The Fence Post

A Lifetime of Service

A gabion is a welded wire basket or cage filled with earth or rocks. It is typically used to build a support or abutment. Gabion mesh is welded from heavy 11 gauge wire. The mesh has 3" x 3" openings. Usually, the mesh is Galvanized After Weld (GAW), providing long life and excellent rust protection. In situations where gabion baskets will be exposed to water and constant moisture, mesh with a thick, rugged coating of PVC is recommended. The vinyl overlays the GAW wire and assures an even longer lifetime.

Standard or Custom Sizes

Gabion mesh is also available in panels that are assembled to make baskets. The standard basket size is 3' x 3' x 6'. For larger baskets, 9' and 12' lengths are also available. And for specific jobs, custom sizes can be special ordered.

A Variety of Configurations and Uses

The rectangular wire mesh gabion baskets are shipped flat. They are fully assembled and filled with rock at your project site to form flexible, permeable, monolithic structures such as retaining walls for commercial, industrial, and road projects. They are also used for erosion control, bank stabilization, channel linings, and weirs. Gabions can be used in both residential and commercial projects.

A Short History

From Wikipedia: Gabion (from Italian gabbione meaning "big cage"; from Italian gabbia and Latin cavea meaning "cage") are cages, cylinders, or boxes filled with soil or sand that are used in civil engineering, road building, and military applications. For erosion control, caged riprap (a quantity of stones, broken or not) is used. For dams or foundation construction, cylindrical metal structures are used. In a military context, earth or sand-filled gabions are used to protect artillery crews from enemy fire. Leonardo da Vinci designed a type of gabion called a Corbeille Leonard ("Leonard basket") for the foundations of the San Marco Castle in Milan.

Have a project where gabions can be used? 

In this garden fence example, a 2" x 4" welded mesh was used. Other types of fencing materials would also work well:

• Galvanized before weld or weave (GBW)
  
  • 1/2" x 1" mesh, 16 gauge
  • 1" x 1" mesh, 16 gauge or 14 gauge
  • 1" x 2" mesh, 14 gauge
  • 1" hex mesh, 20 gauge
• Galvanized after weld or weave (GAW) - longer lasting
  
  • 1/2" x 1" mesh, 16 gauge
  • 1" x 1" mesh, 16 gauge or 14 gauge
  • 1" x 2" mesh, 14 gauge
  • 1" hex mesh, 18 gauge
• Vinyl coated - longest lasting
  
  • 1/2" x 1" mesh, 16 gauge
  • 1" x 1" mesh, 16 gauge or 14 gauge
  • 1" x 2" mesh, 14 gauge
  • 1" hex mesh, 20 gauge

Keeping Tabs on Everybody

Have you made some alterations to your daily life that are going to require some physical changes to your property? 

• Perhaps there are now some children to think about and some barriers will be needed to keep them safe.
• Or it could be that beloved pet of yours may be better handled behind a fence?
• A veggie garden also demands some protection as the value of your crop depends on certain invaders to be excluded.

For either sanity or safety's sake, it might be time to consider a simple fence to simplify your days...and nights. Read on for some ideas on making change.

Do you need to:

• protect children as they play securely in your yard?
• keep pets from running all over the neighborhood?
• prevent "critters" from entering your garden to eat your plants?
• define your property or boundary line?
• keep deer and other wildlife away from your trees?
• prevent gophers from destroying your lawn and plantings?                                                                                                                    

• Woven wire fence products come in a wide range of styles, from 1" hexagonal chicken wire up to 10' tall heavy deer fence with large openings.

When you call us, be thinking about these questions-- 

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

Many possibilities are out there. The choices are yours. What has been most difficult for you when trying to decide which type of fencing material to use? We can help narrow things down.

Are you aware of all the possibilities that are available that you will never find at your local retail store? We will be happy to have a discussion with you about the differences between the various products that may be most suitable for your project.

A Physical Barrier That Deer Cannot Jump Over

Crawl Under

or Crawl Through

Be Exclusive

Damage done to vineyards by deer can be both extensive and expensive. Several types of fence materials are available that can help reduce and possibly eliminate the deer problem in the vineyard. There are lightweight fences made from extruded plastic mesh. Fences that are made with single strand wires, and woven wire mesh are also available. Each type has its advantages and disadvantages.

Plastic Fence Materials

Made from black, UV stabilized polypropylene, this extruded fence material has a mesh opening size of 2" x 1-3/4". The size of the rolls is 7-1/2' high x 164' long. The black color makes this deer fence virtually invisible when installed. Lightweight rolls are easy to work with. Although this fence can be torn and ripped if a deer charges through it or becomes entangled, the repair is fairly easy.

Easy to Use--Single Strand Wire

The fence material used for these fences is 12-1/2 gauge high tensile wire. There are two finishes available: Class 3 galvanized and zinc/aluminum with a black painted finish. Both have superior resistance to rust and corrosion and will last for years. Single strand wire fences for vineyards can be either vertical or slanted. Seven strands of wire are often used. The angled fence takes up more space. You can watch a video showing one installation. These fences are fairly inexpensive and easy to set up. 

A Fence that Endures

Woven wire fence materials for vineyards are available in a variety of heights, from 4' up to 10'. Woven from 12-1/2 gauge high tensile wires with heavy Class 3 galvanizing, these fences will last for years. Some specifications are available with a high rust and corrosion-resistant zinc/aluminum finish that is painted black. More attractive than bright galvanized wire, the black color becomes virtually invisible against the background. Woven fences are very strong and will not unravel. They are the most expensive and the hardest to install. Still, if you are a vintner, the security of knowing that your vines and grapes are safe is well worth this investment of time and resources.

Have you used any of these fence materials to address the deer problem?  Do you prefer one type over another?                                   

Determining What's Best 

Are you overwhelmed by all the fence choices available today? It seems that every category of fencing materials is covered with a specialized fence made specifically for a particular job. Even though there are many fence choices, you can determine what's best for your project by looking closely at your specific requirements and the features that specific fence types offer. Remember, you can call Louis Page for help and chat with an expert!

Do you need something sturdy but temporary?

Do you want a temporary fence? Maybe one that will last for just one season? Think about a galvanized before welded - GBW - wire product. You will get good use for a short period of time as the wire tends to rust over time since the welds are not protected by extra galvanizing.

Or sturdy but longer-lasting?

If longer life is desired then galvanized after weld - GAW - is a good fence choice. In this case, the welds are protected with an extra coat of galvanizing and will last much longer than galvanized before welded wire.

Sturdy with Even More Protection

For the longest life consider vinyl coated wire made to give many years of service as well as add a good-looking appearance to your project. For example, you may choose vinyl to enclose your garden area this spring and summer. Your vinyl choice should be a smaller mesh wire to keep out the little critters that seem to get into the smallest openings. Once your fence is in place you can feel satisfied you have chosen both an appealing appearance and long wire life for your project. Vinyl lasts!

Still, overwhelmed by the many fence choices available? This fence and mesh guide will go over the various details you'll need to be able to choose the right fence. If you still have questions, we can advise you.