The Fence Post

What are welded wire meshes and fences?

• As the name implies, welded wire mesh fences are made from wires that have been welded into a mesh
• In most cases, the same gauge of wire is used throughout the roll
• Welded joints are rigid and have little flexibility
• Many welded products with larger openings are used as fencing on ranches, farms, in parks and on construction sites.
• Mesh sizes can range from ½" x ½" up to 6" x 6"
• Meshes with smaller openings are usually made with lighter gauge wires
• These are mostly used for screening
• Some specifications of welded meshes are vinyl coated

And how can you use them?

Welded fencing is ideal to use on flat terrain where little flexibility is necessary. Some examples of uses:

    -Swimming pool fences

    -Emu and Ostrich Fences

    - Garden Fences

    - Dog kennels

    - Sheep and Goat Fences

     -Railing safety panel inserts

Woven Wire Mesh and Fence

What are woven wire meshes and fences?

• Fences made by weaving the wires into a mesh
• Different gauge wires are sometimes used in the same roll
• Woven joints are flexible yet very strong
• There are a wide variety of mesh size openings available
• Hexagonal netting (chicken wire), field and farm fence, deer and wildlife fence, and ornamental fence are some examples

And how are they used?

Woven wire fences are ideal in situations where the ground is uneven. The inherent flexibility allows the fence to adjust more easily to grade changes. Some examples of uses:

    - Garden Fences

    - Horse Paddocks

    - Boundary Fence

    - Orchard Fence

    - Farm Fence

Keep these differences in mind when you are planning to install a fence. Which type do you want to use? Or maybe you need expert advice on what products to use?

Call us today for a free quote! 800-225-0508 or email sales@louispage.com

Welded or Woven Wire? Each Brings its Own Merits

When it comes to the subject of “welded versus woven wire” fences, it may be more helpful to consider it more of a comparison, as both certainly have various merits in their favor. The intersections of these wires are spot-welded to create a sheet. However, woven fences are created through a process that is quite different and much more complicated. Using machinery, wire is loosely twisted into a gentle spiral, with each overlapping at the ends. With a quick twist, the link is made permanent and the distinctive zigzag diamond shape is formed.

Starting with Welded Wire Fences:

Example #1  Welded Wire Fence (Attached to Wooden Fence) - Straight lines are strong and sturdy

Example #2  Welded Wire Fence (Attached to Wooden Posts) - Straight lines are strong and sturdy

Welded wire fencing, which has a structure that is solid and inflexible, is ideal for a firm and definite barrier. When cut, the wires will not begin to unravel from one another.  The disadvantages of this fencing type can be seen in situations when pressure is introduced, such as livestock in need of a leaning post or any sort of vehicular crash. If weight is applied, it’s difficult for a welded wire fence to spring back to shape. It will likely deform permanently and need replacing.

Now onto Woven Wire

Example #3  Vinyl Coated Woven Wire Fence  - Distinctive zigzag diamond shape

See how example #3 is woven? The fence "lines" are straight in examples #1 and #2 and there is a little zigzag in example #3.

Structure and Functional Merits - Woven wire has some give

By understanding their basic structures, it is easy to see their functional merits. A woven wire fence's linked yet loose structure allows for a large amount of bend, twist and pull without breaking -- a perfect design if you have grazing livestock to contain. In some styles of woven agricultural fence, the vertical wires are one continuous strand. This makes a very strong and secure mesh that will hold together well when under pressure. 

• Woven wire products used as fences can vary between 9 gauge and 23 gauge                                               
• Mesh sizes can run from ½" to 8"                                                                                                                       
• Wire finishes of woven meshes are similar to those that are welded: galvanized before weld (GBW), galvanized after weld (GAW), or vinyl coated (VC)                                                                                           
• Fences that are woven are more flexible than welded products                                                                         
• Mesh openings are generally uniform and consistent in shape and size throughout the roll                              
• Woven meshes are easier to install over uneven ground and can be "racked" to conform to the ups and downs
• Many of the fences used to enclose or exclude livestock are woven construction: deer, horses, poultry, and game birds

Planning, Calculation, Installation

Let's begin with a drawing as an introduction to calculating the needed materials for a fence project:

Guidelines to help you install your wire fence

If you find yourself asking how many feet of welded wire or mesh do I need, this article can help you. Don't forget about figuring out how many posts you need in advance - a fence without posts isn't a fence!

The Plan

1. Determine the kind of fence you will need, based on the requirements of the application - the purposes and needs of your particular situation. 

• Type: You can choose from a wide variety of fences and meshes. 

• Size: Different heights, size, and spacing of mesh openings, finishes, and gauges of wire fence are available to fit every use.

2. Create a plan for the fence project design. Establish where the corners and ends of the fence are to be located.

3. Calculate the amount of fence and posts (end, corner and line posts) needed for the job. Don't forget to add any gates that are required to complete the project. 

• Type: Wood or studded T posts can be used to hang the fence.

• Spacing: Figure line post spacing at 8 to 10 feet apart.

And Installation

1. Fence posts

• Make sure end, corner and gate posts are placed deeper in the ground than line posts for more holding power. Corners and ends may need bracing, depending on the type of fence used.

• Be sure to tamp and level wood posts before moving on to the next step.

• T posts can be driven into the ground using a manual post driver with handles. The driver eliminates the potentially dangerous use of an unwieldy sledgehammer.

2. Attaching fence posts

• Wood posts - galvanized slice-cut staples can be used. These are available in ¾", 1", 1¼", 1½", 1¾" and 2" sizes.

• Studded T posts - metal clips are provided with each post to securely hold the fence.

3. Stretching the fence

• The appropriate amount of tension depends on which mesh is used. Woven wire fencing, especially high-tension field and deer fences, requires a lot more tension than welded wire fences.

Please! Print this handy Louis E. Page Fence Calculation Reference Page to help you with your measurements.

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. 

Need some inspiration? Check out these recommended articles and more:

• Everything You Need to Know About Welded Wire Mesh Fence Panels
• Why You Should Use Steel Posts with Wire Fences

Post and Wire

When you build a wire fence, the type of wire you use is very important. Using an inferior wire will lead the fence to rust quickly and need to be replaced. Instead, you should use vinyl coated, stainless steel, zinc aluminum with black paint (if available), or Class 3 galvanized (if available), which will stand up to the elements and last much longer. However, just as important as the type of wire you use are the type of posts that hold the wire up. These are often overlooked when it comes to fence building, but if you use the wrong type, it can weaken the structural integrity of your fence even faster than the wrong wire. That’s why it’s important, when building a Class 3 galvanized wire fence, to use galvanized posts as well.

• Galvanized: To galvanize something is to coat it in a protective layer of zinc. Zinc will stand up against water and the elements better than other types of metals, protecting against rust and making your metal last longer. Galvanization takes place either before (GBW) or after (GAW) the welding. GAW is the longest lasting of those two. Class 3 galvanized wire (if available). Class 1 galvanization uses only a very thin layer of zinc, which lasts 2 - 11 years before it rusts. In a coastal area, where salt water is a factor, it can last 2 years or less. Class 3 galvanization, on the other hand, is thicker and can last anywhere from 13 to 30 years. It’s a little more expensive, but it doesn’t have to be replaced nearly as often, saving you more money in the long run.

• Stainless Steel: Stainless steel welded wire mesh is strong and long-lasting. By its very nature, stainless steel wire needs no additional finish, such as galvanizing or PVC, to protect it. The wire itself is extremely resistant to rust, corrosion, and harsh chemicals. If you need a welded mesh or fence in an area with prolonged exposure to corrosives, stainless steel products will meet the demands. Type 316 is recommended for saltwater environments since it has a higher resistance to corrosion than Type 304.

• Vinyl Coated - VC: Welded wire fencing and meshes are both long lasting and attractive. Galvanized welded mesh is coated with a thick layer of PVC which is tightly bonded to the wire by a heat process. The coating is flexible and will not crack when the wire is bent. It is stable over a wide temperature range, maintaining its qualities in extremes of both hot and cold temperatures. UV inhibitors are in the vinyl to retard degradation from sunlight. The coating is also very resistant to scraping and abrasion. Vinyl coated welded wire mesh and fence sometimes referred to as plastic coated wire products, are very strong and durable. They are long lasting and rust resistant. They have double protection. Not only does the vinyl coating seal the wire from water and other corrosive elements, but the underlying mesh is also protected by a zinc coating.

• Zinc Aluminum - ZA: A new, zinc-coated aluminum hybrid coating. It lasts more than twice as long as Class 1 but uses less coating then Class 3, which saves you money.

• ZA with Black paint: Lasts more than twice as long as Class 3 and is painted black. It will last 13 to 30 until rust in non-coastal environments.

The Benefits of Steel Posts
The wire isn’t the only part of your fence that’s subject to the elements. The posts are as well. You can have the best wire on the market, but if the posts fail first, you’ll still have to replace your fence sooner than intended. A lot of wire fences use wood posts. They’re strong and sturdy, but they can rot over time, or be eaten away by termites and other bugs. It’s much better to use metal posts. The best posts are the steel T-posts because they are galvanized. They are made with studs every 2 1/8" down the length of the post, allowing you to customize the height of your fence easily and prevent the fence from riding up and down the post.

Galvanization: An Essential

Of course, metal posts are subject to the same issues as metal wires are. If you’re not careful, they can rust. Therefore, just as it’s important to use the choices mentioned above for your fence, it’s also essential to use galvanized posts. Galvanization will guard your posts against the elements so that they don’t rust as quickly.

Your posts are what hold your fence together, so it’s important that they be strong, sturdy, and long-lasting. A high-quality wire on a cheap, low-quality post will cause problems and likely need to be replaced within a few years. But if you use strong, metal, galvanized posts, with top quality wire, then your wire fence can last you for decades.