Our Blog - The Fence Post (44)

Finding the Right Fence Materials for Your Project

March 9, 2011 | by Duncan Page

Choices

With so many different types of fencing materials available, how do you know which one to choose? Are you overwhelmed when it comes time to make a decision? How do you know which one is the right choice?

Defining the Purpose of Your Fence

Most often, fences are used to either keep something in or keep something out of an area. But sometimes fences are used for decorative purposes or to define a boundary line or construction area. There are seasonal fences such as snow fences. And there are fences used to control drifting sand. The fencing materials you choose should be defined by the fence's purpose.

Fencing materials made from wire are the most common type available. The wire can be either woven or welded into a wide variety of mesh opening sizes.

Strong but Flexible--Woven Wire Mesh

There are woven meshes strong enough to contain livestock with different styles for specific types of animals. And there are deer and wildlife fences tall enough to keep out deer. Lighter gauge woven hex netting chicken wire meshes with black PVC coating can protect your poultry and fowl as well as your garden.

Welded Wire Meshes that Last

Use welded wire fencing materials to keep your pets and children in the yard. Vinyl-coated welded meshes make an attractive and long-lasting garden fence. There are many different wire gauges and mesh sizes from which to choose. Smaller meshes are ideal for animal cages and wildlife exclusion barriers.

Do you have any preference in fencing materials, woven or welded? Which type has worked best for you?

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Topics: fence, welded wire mesh, woven wire, galvanized after

Gophers & Gopher Wire

March 3, 2011 | by Duncan Page

Industrious, Hungry, and Not so Funny

They are the scourge of gardens, lawns, nurseries, athletic fields, orchards, golf courses, and other open public areas. Anyone who lives in an area infested with gophers knows the signs - the mounds of fresh soil dotting the ground's surface. One gopher can create several mounds in a day. Mounds can interfere with lawnmowers and severely impact the appearance of lawns. Conditions for digging are ideal in irrigated areas: flower beds, lawns, and gardens. Gophers love to eat:

vines
shrubs
trees
ornamental plants
vegetables

Drawing the Line

Perhaps the most effective way to combat the destructive and very costly impact of gophers is to bury wire mesh below the ground's surface. Though costly and labor-intensive, such a barrier will prevent gophers from burrowing to the surface.

Hardware Cloth: Protection that Endures

A good mesh to use as gopher wire is ½" x ½" welded wire. This is available in both 19 gauge, hardware cloth, and heavier 16 gauge wire. It comes in both a galvanized after weld and PVC vinyl coated finish. The galvanized finish protects the wire from rust and corrosion. The vinyl coating gives the mesh even longer protection. Widths up to 72" make it easier to cover large areas with fewer joints.

Hexagonal Netting

Hex netting also makes an excellent gopher wire barrier. Vinyl-coated 19 gauge, 3/4" and 20 gauge, 1" meshes are available. As with the welded wire, the PVC coating assures years of use. Lighter weight than the welded mesh products, the hex products are easier to work with. Rolls of 1" hex are available in widths up to 90".

Underground Chaos

Well, chaos for us; I'm sure that the gophers have matters well in hand. Their tunnels can cause soil erosion by diverting irrigation water. During a gopher's digging activity, lawn sprinkler systems and plastic water lines can be gnawed on and damaged.

A burrow system can cover an area of 200 to 2,000 square feet.
Food storage and nesting areas can be as deep as six feet.
Feeding burrows with a 3" diameter are most often 6" to 12" below ground.

Are gophers a problem for you? How have you tried to solve this?

In any case--after all this--let's take a break with this furry friend.

Do you have a solution that's different from using gopher wire you'd like to share?

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Information source: UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program, University of California, Davis, CA 95616

Topics: hardware cloth, woven wire, welded wire, gopher fence

Fences, Welded or Woven?

February 28, 2011 | by Duncan Page

What are your goals for your fence?

Fences are available for every conceivable use and purpose. There are basically two types of manufactured wire fences: welded and woven. Read on for the benefits of these two very important types of wire...

Welded Wire Fence Characteristics

Welded wire products used as fences can be made in many different gauges - from heavy 4 gauge to lightweight 20 gauge. Lighter gauges and smaller meshes are available but are not recommended to be used as fencing by themselves
Mesh sizes can run from ½" to 6"
Most welded meshes made from steel are galvanized before weld (GBW), galvanized after weld (GAW), or vinyl coated (VC)
Fences are rigid and square
Mesh openings are uniform and consistent in shape and size throughout the roll or panel - ideal for cages
Welded products can be harder to install over uneven ground

Woven Wire Fence Characteristics

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. They 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

Which style of fence will work best in your next project? Feel free to give us a ring if you want to ask about particulars. Call us toll-free (866) 328-5018

What kind of experiences have you had with either or both types of fences?

Topics: welded wire mesh, woven wire mesh

Fence Jumping Gone Wrong - Videos

February 22, 2011 | by Duncan Page

That's Gotta Hurt

Have you ever been tempted to jump a fence? Make sure you know what you're doing before you make a fool of yourself. Here are a couple of examples of how not to jump a fence.

Have a little respect for the fence! Here's another:

Now, How to Master Fence Jumping

Now! Here is a series of rigorous tutorials on how to get over a fence safely!

Please, be careful out there!

Topics: garden fence, video, fence choices

Fences For Your Garden

February 16, 2011 | by Duncan Page

What Kind of Garden Fence Do You Need?

Will you build a new garden fence this year?

Are you wondering what kind of fences will work well in your garden?

There are several different types of fences available that are excellent for gardens.

Welded Wire

These fences offer the most choices. They're available in a wide variety of:

gauges - 16, 14 and 12½
mesh sizes - ½" x ½", ½" x 1", 1" x 1", 1" x 2", 2" x 2" and 2" x 4"
finishes - galvanized before weld (GBW), galvanized after weld (GAW) and vinyl coated (VC)

In addition to the standard specifications listed above, there are other styles of fences that are designed for use in and around the garden. Some of these have smaller mesh openings at the bottom of the fence to keep out small animals.

Black Vinyl-Coated Hexagonal Netting - Effective, Long-Lasting

Lighter in weight than welded wire products.

gauges - 20 and 18 gauges
mesh sizes - 1" and 2"
finishes - GBW, GAW, and VC

There are vinyl-coated rolls available in extra tall heights of 84" and 90". The black vinyl-coated fences are most effective. It looks great--the black wire blends with the background becoming virtually invisible. When used as deer fence, the black color discourages deer from jumping.

The All-Important Deer Fence

Designed specifically to prevent deer from entering an area and eating trees, plants, and shrubs.

gauges - 14.5 and 12½
mesh sizes - 1" x 6" through 7" x 12"
finishes - galvanized, zinc/aluminum, and black-painted

These are the heavier gauge woven fences that feature graduated openings between horizontal wires. The openings at the bottom of the fence are smaller to prevent small animals from entering the garden. All styles are rust and corrosion-resistant.

Apron Fence - A Very Strategic Barrier

These fences have a 12" apron at the bottom of the roll. Lay this on top of the ground to form a barrier. Animals cannot dig under the fence and enter your garden.

gauge - 17
mesh size - 1½"
finishes - GBW and VC

These fences are labor savers. There is no need to dig a trench and bury the wire. Vegetation grows up through the apron, securely attaching it to the ground. The animals trying to dig into your garden will not realize that they must start their digging 12" away from the fence.

Hardware cloth - Strong and Durable

Vinyl-coated 19 gauge wire welded into ½" x ½" mesh will discourage the smallest animals
The vinyl coating extends the lifetime of the fence
Rolls are 100' in length
Three heights are available: 24", 36" and 48"

What kinds of fences have you used to protect your garden? Are you considering all the different types of fences that are available before making your choice? Do you prefer one type over another?