Asked by: Thays Kraienhemke
business and finance construction industry

Do you put rebar in sidewalks?

14
Many, many sidewalks do not have any rebar in them at all and they hold up just fine. Typically, the rebar is there just to reduce the cracking in a slab on grade situation; unless the intended use will put a lot of weight on it. Then you would put a lot of rebar in it and increase the thickness of the slab.


Likewise, is rebar necessary for sidewalk?

For a sidewalk, keep it simple and either use nothing, or just a few stick of rebar. No need to make it any harder than you have to.

do you need wire mesh in concrete sidewalk? Now in a sidewalk, typically they don't put metal mesh in; they don't put the mesh in there. And with a sidewalk, you usually pour it in more narrow pieces and you put expansion joints about every six feet or so or eight feet or so; so that if the slabs of concrete want to start to move, they don't crack.

Furthermore, how do you lay rebar on a sidewalk?

Since wire mesh is more to prevent lateral movement, lay down 3/8-in. rebar to add strength in the vertical, downward direction of the concrete. To bend the rebar into shape, have one person hold up the end of the rebar while the other walks down along the length. Together, bend it to the curve of the walkway.

Does concrete have to have rebar?

Not all surfaces need concrete rebar reinforcement, but adding it makes concrete stronger and more resistant to large cracks. Without rebar reinforcement, concrete is highly prone to cracks due to tension forces. Rebar helps prevent cracks from growing wider largely by preventing cracked slabs from moving apart.

Related Question Answers

Surama Springenzaun

Professional

Do you need rebar for 4 inch slab?

A concrete slab reinforced with rebar or welded wire fabric should have a minimum 1 1/2 inches of clear cover between the reinforcing and the top of the slab. On grade you can get away with welded wire fabric in most instances. Suspended slabs almost always require rebar reinforcing.

Servando Tornos

Professional

How thick should a concrete sidewalk be?

The strength and durability of the concrete walkway is impacted by the thickness of the slab. Most builders pour concrete walkways about 4 inches thick.

Rodger Novalio

Professional

Is quikrete good for sidewalks?

QUIKRETE® Concrete Mix is a good general-purpose mix for sidewalk and slab work. Sidewalks should be at least 4″ in thickness. Simple slabs for small foundations, bases, etc., normally 4″ to 6″ thick, depending on the load they must bear. Slope the walk away from buildings to provide proper drainage.

Navin Bhrighde

Explainer

Does rebar prevent cracking concrete?

Steel reinforcing bars and welded wire reinforcement will not prevent cracking. Reinforcement is basically dormant until the concrete cracks. After cracking, it becomes active and controls crack widths by restricting crack growth.

Anacleta Muñumel

Explainer

How much does a concrete sidewalk cost?

Walkway Cost. The cost of a concrete walkway can vary widely depending on its size and finish. Most U.S. homeowners pay between $6 and $12 per square foot for a new walkway. Prices can go beyond this if significant grading is required or a complex decorative finish is requested.

Antonica Monguilod

Explainer

What's the difference between a concrete slab and a cement slab?

The difference between cement and concrete
Although the terms cement and concrete often are used interchangeably, cement is actually an ingredient of concrete. Concrete is basically a mixture of aggregates and paste. The aggregates are sand and gravel or crushed stone; the paste is water and portland cement.

Bieito D'Amico

Pundit

Can I pour a new sidewalk on top of an old one?

Pouring a new layer of concrete over an existing walkway, patio or porch will raise the level by several inches. For a walkway, raising the level by several inches can throw off its alignment with the driveway, steps or another structure.

Derick Colomina

Pundit

What size rebar do I need for a concrete slab?

Common Rebar Sizes
Rebar in patios, basement floors, footings and driveways may vary from size 3 to 6. Contractors sometimes use the “1/8 Rule,” meaning the size of the rebar is 1/8 the thickness of the slab. For example, a slab that is 6 inches thick might have rebar marked as size 6 or 3/4-inch.

Aroma Testoni

Pundit

Can you use chicken wire in concrete?

Materials such as chicken wire, stucco mesh, wire screening, expanded metal, fence wire or fiberglass cloth should never be used as primary reinforcement because their properties are too variable or they are not sufficiently strong. You cannot rely on these materials.

Javed Barbarias

Pundit

How do you build a sidewalk with pavers?

Table of Contents
  1. Step 1: Remove the Old Walkway.
  2. Step 2: Create the Edges.
  3. Step 3: Create the Bed for the Bricks.
  4. Step 4: Tamp it Down.
  5. Step 5: Add the Sand.
  6. Step 6: Pick the Right Pavers.
  7. Step 7: Lay the Pavers.
  8. Step 8: Cut Bricks for Curves.

Prisciliano Lehmann

Teacher

How far apart should expansion joints be in concrete sidewalk?

Usually, expansion joints should be no farther apart than 2 to 3 times (in feet) the total width of the concrete (in inches). So for a 4 inch thick concrete slab, expansion joints should be no more than 8 to 12 feet apart.

Renna Goodall

Teacher

How do you make a concrete walkway with quikrete Walkmaker?

Project Instructions
  1. Level the ground removing sod or soil.
  2. Mix QUIKRETE Crack Resistant Concrete.
  3. Place the Walkmaker form on the ground and begin to fill the cavities with concrete.
  4. Using a margin trowel, press the concrete mix into the form working from the corners to consolidate the concrete and eliminate any voids.

Ammar Hazare

Beginner

How thick is a normal sidewalk?

Sidewalks should be at least 4" (100mm) in thickness. Simple slabs for small foundations, bases, etc., normally 4" to 6" (100mm to150mm) thick, depending on the load they must bear. Slope the walk away from buildings to provide proper drainage.

Assan Eoin

Beginner

What type of concrete is used for sidewalks?

Foundations, Driveways, Patios, RV Slabs, Sidewalks
Ready-mix is routinely used for poured concrete of this type. For concrete driveways, slabs and sidewalks, a pour of 4 inches in thickness is typical. (This thickness is in addition to a 2-3 inch base of gravel, sand, limestone or another aggregate.)

Daren Mingalev

Beginner

What happens if you don't put rebar in concrete?

Without rebar reinforcement, concrete is highly prone to cracks due to tension forces. Rebar helps prevent cracks from growing wider largely by preventing cracked slabs from moving apart.

Ambrosia Mihalchuk

Beginner

Does a concrete driveway need wire mesh?

Therefore there is no labor cost associated with installing steel in your pour. Wire mesh is similar to fiber mesh in that it increases concrete strength and makes it more durable. Typically, construction workers lay the wire mesh down, covering the area where concrete will be poured.

Sona Helfen

Beginner

What is better wire mesh or rebar?

Relative strength of wire mesh vs rebar for reinforcing a concrete slab. I have a friend who is German and he says that wire mesh is much stronger than steel bars (rebar) and is mandated in Germany for reinforcing concrete slabs. There are tied rebar beams, with rebar for floor reinforcement.

Alishba Yekutiel

Beginner

Does a patio need rebar?

Rebar Basics
For concrete patios, use #3 rebar. These bars have a 3/8-inch diameter. The soil under the patio will provide most of the necessary support for the concrete. The rebar installed is intended to minimize cracks caused by the concrete shrinking and swelling depending on the temperature and weather conditions.