The Fence Post

Just a Bit of Elbow Grease                                          

You've worked hard to put up your fence. Everything looks great. The wire mesh is tight and straight. But over time, something may happen that causes the tension in the wire to slacken. Alas, do not despair! What can you do to fix the problem? Watch this video and learn how to tighten up your fence using a pair of pliers.

You can use this simple technique to tighten many types of fencing materials: welded wire fence mesh, woven wire fence, lawn and garden fence, single strand wire, field fence, etc. Keep your fence looking tight and secure!

Do you know of any other ways to tighten a fence?

Pull it Tight

Ever wondered how to stretch a fence to get it tight? This video shows you how to make and use a homemade fence stretcher you can use to pull your fence tight. In the video, chicken wire is being installed; however, this type of stretcher can be used for all styles of woven wire fence as well. Steel stretcher bars are also available to buy if you don't want to make your own. Be sure to check out the helpful tip at the end of the video.

But Not Too Tight

It is important to have a level pull uniformly across the height of the fence to avoid distorting the mesh. The amount of tension is determined by the type of mesh. Welded wire fencing material cannot be tightened as much as woven wire meshes, such as field fence, horse fence, deer and wildlife fence.

Are you working on a grade? Check out another helpful video: Fence Stretching Basics.

Straight Lines and Proper Tensioning

What is the process for installing a deer fence? This video from Tornado Wire in the UK will show you how, including: pounding the posts, tensioning and tying off the line wire, installing a brace post, placing and driving intermediate posts, tying off fence material, final tensioning, and stapling. Look and learn how it's done in the UK. 

Tornado has introduced high tensile wire to the UK. Their complete line of agricultural fence products is produced in their own manufacturing facility in the town of Alcester, county of Warwickshire, England.

Informed Decisions

When researching the type of wire fence you want to purchase, there are many things you will want to consider before making a decision. Have you thought about the following?

• Aesthetic considerations - how important is appearance?
• Function is a significant factor - what do you want to keep in or out?
• Cost is important - should you buy the least expensive product or invest in fencing material that will last a long time and save on future expenses as well as the labor of early replacement?
• Country of origin may be something you want to take into account - is there any connection between the quality of a fence and where it is made?
• The topography of the site should be considered - are there irregularities in the ground's surface where the fence will be located?
• The manufacturing method is important - is a welded product a better choice than a woven fence mesh?

When making a decision about which wire fencing material to use, one of the most important aspects to take into account is the type of "finish" the wire has. There are four basic types:

1. GBW - Galvanized Before Weld and Galvanized Before Weave  Check these out so you understand the differences.  
2. GAW - Galvanized After Weld and Galvanized After Weave  "After" is the crucial word here. More below.       
3. VC - Vinyl Coated welded and woven                                                                                          
4. SS - Stainless Steel and other alloys.

GBW

Galvanized before wire fences can be either welded or woven. Galvanized wire is used to manufacture the mesh.

Welded products - the zinc coating is burnt off during the welding process. The welded points where the horizontal and vertical wires intersect are left unprotected and exposed to rust and corrosion. In wet weather, moisture tends to collect at the joint, hastening the process. While it is true that zinc can "flow" from the areas adjacent to the burnt intersection, the weld spot never regains its full protection. These are the types you see in your local building supply store and garden center. Differences in gauge, mesh opening size and height are considerable. You can find a product that will meet your needs. It is important to keep in mind the fact that these items have a limited lifetime. Welded GBW fencing materials are relatively inexpensive and utilitarian.

Woven products - these do not have any welded areas and therefore do not have the same vulnerability. These range from lightweight hex netting up to field fence and heavy gauge woven high tensile deer and wildlife fence. The heavier fences have an extended lifetime, especially those with Class 3 galvanizing.

GAW

Galvanized after fencing materials are galvanized after the welding or weaving process. The mesh is drawn through a bath of molten zinc which thoroughly seals the wire, including the welded and woven areas. These products are heavily protected from rust and corrosion and have an extended lifetime that far exceeds the lifetime of the same products with GBW finish. You can tell if a product is galvanized after by looking at the welded and woven areas. You can actually see how the zinc seals the areas. GAW items are initially more expensive. However, when you consider the extra material and labor cost of replacement, the higher initial cost of GAW meshes can be justified.

GAW fencing is more specialized and therefore is not as easy to find at retail stores. The welded meshes are often used in making animal cages. They are ideal to use in areas where there is constant moisture or exposure to corrosion. There is an even wider range of choices in wire gauge, mesh size, and widths due to the more specialized end uses of these items. The GAW hex netting meshes are often used in saltwater applications and in building game bird pens - areas where long life is sought and appreciated.

VC

Vinyl-coated fencing materials are coated with either polyester or PVC after the welding or weaving process. The most common colors are black and green. The black in color is the most unobtrusive. It blends with the background, becoming virtually invisible. As with GAW products, the vinyl coating thoroughly coats the entire mesh, sealing it against rust and corrosion. The additional cost is offset by longer life expectancy and a more attractive appearance. Many different specifications are widely available in retail stores. Visually, vinyl makes them aesthetically pleasing.

As with any product, there are different quality grades available. The least expensive products do not bond the vinyl securely to the wire. The vinyl is easily cut and can then be peeled off the wire with your fingers. The higher quality grades have vinyl coating that is tightly bonded to the wire and resists scraping, even with a knife. And there are products available that have the double protection of GAW wire under the coating. These offer the longest-lasting meshes available. As always, higher quality means higher cost. You get what you pay for. The higher initial cost can save you money over the life of the mesh.

In addition to the regular generic retail items, there is a wide range of gauge and mesh opening size specialty items not available in stores. There are welded meshes used in lobster traps, safety mesh in railings, animal cages, and other unique applications. Woven hex meshes are used in such things as bird pens and deer fence.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel fencing materials are perhaps the most specialized type available. They have the advantage of being resistant to rust, corrosion, and other environmental stressors. Stainless steel welded wire meshes have often been used as fences in coastal areas. They are quite expensive and can be difficult to impossible to obtain at retail stores. Their appearance is more utilitarian than attractive. These items have an extended lifetime. Other alloys such as copper are also available in a variety of gauges, mesh sizes, and weaving styles.

Which of these four types of mesh would you like to use in your fencing project?

Are you having difficulty finding the product you need at your local retail store? 

 Apocalypse--when?

According to Wikipedia, the Mayan calendar predicted that cataclysmic or transformative events were to occur on December 21, 2012. This date was regarded as the end date of a 5,125 year-long cycle in the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar. Various astronomical alignments and numerological formulae have been proposed as pertaining to this date, though none has been accepted by mainstream scholarship.

A New Age interpretation of this transition is that the date marked the start of time in which Earth and its inhabitants may undergo a positive physical or spiritual transformation. December 21st was to mark the beginning of a new era. Others suggest that the date marked the end of the world or a similar catastrophe.

Some scenarios suggested for the end of the world:

• the arrival of the next solar maximum
• an interaction between Earth and the black hole at the center of the galaxy
• Earth's collision with a planet called Nibiru.

Wait a minute!

Since you're reading this blog you have obviously disregarded the dire warnings and predictions about the world's demise and continue making plans for the days, weeks, months, and years to come. And you have survived whatever may have happened on December 21st, realizing yet again that another predicted catastrophic ending of the world never materialized.

In either case, you are free to think about what type of fencing materials you will need.

Okay, so what's your fence for?

• Define your property or boundary line?
• Keep deer and other wildlife away from your trees?
• Keep pets from running all over the neighborhood?
• Protect children as they play securely in your yard?
• Prevent gophers from destroying your lawn and plantings?
• Prevent "critters" from entering your garden to eat your plants?
• Protect your home and property from nuisance wildlife damage?

And the particulars for this fence?

• What height is required?
• Do you need a large or a smaller mesh?
• Is your land flat or does the terrain vary?
• Are you trying to keep something in or out?
• How many feet will you need to do the job right?
• Do you want to install the fencing materials yourself?
• Would it be better to have it installed by a reputable fence company?

Varieties, Styles...

Make sure you are looking for the right kind of fencing to do the job correctly. Many varieties and styles of fence are available for your consideration and needs.

Finish - galvanized before, galvanized after, vinyl coated, stainless steel

Construction - woven, welded mesh

Mesh sizes - fencing materials are available in a variety of mesh opening sizes:

   Welded: 3" x 3", 2" x 4", 2" x 3", 2" x 2" 1½" x 4", 1" x 2 " and 1" x 1"

   Woven: ½", 1", 1½" hex, 2" x 2", 2" x 4" and the varying openings of field fence

Wire gauges - from lightweight 20 gauge up to heavyweight 10.5 gauge

So, cataclysms aside, feel free to check out our helpful Fence and Mesh Guide to help you decide: