both materials prevent cracking, there are a few specific situations where welded wire mesh is the best choice:
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- Cracks from curing stresses need to be controlled, especially on elevated slabs cast in place.
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- Floors on the ground need long joint spacing.
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- Bad subgrade conditions are present.
Welded wire mesh comes in a variety of different types including welded wire fabric for reinforcing concrete slabs, electro-galvanized welded wire mesh with a square opening, and welded steel bar gratings. The kind of wire mesh contractors use ranges by material and depends on the project.
How Can Contractors Use Wire Mesh for Construction?
Bolstered Buildings
When the Loma Prieta earthquake hit a San Francisco suburb in 1989, the 30-story Pacific Park Plaza Building was unscathed. The celebrated engineer S.K. Ghosh gave partial credit to welded wire mesh in the beam and column joints for the building's resilience.
Hardwearing Highways
Former President Dwight Eisenhower's 1958 Federal Highway Act paved the way for superhighways across the United States. The Pennsylvania Turnpike was the first to use welded wire mesh in its design, and countless highways followed. Between the 1950s and '60s, the two-lane roads built stretched more than 69,000 miles. That's enough to wrap around the Earth three times.
Boundless Bridges
In 1999, the University of Nevada created its I-girder bridge. The bridge used wire reinforcement to create its high-strength concrete, allowing girders to have depths up to 2,400 millimeters.
Stalwart Stadiums
The Seattle Seahawks' CenturyLink Field is one of many sports facilities that takes advantage of bent wire reinforcement for its precast seating tiers. The stadium can hold as many 72,000 spectators for special events.
Rugged Runways
Iconic airports that have utilized welded wire mesh for building their runways include the Chicago O'Hare International Airport and the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. O'Hare holds the record for the most flights leaving any U.S. airport, with 1,321 departing flights a day.
Welded wire mesh has countless applications for construction beyond these examples. Far into the future, welded wire mesh will remain an essential part of concrete projects for its durability and cost.
Since 1969, TWP Inc. has been supplying wire mesh and providing laser cutting services to customers all over the world. Request a quote for your project today.
