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Reinforcement - Mesh B785 – cost per m² – UK 2026 Rate Guide

Budget rate for supply & lay · typical budget rate before your adjustments

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Reinforcement - Mesh B785
per m² · supply & lay
£19 – £50 / m²
What is it

B785 is factory-welded steel reinforcement mesh providing 785 mm²/m of principal reinforcement for concrete slabs and walls.

Rate guide
Standard single layer to open, repetitive slab areas£19 – £25/m²
Single layer with frequent openings and local trimming£23 – £32/m²
Small or fragmented pours with restricted access£26 – £39/m²
Single layer fixed vertically to walls£24 – £34/m²
Double layer to slabs, measured per plan area£37 – £50/m²
Labour output
Open repetitive slab, crane-served, two-person gang180–260 m²/day
Regular slab with moderate laps and openings, two-person gang120–180 m²/day
Wall reinforcement or congested slab zones, two-person gang70–120 m²/day
Broken-up areas, restricted handling or numerous details, two-person gang35–70 m²/day
Key rate adjusters
Steel price
A movement of £100/t in the delivered mesh price typically changes the installed rate by about £0.90–£1.10/m² after laps and waste.
Laps and waste
Standard allowances of 10–15% are usual, while irregular geometry can add a further £1.00–£2.50/m².
Pour size
Small or intermittent pours can increase the fixing rate by 20–45% through repeated mobilisation and lost gang productivity.
Access and handling
Restricted craneage, manual distribution or double handling commonly adds £2.00–£5.00/m².
Chairs and spacers
Heavy-duty supports, close spacing or unusual cover requirements can add £1.00–£4.00/m².
Congestion and openings
Frequent penetrations, trimming and clashes with other reinforcement can raise labour cost by 25–60%.
Quantity surveyor insights
  • Waste and buildability: Optimise sheet layouts around bay dimensions before ordering, as poor lap sequencing and excessive cutting can push wastage above 15%. Early coordination of openings and pour strips also protects fixing output.
  • Scope and procurement: Confirm whether laps, tying wire, chairs, spacers, trimming, unloading and crane distribution sit within the mesh package, as omissions can create a £3–£7/m² scope gap. Secure mill availability and delivery slots early for phased or high-volume programmes.

Estimate Anything AI answer · indicative budget rates · updated 31 August 2026

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