The Fence Post

Galvanized Wire with Secure Fixed Knot Construction

Deer Fence featuring fixed knot construction. Each vertical stay wire is tightly wrapped around horizontal line wires making a secure barrier fence. The joint acts as a hinge that gives under pressure, then springs back into shape. The Class 1 galvanized top and bottom wires are 11 gauge. The "filler" wires are 14-1/2 gauge. Galvanized wire resists weathering and normal wear and tear.

This fence was previously known as Poultry and Garden Fence. The unique spacing of the horizontal line wires keeps predators out of orchards, vineyards and gardens. The openings of the fence are graduated - smaller at the bottom, larger at the top. Wires are spaced 1" apart at the bottom, the top spacing is 4", and the vertical stay wires are spaced at 6" intervals.

Rolls are available in three different sizes:

• 48" x 165' - 2048-9-14.5 style
• 60" x 165' - 2360-6-14.5 style
• 72" x 165' - 2672-6-14.5 style

Deer and Orchard Fence - Benefits

• Economical galvanized fence
• Larger 4" x 6" openings at the top
• Smaller 1" x 6" openings at the bottom
• Horizontal wires are crimped to allow for expansion
• Woven construction enables fence to conform to uneven terrain
• Ideal for keeping small critters away from where they're not wanted
• Use for making a pen to protect rabbits, chickens and other small animals
• Longer lifetime reduces frequency and high cost of repair and replacement

Deer and Orchard Fence - More Uses

• Chicken runs
• Rabbit enclosures
• Garden perimeter fence
• Nuisance wild life barrier
• Wood post and rail fence backer
• Protect fruit trees and berries from browsing animals

Deer and Orchard Fence is effective in a variety of settings!

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

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.

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.

They seem similar...

Are you looking for galvanized welded wire fence? Do you know you have a choice? There are two types of galvanized welded wire fencing materials:

• GBW (Galvanized Before Weld)
• GAW (Galvanized After Weld)

Visually they appear very similar. But taking a closer look, you can see the difference. And after they have been installed, the difference becomes more remarkable with the passage of time. Which one is a better value, longer lasting, more readily available?

Checking for the burn--

 GBW

As its name implies, Galvanized Before Weld fencing material is made as follows: Galvanized wire is fed into the welder. At the weld point where the wires cross, the zinc is burned away during the welding process. Sometimes you can actually see the burn (as in the picture above). This is the most obvious way to differentiate between GBW and GAW wire mesh. Look for the burn. Of course, when this happens, the wire is left unprotected from rust and corrosion. And this is the spot in the wire mesh that collects water when it gets wet. The water and any corrosive entities it contains will hang out in the intersection, slowly eating away the steel.

With So Many Uses

GBW welded wire mesh is a utilitarian, readily available generic product. It comes in a wide variety of different gauges, mesh sizes, and roll sizes. This type of mesh and fencing material has many different uses. If you want an inexpensive mesh with a moderate lifetime expectancy, GBW is the ideal choice. For a mesh with impressive longevity, please read on--

Now, turning to...

GAW

Galvanized After Weld wire mesh is a superior, higher quality, longer lasting product. After being welded, the mesh is drawn through a bath of molten zinc. The wire intersections are thoroughly sealed and protected from exposure to environmental sources of corrosion and rust. As seen in the above picture, corrosive elements have no access to the wire or weld points. The heavy layer of zinc will protect the underlying wire for years, even when exposed to harmful chemicals and other environmental stressors.

Savings on Repairs and Replacement

GAW fencing materials are far superior to GBW. And they will last years longer than GBW. This is why they are the perfect choice to consider when you want a galvanized welded wire fence. Your initial investment cost is higher. But that is more than offset by the extended lifetime of the wire. Not only will you get years of use from your fence. But also you will save on the expenses of repairs and replacement. Why go through those frustrations and hassles?

The Right Wire

GAW meshes are the best choice for animal cages as well. The heavy galvanizing will stand up to corrosion from feces and urine. The need for cage replacement will be diminished greatly. Higher initial cost of a quality product will ultimately save you money.

With An Important Difference

In general, GAW products are harder to find. There are few retail stores that sell them, partly due to their greater expense. But the demand for these higher quality welded wire fencing materials is not very strong. That's because most people do not know about Galvanized After Weld and that there is a huge difference.

When people say the wire is galvanized, they are usually thinking about the generic GBW products. GAW never comes to mind, even though they might prefer to buy a higher quality product. The assumption is made that since the wire is galvanized, it will last for years. However, if they only knew, they could purchase something far better that would satisfy them for a lot longer.

So what do you think? Do you have any projects where using a higher quality product makes sense to you? Is quality more important to you than price?

Snow Fences: For Increased Safety

Watch this Federal Highway Administration video to learn about snow fences and their benefits.

There are two parts to this video:

Much of this information about snow fencing material is applicable to homeowners as well as larger town and state highway DOT uses. Rolls of wood snow fence and plastic snow fence are available. These are easier to use and handle than a permanent structure.

Would a snow fence be a good fit for your needs?

Delaying Rust and Corrosion

Vinyl Coated (VC) welded wire mesh has been coated with a layer of PVC after the mesh has been welded. This is significant because the vinyl covers the mesh and provides protection against the elements. Rust and corrosion are delayed much longer than with an unprotected Galvanized Before (GBW) mesh.

• The good news - extended lifetime and attractive appearance
• The bad news - more expensive than non-vinyl coated material
• The reason -  addition of PVC coating provides an impervious barrier, protecting the underlying wire from the environment. The protected wire will not rust as quickly.

Looking for a product that is not only attractive but is also able to withstand environmental stresses? VC wire mesh is the perfect one to use!

Wire Gauges, Mesh Openings

It is very important to not only know what to look for, but also what is available when considering VC welded wire fencing materials. There are many choices - something ideal for any project you have in mind.

Wire Gauges: 23, 19, 16, 14, 12-1/2, 11, and 10-1/2

Mesh Sizes: 1/4" x 1/4", 1/2" x 1/2,", 1/2" x 1", 1" x 1", 1" x 2", 1-1/2" x 1-1/2", 1-1/2" x 4", 2" x 2", 2" x 3", 3" x 2", 2" x 4", 3" x 3"

Beware of Inferior Products

Higher quality vinyl coated fencing material costs more than cheaper inferior products. You get what you pay for. People are often fooled by false economy. When you consider the time, hassle and additional expense of premature replacement of your fence, it is clear that a higher initial investment can ultimately save you money.

It is safe to say that the best possible protection and longest life expectancy is offered by a product that is vinyl coated over GAW (Galvanized After Weld) wire mesh. You have rugged double protection with both the zinc and the PVC coatings. While difficult and probably impossible to find in big box retail stores, this mesh is well worth the time and effort of a search. You will not be disappointed. Many, but not all specifications are available with GAW core wires.

Understanding Levels of Quality

If you are concerned with quality, be aware that there are different levels of quality available.

The lowest quality products are those that have coating over plain steel, non-galvanized wire. There is no protective layer of zinc on the wire. In this case, the coating is virtually worthless. Usually, the PVC is not tightly bonded to the underlying wire. It can often be easily scraped off the wire with nothing more than a fingernail. Moisture migrates in between the vinyl and the wire and the mesh rusts from the inside out. It will look fine on the outside when you load it in your shopping cart. But when the wire disintegrates and falls apart you have a mess. Hopefully, this never happens to you.

The next best quality of vinyl coated welded wire meshes are those that have GBW (Galvanized Before Weld) wire under the PVC. The galvanizing protects the wire. But the intersecting areas of the mesh where the welds occur are not well protected. During the welding process, the zinc is burnt away. Although zinc will "flow back" in an attempt to recover the areas, they are the first areas to decay and corrode. It is important to check out how securely the vinyl is attached to the wire. It may or may not be tightly bonded. If you can peel it off with a fingernail, it probably will not last as long as fencing material with a superior coating.

As mentioned above, the best quality products are those with the following characteristics: 1) GAW wire mesh is underneath the PVC; 2) the vinyl is tightly bonded to the wire. The welded areas are thoroughly protected and the vinyl is not easily scraped off the wire. The vinyl coated welded wire fencing material with these characteristics are what you need if you want years of trouble-free service. It is worth the effort required to find them.

A Test for You to Do

The only sure way, though not always possible or recommended, is to try scraping off a small section of vinyl. If you can start it with your fingernail and slide the coating along the wire (see picture below) you know the coating is not tightly bonded. If the coating resists peeling and requires a sharp blade to scrape it off, you will know the coating is tightly bonded.

If the underlying wire is dark gray or black, this means there is plain steel beneath the coating. Make sure this is the product you really want to buy.

If the wire is bright and shiny it is galvanized. Check out the intersecting weld areas. If you see burns and blackened wire it is GBW. This is an example of non-bonded vinyl coating over GBW wire:

Clumping that You Want!

If the wire is bright and shiny and the welded areas have clumps of zinc around them, the mesh has been galvanized after. This is what GAW mesh looks like:

Check in with Louis Page

Keep in mind that you do have choices and do not have to settle for the products that are right in front of you, especially if they are (or might be) inferior. Be aware that the person working in the store probably knows less than you do about the differences in products and why a different item may be more suited to your needs. Consulting with the experts at Louis Page is a necessary first step.