How far below the slab surface should wire fabric be placed?

The appropriate depth for placing wire fabric, or welded wire reinforcement, below the slab surface is 2 inches. This placement is crucial for ensuring that the wire is fully embedded in the concrete, which allows it to effectively control cracking and improve the overall tensile strength of the slab.

When wire fabric is positioned too shallow, it may lose its effectiveness, as the upper layer of concrete may shrink or crack due to environmental factors such as temperature changes or moisture evaporation. Conversely, if the wire is placed too deep, it may not effectively reinforce the surface where tension cracks are most likely to occur. The 2-inch placement strikes an ideal balance, allowing the wire mesh to perform optimally while also being adequately protected by the surrounding concrete.

In contrast, other depths listed—1 inch, 3 inches, and 4 inches—do not meet the best practice guidelines for reinforcement placement, which specify that the standard depth for wire fabric be 2 inches from the surface of the concrete slab.