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Hotter summers, drier ground and concrete cracking – should landscapers be thinking more about what is underneath our patios?
Rebarflex mesh for patios could become increasingly relevant as UK summers grow hotter and periods of dry weather become more common.
Changing temperatures and moisture levels can affect the ground beneath patios, paths and other hard landscaping projects. On clay-rich sites in particular, shrinking and swelling ground can introduce additional stress into concrete bases.
HD Rebarflex provides lightweight fibreglass reinforcement throughout the concrete base, helping to distribute stresses, control cracking and maintain the integrity of the slab. It does not replace good preparation, drainage or installation, but it can add another level of support to a patio build-up designed to last.
British weather has always been unpredictable. One summer can be wet and miserable, while the next brings weeks of sunshine. Despite those year-to-year variations, the longer-term direction is becoming clearer: UK summers are getting warmer.
The Met Office projects that UK summers will become hotter and generally drier as the climate changes. Under a high-emissions scenario, by 2070 UK summers could be between 1°C and 6°C warmer and, depending on the region, up to 60% drier compared with 1990.
That does not mean every British summer will suddenly be hot and dry. It means that patios, paths and other landscaping projects installed today could experience different conditions throughout their lifetime.
A patio installed today could still be in place in the 2040s or 2050s. If we want those projects to last, it is worth considering the changing conditions both above and below the finished surface.
Anyone who has worked on clay ground will know how much it can change depending on the conditions.
When clay-rich soil loses moisture and dries out, it can shrink. When wetter weather returns and moisture gets back into the ground, it can swell again. The British Geological Survey describes this as shrink-swell behaviour.
Higher temperatures can cause more moisture to be lost from the ground, while changes in rainfall affect how much moisture returns to it.
In simple terms:
The extent of this movement depends on the soil, drainage, vegetation, nearby trees and the conditions of the individual site. The important point for landscapers is that the ground beneath a patio does not necessarily stay exactly where it was when the project was installed.
Concrete is strong, but cracking can still occur when it is placed under stress. The concrete itself can also move as it cures and as environmental conditions change.
If the ground beneath a concrete base moves as well, it can introduce additional stresses into the slab. This does not mean hot weather will automatically cause a patio to crack. Ground preparation, the correct sub-base, proper compaction, suitable drainage and good installation practices all play a major part in producing a long-lasting landscaping project.
However, when a patio or pathway is expected to remain in place for decades, it makes sense to consider the range of conditions its base may need to withstand.
Many landscaping applications have traditionally used concrete bases without reinforcement. Whether reinforcement is required will always depend on the project, the ground conditions, the slab design and the loads involved.
Reinforcement will not stop the ground beneath a patio from moving, and it will not make concrete impossible to crack. Its role is to help the concrete manage the stresses that can lead to cracking.
When reinforcement is incorporated throughout the slab, it can help distribute stresses across the concrete, control cracking and support the continuing integrity of the base.
Think of it as one part of the complete build-up: prepare the ground properly, select the right sub-base, compact it correctly, plan the drainage and consider whether reinforcement would provide useful additional support.
HD Rebarflex is a professional-grade fibreglass concrete reinforcement mesh designed for low and medium thickness concrete and screed applications up to 100mm.
Supplied in a lightweight 1m × 50m roll, Rebarflex can be rolled out, cut to the required size and positioned within the concrete. This makes reinforcement straightforward to incorporate across a wide range of landscaping projects.
Rebarflex mesh for patios is particularly suited to applications including:
For landscapers, its lightweight roll format also makes Rebarflex easier to transport, store and handle around site. It can be cut with scissors and installed by one person, helping simplify the reinforcement stage of a project.
Rebarflex is cut to the required size and positioned within the concrete so reinforcement runs across the slab. Correct positioning matters because reinforcement must sit within the concrete rather than simply being left underneath it.
The precise build-up and installation method should be appropriate to the individual project, ground conditions and intended use. Landscapers should follow the relevant project design and current Rebarflex installation guidance.
Further technical and installation information is available in the HD Rebarflex FAQ.
There is no single product or construction method that guarantees a patio will never move or crack. Long-term performance depends on the whole installation.
Rebarflex does not replace these fundamentals. It works alongside them.
As UK summers become hotter and prolonged dry periods potentially become more common, conditions beneath patios and paths may become increasingly challenging, particularly in areas with clay-rich soils.
We cannot stop the ground from responding to changing weather. We can, however, think carefully about how we build on top of it. Incorporating reinforcement into a concrete patio base is one more way to help control cracking and support the long-term integrity of the slab.
Rebarflex is a lightweight fibreglass concrete reinforcement mesh supplied in a 1m × 50m roll. It is designed to sit within concrete or screed, where it helps distribute stress and control cracking.
Yes. Rebarflex is suitable for patio bases, paths, garden slabs and other landscaping applications using concrete up to 100mm, subject to the requirements and design of the individual project.
No reinforcement can guarantee that concrete will never crack. Rebarflex is designed to help control cracking, distribute stresses and maintain the integrity of the slab. Correct ground preparation, compaction, drainage and installation remain essential.
No. Rebarflex is made from fibreglass, so it will not rust or corrode when installed within concrete.
Rebarflex is supplied as a lightweight roll, has no sharp edges and can be cut using scissors. Its format makes it straightforward for one person to transport, roll out and position.
The landscaping industry already spends a great deal of time considering how visible products will cope with British weather. Will they withstand rain, frost and hot conditions? Will they still perform and look good in years to come?
Changing weather does not only affect the products we can see. It can also affect the ground they are built on.
As the UK climate continues to change, building landscaping projects for the future may mean thinking beyond the finished surface. It means considering the base, the conditions beneath it and the stresses it could experience over many years.
Choosing Rebarflex mesh for patios gives landscapers a straightforward way to add reinforcement within the concrete base as part of a carefully planned installation.
Reinforce the base. Help control cracking. Build it to last.
Learn more about HD Rebarflex concrete reinforcement mesh or find a Walther Strong merchant near you.
