Slabs, footings & structure

Steel reinforcement in concrete: mesh, rebar and fibre

Reinforcement (reo) controls cracking and carries tension.

95 businesses listedUpdated October 2026
In short

Reinforcement (reo) controls cracking and carries tension. Driveways usually use SL72 or SL82 mesh; slabs and footings use the bars and mesh shown on the engineer's design.

What steel reinforcement (reo) involves

  1. Choose mesh or bars to suit the slab (or follow the engineer's drawing)
  2. Set reo on bar chairs so it sits in the slab, not on the ground
  3. Lap mesh sheets by at least one full square
  4. Tie in starter bars and dowels
  5. Inspection where required before the pour
Advertisement

How much steel reinforcement (reo) costs

Reinforcement is normally included in a concreter's per-m² price for driveways and paths. On engineered slabs it's itemised from the drawings.

Price ranges in Australia (GST incl.)

Source: whatsthedamage.com.au, Concreting cost Australia 2026 (verified October 2026). Prices include GST. Checked October 2026.

Plain concrete slab: typical price per m² by state

NSW$126
VIC$116
QLD$110
WA$116
SA$101
TAS$100
NT$110
ACT$120
National typical price × capital-city price index (October 2026). Click a state to open the calculator.

Estimate your job in the calculator Is my quote fair?

Before you hire

  • Check the quote names the mesh (e.g. SL82) and bar chair height
  • Ask how cover will be kept – mesh lying on the ground does almost nothing
  • On engineered work, compare the steel on site with the drawing before the pour

Standards and approvals

Reinforcing steel is made to AS/NZS 4671; cover and detailing follow AS 3600 and, for houses, AS 2870.

Advertisement

Who does steel reinforcement (reo)

95 businesses in the directory list this service; 95 of them mention it on their own website (the quote is on each business page).

New South Wales 19 businesses

All concreters in New South Wales

Queensland 26 businesses

All concreters in Queensland

Western Australia 18 businesses
  • Concreter
    Allstyle Concrete Pty LtdMorley, WA
    • Concrete driveways
    • Concrete paths & footpaths
    • Commercial slabs
  • Concreter
    Metro Concrete Pty LtdSpearwood, WA
    • Concrete paths & footpaths
    • Commercial slabs
    • Footings, foundations & columns
  • Concreter
    WA ConcreteBusselton, WA
    • Concrete paths & footpaths
    • Concrete steps & ramps
    • House slabs
  • Concreter
    Mandurah Concreting SolutionsWaroona, WA
    • Concrete driveways
    • Shed & granny flat slabs
    • Steel reinforcement (reo)
  • Concreter
    Sid&Jazz ConcreteRockingham, WA
    • Concrete driveways
    • Driveway crossovers
    • Concrete paths & footpaths
  • Concreter
    Warner Brook ConcretingRockingham, WA
    • Concrete driveways
    • Driveway crossovers
    • Concrete paths & footpaths
  • Decorative & resurfacing
    All Class ConcreteFremantle, WA
    • Concrete driveways
    • Concrete paths & footpaths
    • Steel reinforcement (reo)
  • Decorative & resurfacing
    Concrete Society PerthJandakot, WA
    • Concrete driveways
    • Concrete paths & footpaths
    • Commercial slabs
  • Decorative & resurfacing
    Exposed Concrete – WAFremantle, WA
    • Concrete driveways
    • Concrete paths & footpaths
    • Footings, foundations & columns
  • Decorative & resurfacing
    Exposed Concrete – WA (South)Rockingham, WA
    • Concrete driveways
    • Concrete paths & footpaths
    • Footings, foundations & columns
  • Polished & epoxy floors
    Art of ConcreteJoondalup, WA
    • Commercial slabs
    • Footings, foundations & columns
    • Steel reinforcement (reo)
  • Concrete cutting & drilling
    Best Concrete Cutting PerthKalamunda, WA
    • Concrete driveways
    • Concrete paths & footpaths
    • Commercial slabs

All concreters in Western Australia

South Australia 15 businesses
  • Concreter
    A1 Adelaide ConcreteAdelaide, SA
    • Concrete driveways
    • Concrete paths & footpaths
    • Concrete steps & ramps
  • Concreter
    Camilleri ConcreteAdelaide, SA
    • Concrete driveways
    • Concrete paths & footpaths
    • Commercial slabs
  • Concreter
    Tumby Concrete & TroughsClare, SA
    • Concrete paths & footpaths
    • Shed & granny flat slabs
    • Steel reinforcement (reo)
  • Concreter
    Dalmatian ConcretersAdelaide, SA
    • Concrete driveways
    • Concrete paths & footpaths
    • Concrete steps & ramps
  • Concreter
    Maselli Concrete ServicesAdelaide, SA
    • Concrete driveways
    • Driveway crossovers
    • Concrete paths & footpaths
  • Concreter
    Wieland Concreting Pty LtdPort Augusta, SA
    • Commercial slabs
    • Footings, foundations & columns
    • Steel reinforcement (reo)
  • Concreter
    Gelnar Concrete AdelaideAdelaide, SA
    • Concrete driveways
    • Concrete paths & footpaths
    • Footings, foundations & columns
  • Decorative & resurfacing
    Lifestyle Concreters AdelaideAdelaide, SA
    • Concrete driveways
    • Concrete paths & footpaths
    • Car parks & loading bays
  • Polished & epoxy floors
    Floorbuild Concrete ConstructionMurray Bridge, SA
    • Concrete driveways
    • Concrete paths & footpaths
    • Concrete steps & ramps
  • Concrete cutting & drilling
    Scan Core S.a Pty LtdCeduna, SA
    • Commercial slabs
    • Footings, foundations & columns
    • Steel reinforcement (reo)
  • Concrete supplier
    The YardSeaford, SA
    • House slabs
    • Footings, foundations & columns
    • Steel reinforcement (reo)
  • Builder, civil or landscaping
    Beco Constructions - (Concreters)Adelaide, SA
    • Concrete driveways
    • Driveway crossovers
    • Concrete paths & footpaths

All concreters in South Australia

Tasmania 7 businesses
  • Concreter
    JP Concreting TASKingston, TAS
    • Concrete driveways
    • Concrete paths & footpaths
    • Concrete steps & ramps
  • Concreter
    Concrete Power HobartHobart, TAS
    • Concrete driveways
    • Concrete paths & footpaths
    • Car parks & loading bays
  • Concreter
    Supreme Concreting TasmaniaDeloraine, TAS
    • Concrete driveways
    • Concrete paths & footpaths
    • House slabs
  • Concrete cutting & drilling
    Van Dieman DiamondNew Norfolk, TAS
    • Concrete driveways
    • Concrete paths & footpaths
    • Concrete steps & ramps
  • Builder, civil or landscaping
    DRC HobartHobart, TAS
    • Concrete paths & footpaths
    • Concrete steps & ramps
    • Car parks & loading bays
  • Builder, civil or landscaping
    Sprout Garden ConceptsHobart, TAS
    • Concrete driveways
    • Concrete paths & footpaths
    • Footings, foundations & columns
  • Builder, civil or landscaping
    Tringrove IndustriesHobart, TAS
    • Footings, foundations & columns
    • Steel reinforcement (reo)
    • Formwork
Northern Territory 4 businesses
  • Concrete cutting & drilling
    Di-Core Drilling & CuttingRenner Springs, NT
    • Concrete driveways
    • Commercial slabs
    • Steel reinforcement (reo)
  • Builder, civil or landscaping
    Bear ClawPalmerston City, NT
    • Concrete paths & footpaths
    • Commercial slabs
    • Footings, foundations & columns
  • Builder, civil or landscaping
    Schaper Concrete & ConstructionAlice Springs, NT
    • Concrete driveways
    • Concrete paths & footpaths
    • Commercial slabs
  • Builder, civil or landscaping
    NT ProformPalmerston City, NT
    • Footings, foundations & columns
    • Steel reinforcement (reo)
    • Formwork
Australian Capital Territory 6 businesses
Advertisement

Common questions

What does SL82 mean?

Square mesh with 8 mm bars at 200 mm spacing (SL = square, L = low ductility, 8 = bar size). SL72 uses 7 mm bars; SL92 uses 9 mm.

Can fibre replace mesh?

Fibre reduces shrinkage cracking and is used on some paths and slabs, but it doesn't replace structural steel where an engineer specifies it.

Why use bar chairs?

They hold the steel at the right depth so it is surrounded by concrete. Steel at the bottom of the slab gives little benefit.

Related guides