General Contractor Practice Exam

What is the most commonly used size of tie wire for rebar tying?

1. 10 ga

2. 12 ga

3. 14 ga

4. 16 ga

The correct answer is: 16 ga

The most commonly used size of tie wire for rebar tying is 16 gauge. This size is preferred because it strikes a balance between strength and flexibility, allowing for effective securement of rebar without being excessively rigid. A 16-gauge wire is thick enough to provide adequate support and stability for rebar during construction, while still being workable enough to twist and bend easily by hand or with minimal tools, facilitating quick and efficient tying. Using a thinner gauge, such as 18 or 20, may prove inadequate for structural applications where strength is paramount. Conversely, thicker gauges like 10 or 12 are less commonly used for tying due to their rigidity, which makes them more cumbersome to work with and can lead to difficulty in achieving tight knots around rebars. Therefore, the choice of 16-gauge wire is favored in the industry for its optimal characteristics that meet the demands of rebar tying tasks.