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

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Gabions Baskets: Function, Flexibility, and Good Looks

Gabion baskets are an earth-friendly solution to erosion and create a visually appealing landscape design. Many people live in areas where gabion baskets are needed but are unfamiliar with them. Contemporary gabion baskets are welded wire mesh panels held together with wire spirals or metal fasteners to make a wire mesh basket. The baskets are placed in the desired location and filled with rocks, stones, shells, wood, or earth--just about anything that weighs them down. This fill anchors the gabions down while allowing rain to seep through. They are completely permeable.

The numerous and varied uses include commercial applications, parks, zoos, and residential landscaping:

Gabions: Commercial Uses 

• Bridge abutments
• Retaining walls
• Land management
• Seashore protection
• Gully control
• Culverts
• Erosion control
• They don't require concrete foundations

I've even seen a restaurant using gabion baskets filled with seashells as a decorative wall.      

For Parks and Zoos

• Benches
• Pathway definition
• Climbing structures for children
• Partition walls
• Landscaping walls for plantings

And Why Choose Gabions?

• Durable for many decades
• Quick and easy installation
• Strength
• Environmentally aesthetic
• Use of on-site materials
• Varied ways of using gabions

Residential Applications

• Retaining walls
• Benches
• Erosion control
• Plantings of shrubs, vines, etc.
• Walls or benches around trees
• Firepits
• Partition walls

And They're Attractive

Since residential properties are usually on a smaller scale, you can choose different mesh openings and sizes. Many landscape designers plant greenery inside the baskets for a more earthy appeal. You can use baskets of many different sizes, thus creating interesting serpentine or angular pathways.

Some Important Details

The wire used for gabions is a zinc-coated welded wire. It is hot-dipped galvanized after the welding process which seals and protects the welds against corrosion. They also come in a black vinyl-coated finish. These are ideal for erosion control or to enhance the beauty of your property.

The standard size mesh for commercial use is 11 gauge, 3” x 3” opening size, 36” wide in galvanized or black vinyl coated finish. The baskets are shipped flat but partially assembled for easy installation. They are available in 3’ wide x 3’ high. They come in 3’, 6’, and 12’ lengths.  For residential use, you can use a 12.5 gauge wire with a smaller mesh opening size of 1.5” x 1.5” in either finish. They are also offered in a variety of heights, depending on your specifications.

Fight Erosion with Gabion Baskets

As you are considering your next outdoor project, whether it's a commercial establishment or a residence, gabion baskets are a great solution for stabilizing vast areas of possible erosion due to potential flooding conditions, providing definition to the landscape or just to have a sleek look on residential property.

A Very Brief History of Gabions

Gabions, originating from the Italian name gabbione, which means “big cage”, were used during the reign of the Egyptian Pharaohs and later in Europe during the Middle Ages. The Egyptians made them out of sedges--think bulrushes like Moses’ basket-- and filled them with sludge to stabilize the banks of the Nile River. The Europeans made gabions out of woven sticks and filled them with stones to fortify castles as well as for erosion control of river banks.

Photo credits:

Angled project: http://www.gabionbaskets.co.uk/

Serpentine project: http://www.minimalisti.com/