Welded wire mesh is often used as reinforcement in concrete slabs. True or false?

• A. False
• B. Sometimes
• C. True
• D. Never

Answer: (C)

Welded wire mesh provides a practical, economical way to reinforce concrete slabs by distributing tensile stresses across a wide area. The grid of steel wires welded at intersections acts as a continuous reinforcement layer inside the slab, helping to control plastic shrinkage cracks and improving resistance to bending and cracking under load. It’s especially common in light- to moderate-duty slabs such as garage floors, sidewalks, and slabs on grade, where using a full set of individual bars would be more time-consuming or expensive. While heavier structural slabs may use other reinforcement methods, welded wire mesh is widely used in many slab applications, making the statement true.