Our Blog - The Fence Post

Gabions...More Design Ideas

August 20, 2019 | by Joe Morrell

Are you ready to change the landscape?

Custom and Standard Orders

Welded from heavy 11 gauge wire, typical gabion mesh has 3" x 3" openings, with Galvanized After Weld mesh as the standard--protecting against rust while offering long life. In coastal or saline environments, a tough coating of PVC is recommended to offset corrosion and this, together with the galvanization, offers double protection. Also available: panels for assembling gabion baskets, with a standard set of dimensions being 3' x 3' x 6' or a larger set can be ordered in lengths of 9' and 12'.

It's very possible that your project may require a different set of specifications--gabion mesh can be customized and special ordered. Here is another video with some very striking designs:

Design Possibilities

At Louis Page, we love the ingenuity applied to the design of gabions and the endless variety of uses for them, whether it's for walls, casual seating, embankments, or planters, the list goes on. The sturdiness and style make these small or great feats of engineering an enhancement to whatever surroundings they inhabit.

Look at this planter one of our clients created:

Gabions are also useful for:

erosion control
bank stabilization
channel linings
weirs

Topics: vinyl coated wire, gabion, galvanized after, GAW, wire gauges

Understanding Wire Gauges Used In Welded Wire & Woven Wire Mesh & Fence

January 15, 2019 | by Duncan Page

Defining Wire Gauge

Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary defines wire gauge as any of various systems consisting of a series of standard sizes used in describing the diameter of wire.

It all starts with heavy coils of large diameter wire called rod made in a rolling mill. The rod is then shipped to a wire manufacturing mill. To make the wire used in wire fence and mesh, single strands are "drawn" through a series of increasingly smaller dies or plates and reduced to a specific gauge/diameter. The gauge is determined by the wire's final use - single strand wire, welded wire mesh or woven wire fence. Heating of the wire is not required in the drawing process.

Lower Number: Thicker

There have been several different gauge designations since this process was introduced. Numbers have been used to designate wire diameter since 1735. They originally referred to the number of draws used in the process. The first draw was called 1 gauge, the second 2 gauge, the third 3 gauge, on down to the final draw of the thinnest wire being made. This is why thick wires have a lower gauge number than thin wires. 9 gauge wire is thicker than 14 gauge because it requires fewer "draws" than 14 gauge.

The Birmingham Wire Gauge, also known as the Stubs Iron Wire Gauge, was originally developed in early 19th-century England as a means of standardizing gauge sizes. It has been used in a medical setting (needles) since the early 20th century. In 1855, Brown and Sharpe established a formula-based progression of 39 steps - from 1 gauge through 40 gauge. This is now known as the American Wire Gauge and is used extensively in the United States.

Common Wire Gauges

The following values show in inches the most common gauges of wires used in welded and woven wire mesh and fence:

8.5 gauge - 0.155 inch

9 gauge - 0.1483 inch

10.5 gauge - 0.128 inch

11 gauge - 0.1205 inch

12.5 gauge - 0.099 inch

14 gauge - 0.080 inch

16 gauge - 0.0625 inch

18 gauge - 0.0475 inch

20 gauge - 0.0348 inch

21 gauge - 0.0317 inch

23 gauge - 0.0258 inch

27 gauge - 0.0173 inch

There are many different combinations of wire gauge and mesh size manufactured. You can select the right product for the requirements of your project.

Topics: welded wire mesh, woven wire, wire gauges

Everything You Need to Know About Wire Gauges Used In Welded & Woven Wire Mesh & Fence

July 14, 2017 | by Debbie Page

Wire Gauges, Numbers, and Numbers into Inches

Here is everything you need to know about the wire gauges used in welded and woven wire mesh fences. We cover what a wire gauge is, what do the different numbers mean and even provide a handy chart converting gauge numbers into inches.

Micrometer for meauring wire for welded wire fencing (Source: Britannica)

Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary defines wire gauge as any of various systems consisting of a series of standard sizes used in describing the diameter of wire.

The Rolling Mill

The process all starts with heavy coils of large diameter wire called rod made in a rolling mill. The rod is then shipped to a wire manufacturing mill. To make the wire used in wire fence and mesh, single strands are "drawn" through a series of increasingly smaller dies or plates and reduced to a specific gauge/diameter. The gauge is determined by the wire's final use - single strand wire, welded wire mesh or woven wire fence. Heating of the wire is not required in the drawing process. Here is a photo from a Riverdale Mill, one of the mills in the United States that supplies welded wire for us.

Birmingham Wire Gauge

The Birmingham Wire Gauge, also known as the Stubs Iron Wire Gauge, was originally developed in early 19th-century England as a means of standardizing gauge sizes. It has been used in a medical setting (needles) since the early 20th century. In 1855, Brown and Sharpe established a formula-based progression of 39 steps - from 1 gauge through 40 gauge. This is now known as the American Wire Gauge and is used extensively in the United States.

Most Common Wire Gauges

The following values show in inches the most common gauges of wires used in welded and woven wire mesh and fence:

8.5 gauge - 0.155 inch

9 gauge - 0.1483 inch

10.5 gauge - 0.128 inch

11 gauge - 0.1205 inch

12.5 gauge - 0.099 inch

14 gauge - 0.080 inch

16 gauge - 0.0625 inch

18 gauge - 0.0475 inch

20 gauge - 0.0348 inch

21 gauge - 0.0317 inch

23 gauge - 0.0258 inch

27 gauge - 0.0173 inch

There are many different combinations of wire gauge and mesh size manufactured. You can select the right product for the requirements of your project.

Topics: welded wire mesh, welded wire, welded wire fence, wire gauges

What Fence Wire Gauge is Right for Me?

June 9, 2017 | by Debbie Page

Fence Wire Gauges: the Basics

The most important thing you need to know about welded wire fence wire gauge is:

a lower gauge number equals a thicker wire

When considering a new fence--determine how the fence is going to be used over time. Some important fence project questions to consider include:

Are large animals going to be running up against the fence?
What is the location of the fence?
How high does the fence need to be?
How far apart will the fence posts be located?
How long do I want the fence to last?

This is a short list of questions to consider when planning a fence project. Choosing the right wire gauge will give you the strength and durability you want. In addition to wire gauge, we recommend considering:

1. Wire type

2. Mesh opening

3. Fence height

If you want a stronger and more durable welded wire fence then you need to choose 11 over 27. Louis Page sells fencing in 11 - 27 wire gauges. Keep in mind, choosing the right wire gauge really depends on your project-- stronger isn't always better. Welded wire fences serve a variety of needs on farms, construction sites and at homes across the nation. Louis Page can counsel you as to what's appropriate and what's overkill. It's best to plan your project and then shop.

Very Common Wire Gauges

Sometimes it's helpful to think about gauge thickness in inches. The following values show, in inches, the most common gauges of wires used in welded and woven wire mesh and fence:

8.5 gauge - 0.155 inch

9 gauge - 0.1483 inch

10.5 gauge - 0.128 inch

11 gauge - 0.1205 inch

12.5 gauge - 0.099 inch

14 gauge - 0.080 inch

16 gauge - 0.0625 inch

18 gauge - 0.0475 inch

20 gauge - 0.0348 inch

21 gauge - 0.0317 inch

23 gauge - 0.0258 inch

27 gauge - 0.0173 inch

There are many different combinations of wire gauge and mesh sizes manufactured. You can select the right product for the requirements of your project by browsing our catalog. If you are unsure of what wire gauge is right for your fence project, then give us a call (866) 328-5018 and we will be happy to help you select the right products for your project and we can offer a free quote.

Topics: welded wire fence, wire gauges

What Wire Gauges are Used in Welded & Woven Wire Mesh & Fence?

February 6, 2017 | by Debbie Page

First, a little background...

Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary defines wire gauge as any of various systems consisting of a series of standard sizes used in describing the diameter of wire. It all starts with heavy coils of large diameter wire called rod made in a rolling mill. The rod is then shipped to a wire manufacturing mill. To make the wire used in wire fence and mesh, single strands are "drawn" through a series of increasingly smaller dies or plates and reduced to a specific gauge/diameter. The gauge is determined by the wire's final use - single strand wire, welded wire mesh or woven wire fence. Heating of the wire is not required in the drawing process.

In this article, we'll answer the following questions:

What is wire gauge?

What does it mean?

How is it used to describe wire?

Wire Gauges Over Time

There have been several different gauge designations since the process outlined in the introduction was innovated.

Numbers have been used to designate wire diameter since 1735. They originally referred to the number of draws used in the process. The first draw was called 1 gauge, the second 2 gauge, the third 3 gauge, on down to the final draw of the thinnest wire being made.

The amount of "draws" required in the process determines why thick wires have a lower gauge number compared to thin wires. 9 gauge wire is thicker than 14 gauge because it requires fewer "draws" than 14 gauge.

The Birmingham Wire Gauge, also known as the Stubs Iron Wire Gauge, was originally developed in early 19th-century England as a means of standardizing gauge sizes. It has been used in a medical setting (needles) since the early 20th century. In 1855, Brown and Sharpe established a formula-based progression of 39 steps - from 1 gauge through 40 gauge. This is now known as the American Wire Gauge and is used extensively in the United States.

Common Wire Gauges

The following values show in inches the most common gauges of wires used in welded and woven wire mesh and fence:

8.5 gauge - 0.155 inch
9 gauge - 0.1483 inch
10.5 gauge - 0.128 inch
11 gauge - 0.1205 inch
12.5 gauge - 0.099 inch
14 gauge - 0.080 inch
16 gauge - 0.0625 inch
18 gauge - 0.0475 inch
20 gauge - 0.0348 inch
21 gauge - 0.0317 inch
23 gauge - 0.0258 inch
27 gauge - 0.0173 inch

There are many different combinations of wire gauge and mesh size manufactured. You can select the right product for the requirements of your project.

>We offer expert advice on fencing free of charge for all of your fencing projects. Please feel free to call us at (866) 328-5018 or you can request a free quote by clicking the button. If you aren't quite ready to talk fencing yet, simply download our free catalog.