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Debbie Page

How to Repair Your Broken Fence

April 13, 2016 | by Debbie Page

Do You Have a fence that's begging for attention?

Spring is a great time to prepare your fence for the warmer months. Winter can be tough on fences. Trees fall down. Branches take out fence sections. The land freezes and defrosts, making your fence unstable. By the time spring rolls around, your fence can end up rusty, misshapen or even on the ground. In fact, spring, summer, and fall are all good times to work on a fence.

Things to Watch Out For

Now is the time to inspect your fence. To begin an inspection, walk the perimeter of the fence and inspect it from bottom to top. You will want to pay special attention to where the fence meets the ground. Have any animals burrowed underneath your fence?

Plus you will want to make sure there is no rust. Fences that are constantly touching the ground tend to rust at a higher rate. Over time, you may notice that an entire section has rusted away at ground level.

An inspection should also involve shaking the fence. Is it securely in the ground? Have any of the fence posts become damaged or loose in the ground. If your fence is coated in vinyl, check to see if the vinyl is peeling.

In addition to making any notes for yourself about damage, rust or peeling, you will want to pull off any vegetation that may have grown on your fence. Although some people find ivy and other plants appealing when it is growing on fences, vegetation speeds up the decay of your fence.

Signs of damage, and some fixes--

Rust

Rust is the number one enemy of metal fences. Once rust sets in, you can never restore your fence 100% but you can maintain it for a long life. To repair your fence from rusting:

Brush off rust with a steel brush
Spray area with your favorite metal protective spray paint/coating
Monitor fence area for any additional rust

Peeling Vinyl Coated Mesh

tiger behind peeling green vinyl coated fence

Vinyl coating helps to prolong the life of your fence but over time the vinyl starts to peel. To maintain a vinyl coated fence:

Trim away excessive peeling vinyl
Use 60 grit sandpaper to sand away the small piece and create a smooth finish
Spray area with your favorite metal protective spray paint/coating
Monitor fence area for any additional peeling and rust

Fence Section Smashed by a Fallen Tree or Tree Branch

Winter can be tough on trees and anything around your fence that can fall on it and damage the fence. To address a section of fence that has been destroyed we recommend:

Replacing the section with a panel of the same or a similar type of fencing
Using strand wire to thread together the broken sections
Replacing or upgrading the fence

A Maintenance Supply List

We also recommend creating a fence maintenance supply list when you are first building a fence and annually give your fence a check-up. For the supply list, we recommend:

Strand wire, fence staples, and hog rings
Purchasing an extra 20% of fence so you can some on hand for repairs
Reviewing warranties
Including all your fencing needs in one order

To quickly summarize, check your fence for:

Lack of sturdiness
Fence post stability
Weld strength
Rust
Vinyl peeling
Vegetation
Holes under the fence

You will want to fix or address any and all of the items on this list in preparation for warmer months ahead.

Louis E. Page is your single source for all your wire mesh requirements. We have strand wire, fence staples, hog rings and more in our catalog. It is up to you as to how many supplies you want to keep on hand to maintain a strong, sturdy fence. Some of our suppliers offer warranties, for example, Cavatorta, has an excellent product warranty.

At Louis E. Page, we pride ourselves on our customer service and being able to meet your needs. Including all your fencing needs in one order can save you time and ensure you have everything you need when you need it. For example, you might already know that you need welded wire mesh for your animals but what about the crops you plan on planting?

Your plants need support and we have Hortonova - Crop Support Netting. This netting is rot and rust proof, resistant to UV rays and chemical agents. It is ideal for vertical and horizontal growing techniques. You can keep your animals where you want them, plus easily cultivate plants when you combine your ordering needs.

Place an order today by calling 1-800-225-0508 or emailing sales@louispage.com.

Download our Catalog >

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Topics: fence, hog rings, repair, Fencing Tips

How To Splice Woven Wire Fencing Material

June 20, 2013 | by Debbie Page

A Helpful How-to on Splicing

Do you have a woven wire fence that needs repair? Has this ever happened to you?

You have two rolls of fence you need to splice together.
You need to cut out a damaged section of your fence and splice in a new section to replace it.
Some strands of your fencing material have broken and are in need of repair.
You're unsure of how to repair these problems so that your fence can function as intended.

Watch this video and learn a couple of different ways you can splice a woven wire fence.

Have you discovered other helpful techniques for mending and splicing woven wire fences you'd like to share?

Topics: woven wire, how to

Goat Fencing Materials Considerations vs. Born Free

March 14, 2013 | by Debbie Page

Mr. Tumnus and Sherlock Holmes

When my son Daniel was 11 he announced he was getting goats. “You’re doing what?” I exclaimed. We had recently moved to a house on four acres in Massachusetts. He was looking at about two acres of grass to cut and being an entrepreneur at heart, he was determined to figure out the fastest solution to getting that job done. After much discussion, we headed to Crystal Brook Farm in Sterling, MA so Daniel could apply for a job. Ann Starbard, the goatherder and author of 'The Dairy Goat Handbook," hired him. How could she resist when he blurted out “I want to work for you and you don’t have to pay me.” That was the beginning of our life with goats and it all started with twins: Mr. Tumnus and Sherlock Holmes. Of course, before he brought the goats to their new home he needed a shed and a fence to keep them in.

Additions and Roaming

Then Ann gave Daniel a female goat for his birthday and no one bothered to tell me that she was pregnant! And true to many goats she had triplets: Amos and Andy and Abigail. And then there was Roo. Twelve years later we still have the original twins. Fencing them in and keeping them in has had its challenges through the years. Goats do roam and love to do it. They ate all my David Austin roses, our nice big strawberry patch, and my holly bush (with the most berries ever!) one Christmas. We found the weirdest streaks on our truck last winter: they had been licking the salt off the truck! I came home late one afternoon to find them playing in my neighbor’s front yard. Have you ever tried to get seven full-grown goats home? Without the neighbors hearing you? Not an easy feat. To a goat, the grass is always greener on the other side, especially after a New England winter.

Containing Them

There are two things you must accomplish with fencing in your goats:

Keeping the goats contained so you don’t lose your roses (or your neighbors' roses!) or expose them to potentially harmful shrubs such as rhododendron
Keeping your goats safe from predators: coyotes, for example

Thinking ahead:

Type of fencing
Land area you want to fence
Size of your herd
Terrain
Your budget
Do it yourself or hire someone

Options: Wire Mesh Fencing Materials

Fixed Knot
Electric fence, best used in combination with another fence
Barbed wire
Welded wire stock panels
Stay-Tuff's Goat-Tuff™ fence

Are you thinking about getting goats? Do you already have goats in your life? Just remember one of the important things Daniel learned: A good secure fence is a necessity.

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