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The Fence Post

Paddle Tennis

August 14, 2018 | by Joe Morrell


Platform Tennis Court--Mesh

Resiliency and Longevity

The screens that surround your Platform Tennis (or platform tennis if you prefer) court are relied upon unceasingly as the ball remains in play. These walls of mesh can take a beating during play, also from the elements, and from ordinary wear and tear. Now there is a superior mesh on the market all over the U.S. (and indeed, internationally) that sets the bar high for the overall resiliency and longevity of a platform tennis court.

Finding the Right Mesh

However, products are flooding the market, in particular, the mass-produced Chinese sources that may be adequate in the short run, but may not stand up in the long haul. Proper galvanization, the tensile strength of the wire and its accurate diameter, and specification of the mesh size are all essential for optimal performance of the game. As the ball hits and bounces off the screen in umpteen directions, the reliability of mesh is key in the moment-to-moment strategizing of the game.

A Developing Company 

It is vital that as a court ages, that the durability of the mesh can stand the test of time as the court is exposed to the elements and daily use. In the past, the galvanized wire cloth used for the screens of our courts were machined by Gilbert & Bennett from Georgetown, Connecticut, a company that had made all the wire cloth in the country. The company's closing in 1989 left a void in sourcing mesh for the paddle tennis industry and thus the search was on for an equivalent manufacturer. Regrettably, this is when poultry netting produced in China appeared on the scene as the worldwide hunt for a source ensued. Thankfully, a steel wire company in Belgium named Betafence emerged and became the manufacturer until a few years ago.

On to Bogota

With map in hand, we now travel to a small town near Bogota, Colombia named Cajica, where a factory exists that carries on this tradition of creating the finest platform tennis mesh. The identical state-of-the-art machinery, that Betafence has maintained for 28 years, has made the voyage to Cajica and the company Andimallas y Andimetales S.A. has now been established, producing a mesh of that same high quality.

hexa factory

Details that Make the Difference

The installation of these machines was carried out by the same technicians that had been involved in Belgium for generations so that the quality, standards, and specifications have been maintained scrupulously. There are huge advantages of working with this type of mesh: it is smoother, easier to install and it can also be tensioned to have exactly the same rigidity as the galvanized after weave mesh, and the galvanization is stronger than the other galvanization system--240 grms-zinc/m2. Rolls are 16 gauge, 1” mesh, 72” x 157.5’ and weigh 296 lbs. 

With a Winning Team

The mesh is known as "Hexa Sport" and Louis Page has exclusive rights to supply and distribute this mesh for the American market. Louis Page is excited to be teamed with the international company Andimallas y Andimetales S.A., a specialist in the production of hexagonal mesh and we endeavor to supply and rejuvenate Platform Tennis courts across the nation. With 125 years in the business, Louis Page stands front and center in its commitment to delivering the finest in mesh and fence products available. With your game hanging in the balance, here is a resilient mesh that will keep that ball in play.

Rolls are in stock and large orders (40 rolls/container) are made to order.

 

Paddle Tennis Wire

 

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Topics: hex netting, 16 gauge, platfrom tennis, 1" mesh, paddle tennis

Hex Netting Black Vinyl Coated 1-inch Mesh Chicken Wire

March 1, 2018 | by Debbie Page

black vinyl coated hex mesh graphic

Flexible, Lasting, and Good-Looking

Hexagonal netting (aka chicken wire) that is vinyl coated will last a long time. After the 20 gauge galvanized wire is woven into a 1" hex mesh the roll is completely coated with a tough, flexible, tightly bonded layer of black PVC. There are UV inhibitors in the vinyl that protect it from sunlight degradation. Not only is the coating extremely resistant to cracking, chipping and weathering, but it is also unaffected by extremes of temperature.

Black vinyl coated chicken wire is highly resistant to rust and corrosion. The wire has double protection from both the galvanizing and the vinyl. Aesthetically pleasing, the black color helps the mesh blend in with the landscape, becoming virtually invisible. This long-lasting mesh works well in a wide variety of applications around the home or farm, such as bird pens and garden fence.

A Host of Benefits 

  • Choice of different heights
  • Vinyl coating gives longer life
  • Economical light weight fence
  • Excellent product for deer fence
  • Ideal for a variety of applications
  • Black color blends with background - virtually invisible

With So Many Uses

  • Rabbit fence
  • Chicken coops
  • Game bird flight pens
  • Deer fence - 84" and 90"
  • Small mesh garden fence
  • Tree and shrub protection
  • Nuisance animal exclusion
  • Ground wire to prevent digging animals
  • Mesh attached to split rail of ornamental fence to catch blowing leaves 
                              
Black Vinyl Coated Hexagonal Netting 
 
 
chickens

 

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Topics: hex netting, vinyl coated wire

Battling Woodchucks

February 2, 2018 | by Joe Morrell

 

Woodchuck on lawn

Your Garden at Peril

Battling a burrowing woodchuck can be a relentless task. Here are some of our answers to warding off this muncher and destroyer of your prized plantings. 

Keeping a Woodchuck from Burrowing and Climbing

The clever woodchuck moves below ground as well as above.

  • A 6-foot fence is required as a minimum, with 5-foot posts
  • Chicken wire should be dug in 10 inches or more below ground level
  • Leave a foot of chicken wire unattached from the post at the top and bend it outwards; this prevents the woodchuck from getting a good grip for climbing over the fence

Another possibility is:

  • Place 3 feet of chicken wire flat on the ground around the perimeter of the garden
  • After which, secure a 4 to 6-foot fence vertically 6 inches in from the chicken wire edge which will leave 2½ feet of chicken wire on the outside on the ground
  • At the top, leave 12 inches of the chicken wire bent outwards away from the garden, unsecured
  • The woodchuck will not be able to dig under the vertical fence because of the 3 feet of chicken wire surrounding the garden

As the updated Old Farmer's Almanac advises: The best woodchuck deterrent is a fence.

woodchuck fencing drawing with instructions

Image from Mass Audubon Society.org 

A Very Broad Diet

A woodchuck is decidedly vegetarian, and your garden falls prey to them as they gorge during spring and summer-- fattening up for their long winter in the burrow. Vegetables are prized, as well as a vegetables' early tender shoots. Stems, roots, and bark are munched as well. Here is a fairly thorough list of a woodchuck's possible victims:  

While wild grasses are a mainstay, woodchucks eat a variety of vegetation and agricultural crops including peas, beans, lettuce, zucchini, squash, pumpkin vines, green beans, broccoli, soybeans, parsnip leaves, onion stems, cilantro, dill, parsley, sage, alfalfa, eggplant, as well as clover, tree bark, and insects. Flowers at threat can include phlox, salvias, lupines, hollyhocks, rudbeckia, echinacea, poppies, astilbe, sedum, hostas, columbine, and the young, soft shoots of roses and delphiniums (though they are poisonous). Also dahlias, petunias, daisies, asters, cosmos, marigolds, nasturtiums, pansies, portulaca, tulips, sunflowers, and zinnias. Well, that does it for my garden!

Woodchuck Nation

Woodchucks are generously distributed in North America and Canada, extending to Alaska and in the south to Georgia. The clearing of forests has enabled the woodchuck to thrive. In open land and often near woods, a woodchuck's burrow is a small maze built of necessity. Entrances lead to tunnels which lead to chambers that are used for sleeping, rearing young, and even a separate chamber for burying waste. A variety of entrances provide hasty retreats when predators such as dogs and foxes appear and some holes may only be two feet deep for taking cover at such times. Burrow openings measure 8 to 12 inches, with additional holes at least 10 feet away. Not only do they eat crops, but trample them as well. Their holes can damage livestock. It is essential that we employ an appropriate arsenal to give these damaging rodents the heave-ho.

One man's battle, his fascination, and final answer--

 

Punxsutawney Phil

And finally, the celebration each February--the questionable observance of Groundhog Day--the honoring of one of our most destructive critters--the beloved Punxsutawney Phil who reigns as the predictor of the length of winter. Despite this fame, gardeners cast a wary eye to mounds and holes as this ravenous marauder tunnels, then nibbles and chomps through labored-over crops. Yes, it could be the single bite out of that prized tomato or the tragic beheading of a carrot that swiftly moves one to take up arms. Before we become violent, let's use some of the above-mentioned preventative measures. Ideally, a fence should be in place before a woodchuck is able to enter and start sampling produce.

At Louis Page, we are committed to providing you with the information and products that can protect your property and alleviate some of your stress. If you have questions, please get in touch, call us at (866) 328-5018.

English cottage with garden

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Topics: garden fence, hex netting, garden netting, poultry netting, woodchucks, woodchuck

Chicken Wire Arts and Crafts: A Pictorial Gallery

April 14, 2017 | by Debbie Page

Chicken Wire with a Twist
wire sculpture of chickens on lawn

Sculpture by Susan Nichols

At Louis Page, we love chicken wire art and crafts and we love the work of Susan Nichols. Another chicken wire artist we came across is Australian Ivan Lovett. We highlighted him in this blog post and it is wildly popular, and we continue to receive many questions about the various uses of chicken wire. Today, we are sharing some of our favorite photos of chicken wire arts and crafts. The possibilities of effect are numerous and impressive. First, we'll look at some projects for around the house and then some contemporary chicken wire art. After the montage, look at the specifications below if you'd like more details.

To begin, here are some crafty home décor projects that we found on the web.

wire enclosed wooden shelf

Source: Crafty Sisters

 

hex mesh wire light shade

Source: Shades of Light

 

hex mesh heart filled with stones

Source: toocraft.com

 

cabinet with wire mesh windows

Source: The Painted Parlor

Captivating Pieces by Contemporary Artists

Such as this beautifully displayed piece by the artist, Derek Kenzett

wire sculpture of man in wood canoe

Here is a gallery piece by the artist, Benedetta Mori Ubaldini

lit sculpture of babies and rats

And this lighted piece by Cédric Le Borgne

lit wire sculpture of deer grazing

"Floating Mountains, Singing Clouds" by Mei-ling Hom

billowy cloudlike wire sculpture

Finally, this fun sculpture of chickens by Susan Nichols

wire sculpture of chickens on lawn

Details

The most common specifications of chicken wire available are made using 20 gauge wire woven into 1" or 2" hexagonal mesh. Other types available are 1/2" x 22 gauge, 1" x 18 gauge and 1-1/2 x 17 gauge.

An Array of Finishes

Finishes available are: galvanized before weave (GBW), galvanized after weave (GAW) and PVC vinyl coated (VC). Not all specifications are available in all finishes.

Extremely Useful

This fencing material is ideal for use around the home, farm, and in industrial applications - any place where a lighter weight mesh can be used. Conventional uses include:

  • deer fence
  • craft projects
  • stucco netting
  • window guards
  • game bird flight pens
  • garden perimeter fence
  • tree and shrub protection
  • holding insulation in place
  • exclusion barriers for birds
  • chicken runs and poultry houses
  • trellis for climbing plants & flowers
  • backing mesh for post and rail fence
  • framework for sculpture and float decorations

We have highlighted some of our favorites sculptures and DIY projects from across the web. Perhaps you have a favorite chicken wire artist? Or maybe, you take the DIY approach and have created a sculpture of your own? Whatever the case, we want you to know, we love a good chicken wire sculpture or homestead project and sell hexagonal wire aka chicken wire (GBW, GAW, and Vinyl-Coated) check it out our products here.

Chicken Wire

 

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Topics: hex netting, vinyl coated wire, galvanized after

Why You Need Black Vinyl Coated Apron Fence

August 10, 2013 | by Duncan Page

apron fence

Premium Apron Fence

Premium quality galvanized Apron Fence, manufactured by Keystone Steel and Wire in Peoria, IL, is the only 17 gauge, 1-1/2" heavy hexagonal netting made in the USA. The wire used is fully dimensional 17 gauge, on the high end of the acceptable tolerance limit.

The Apron

Keystone makes this roll as Galvanized Before Weld (GBW) material. They weave previously galvanized 17 gauge wire into the 1-1/2" hex netting. 17 gauge (.054") is much heavier than the standard 20 gauge (.0348") used in weaving standard chicken wire. Consequently, it is a much stronger product and will last a lot longer.

This Apron Fence is available in two roll sizes: 60" x 150' (48" high with a 12" apron) and 72" x 150' (60" high with a 12" apron). The roll is made with a single line wire running the length of the roll, 12" up from the bottom. This wire acts as a guideline when you are bending the 12" section out 90 degrees to form the apron.

Another Layer of Protection

vinyl coated apron fence

Thick, Flexible, and Resists Peeling

Keystone does not have the ability to vinyl coat their Apron Fence. Its 60" rolls are sent to another quality US mill to be custom coated. This mill specializes in vinyl coating all types of wire mesh, including mesh used in building lobster traps. Here a high quality, thick and flexible coating of UV treated Black PVC is tightly bonded to the wire mesh. The coating is so tightly bonded that it resists scraping. It cannot be easily scraped off with a fingernail. And it will not peel off easily.

The finished product is first quality in every respect. Expected lifetime is hard to predict. Local environmental conditions in the air, soil, and rain have an impact on the length of time fencing material will last. These conditions vary enormously from one part of the country to another.

Enduring Quality

Knowing the material is produced by two of the leading mills in the United States can give you confidence that this product is the highest quality available. The extra handling and shipping involved in moving the material from one mill to the other do add to the cost. But the quality and endurance is there in every roll and speaks for itself.

apron fence garden

Easy to Use

Vinyl coated Apron Fence is very easy to use. The smooth finish makes it easy to handle and install. The unique 12" apron prevents animals from burrowing under the fence, keeping raccoons, foxes and other predators out of birds and pets in. The apron can be turned in either direction - to the outside to make a barrier or to the inside to make a pen.

Seamless Installation 

Installation is easy since there is no need to dig a trench. Bend the mesh along the guideline. Just lay the apron on top of the ground so that vegetation grows up through it. This will securely anchor it in place. Digging animals will start at the fence itself, not realizing they have to start 12" away with their digging. This is a very effective barrier.

There are many uses for Apron Fence as a perimeter fence, such as:

  • Many individuals and clubs use it to fence in training pens for their beagles. Due to the high quality of the product, replacement and repair costs and concerns are kept to a minimum.
  • It makes an ideal fence around a garden. The black color of the vinyl makes the mesh virtually invisible against the background. You can get an unrestricted view of your garden.
  • Vinyl coated Apron Fence has been used in building game bird pens. The black color is a visibility advantage here as well.

If you are looking for a quality product that can provide an attractive, secure barrier on the ground surface as well as vertically, consider using vinyl coated Apron Fence.

Duncan Page signature Duncan Page

Download the VC Apron Fence specs!

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Topics: apron fence, hex netting, black vinyl coated

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