I am having a patio built around 3 sides of the lounge which is 7 x 9 meters. The patio goes out to 7meters on the two opposite sides of the lounge and 4.5m on the joining 3rd side.

My builder tells me that it is not necessary to have expansion joints with fibre mesh concrete, but I am concerned as the temperatures here go below freezing in winter and mid 30s in summer.

Be grateful for any feed back on this.

My builder tells me that it is not necessary to have expansion joints with fibre mesh concrete, but I am concerned as the temperatures here go below freezing in winter and mid 30s in summer

He's wrong, You need expansion joints starting against the house.

Fiber mesh helps it from cracking I prefer steel rebar. But mesh has nothing to do with controlling the movement of the slab itself. You need expansion off the corners of the lounge to the outside edge of the new pour.

It was a bit difficult to get a visual.

If you could describe the pour starting from one side to front to other side.


The patio goes out to meters on the two opposite sides of the lounge and 4.5m on the joining 3rd side.

I got a little hazy on the 4.5 on the third side. Is that the middle between the two 7 meter sides?

The room is 7 x 9 meters and the patio goes out 7 meter on both of the 7meter sides and it goes out 4.5m up the side along the 9m side.

All I have heard on using fibermesh is pretty much the same with any other concrete product. You still should make control and exp. Joints.

Fibermesh is supposed to help with cracking and some contractors still use mesh or rebar with it. The idea of fibermeh product from what I know is that it's supposed to help with cracking more then regular installation concrete, it is not meant to replace all known best practices of slab installations. Bring that up to your contractor and start talking so that you feel comfortable with his knowledge. If you don't - find someone else.