The Fence Post

The Strength of a Storm 

Does your yard look like this?

Have recent storms wreaked havoc on your fence and property?

Have the storm surge and wave action washed away your beach erosion fence and T posts?

Buzzwords

Unfortunately, this scene is common throughout the wide area of destruction caused by recent storms. The new buzzword, bomb cyclone (or bombogenesis), describes the strength of a storm by the 24 (or more) millibars dropped in a 24 hour period--the lower the stronger. A recent storm dropped 30 millibars. 

If your fence was damaged or destroyed by the recent storm or past storms, you are faced with the decision of what to do next.

Call the Professionals?

Will you need to replace the supporting posts and other key pieces and rebuild the fence? How long will it take to complete the necessary repairs? You may want to do the work yourself. But with everything else demanding your attention you may not have the time and energy to do the work. There may be other more pressing issues you need to address. Calling in a professional and reputable fence installer to do the replacement work for you would be a good choice. You can relax, knowing the job will be done right.

Maybe the damage is more cosmetic?

Perhaps there are just a few pieces that need to be replaced. Can you re-use any of the old pieces to fix it? See if the items you need can be purchased at your local lumberyard or building supply store. If the repair is easy and quick, you can probably do it yourself. Think it through before you make a decision. And if you need professional help, call a qualified fence company.

Was it time to replace the fence anyway?

Was it old and in need of repair? Had you had grown tired of it? If you had been thinking about replacing it with something more to your liking, this could be the perfect time to make the change. Take advantage of the opportunity. Consult with your professional fence installer. Investigate the new possibilities.

What is reusable?

Snow fence supported by studded T posts is used for beach erosion control. Is there any beach left or has all the sand been washed away? Wave action at the time of high tide combined with the storm surge was very destructive. In many areas, beach and dune topography was severely altered. After an assessment, it will be necessary to determine what the next steps are to protect whatever is left. If you can find the posts they might be able to be salvaged and reused. If not, they will have to be purchased along with the snow fence.

Did you have any fence damage on your property? Is it something you need to have fixed or replaced? Or will you decide to remove it and not have any fence?

High Tensile Tough

Ever wondered how to put up high tensile field fencing? Installing a field fence can pose many challenges if you don't know how to do it. Watch this instructional video below from Stay-Tuff and learn how: to keep your animals safer; make your fence last longer; add value to your property! It will guide you through the steps, from planning to completion.

 1. Planning your field fence

• Take time to sketch a map and layout the fence, locating corners and gates.
• Think about your future fencing needs.
• Make sure you have all the necessary tools to complete the job.
• Note any natural obstacles - streams, gullies, etc.
• Clear the fence line, removing brush and any obstacles.

2. Set the posts

• Install end, corner, and brace posts.
• Build horizontal brace members to support tensioning of wire.
• Remove knots to tie off horizontal wires to end posts.

• Tension the fence sections using a stretcher-bar.
• Splice lengths of fencing together.

4. Attach the fence to posts

• Staple horizontal fence wires to wood posts.
• Secure fence to metal T posts with T post ties.

Now sit back and enjoy!

Sculptures Made with Chicken Wire?

There are many different uses for chicken wire. It is much more versatile than you might expect. Here, a unique practice is crafting the hexagonal netting into sculptured works of art. Ivan Lovatt, a sculptor from Australia, has created a stunning collection of artwork. Using galvanized chicken wire, he has made representations of both people and wildlife. A bust of John Lennon? Bring it on. This type of chicken wire is moldable with a neutral yet characteristic sheen. The small, light gauge mesh allows him to bend, fold, crease, and cut the mesh into its final shape. The result is an amazingly life-like rendition. Take a look at this video and see what you think:

A Wide Variety of Applications

The most common specifications of chicken wire available are made using 20 gauge wire woven into 1" or 2" hexagonal mesh. Other types available are ½" x 22 gauge, 1" x 18 gauge, and 1½ x 17 gauge.

Finishes available are: galvanized before weave (GBW), galvanized after weave (GAW), PVC vinyl coated (VC), and stainless steel. Not all specifications are available in all finishes.

This fencing material is ideal for use around the home, farm, and in industrial applications - any place where a lighter weight mesh can be used. Here are some conventional uses:

• deer fence
• craft projects
• stucco netting
• window guards
• game bird flight pens
• garden perimeter fence
• tree and shrub protection
• holding insulation in place
  
• exclusion barriers for birds
• chicken runs and poultry houses
• trellis for climbing plants & flowers
• backing mesh for post and rail fence
• framework for sculpture and float decorations

Yep, not just for chickens!

How many different ways can you think of using chicken wire? Have you tried using it that way?

 P.S. See the finished bust of John Lennon here.

Very Proudly American Made 

From scrap to wire rod to finished woven and welded wire mesh fence materials - Oklahoma Steel and Wire does it all. Barbed and barbless wire, welded wire fence and panels, field and farm fence, high tensile deer and wildlife fence, sheep and goat fence, and 2" x 4" and V-mesh horse fence.  

An Oasis Right in the City

Railroad Park is a 19-acre green space with nine acres of open lawn located right downtown in the city of Birmingham, Alabama. The rest of the park is landscaped with over 600 trees and a varied mix of flowers and plants. Recycled and re-used objects from the site are used in many of the walls and seating areas made from welded wire gabion baskets. Water is a main feature in the park. A lake, pond, wetland area, and streams are scattered throughout covering 30% of the area. Many paths wind throughout Railroad Park and the Rail Trail extends the length of the park. At its highest point, there are views of the city. Railroad Park is among five finalists selected to compete for the Urban Land Institute's Urban Open Space Award.

Dramatic and Functional

Gabions are versatile and Railroad Park in Birmingham makes creative use of them. Scattered throughout this recently constructed urban park are many different gabion structures. They are not only design elements adding definition to areas of the park but they are also dramatic features that perform a specific function. Here are some helpful visuals:

Welded wire baskets filled with stone form a gabion wall that holds back the earth. The path through the canyon leads off towards the tracks and the park's perimeter.

A retaining wall alongside one of the waterways flowing through the park forms a straight line in contrast to the curved shore in the foreground. Loose stones fill the space between the water and the wall.

This playground perimeter is defined and protected by a curved wall of stones enclosed in gabion baskets. Contours and varying heights are easily achieved using gabions.

Bordering areas extending into the water are built up with gabions, creating a tranquil space for seats on either side of a shade tree planted in the middle. There are several of these areas spaced along the shoreline. The structure harmonizes with the benches and wall in the distance.

Fiberglass grating secured to the top of the welded wire baskets provides comfortable seating areas throughout the park. The long gabion wall in the background runs along the edge of another pond.

Recycled hand-cast bricks from the area are also used to fill the galvanized gabion baskets. Stacked in an orderly pattern, notice the contrast in color and shape with the rough stones used elsewhere.

Large or Small Projects - Residential and Commercial

Gabion baskets allow for flexibility in landscape design. They can be used in any project, large or small, residential or commercial. They can be used purely as a design element or as a functioning structural piece. In addition to this flexibility, gabions also save time and labor during the construction phase. So easy to handle and assemble, many do-it-yourself projects can be built by the homeowner. It is far easier to position and fill an empty basket with rocks than it is to move boulders and large rocks into place. Consider using welded wire gabions in your next project.

Watch this video about Railroad Park--

See you at the park!