The Fence Post

A Impressive Array of Specifications

Welded wire mesh is a versatile product that can be used in many different applications with a wide variety of specifications from which to choose: wire gauge size, mesh size, and finish.

Wire Gauges 

• 27, 23, 21, 20, and 19 gauges - these lightweight gauges are generally used in welded wire products with small mesh openings such as hardware cloth. 
•  16, 14, and 12.5 gauges - the standard, most readily available heavier gauge wires used in welded wire meshes for fences, cages, and partitions.
• 11, 10.5, and 8.5 gauges - heavy-duty wire used in strong meshes suitable for lobster traps, railing safety panels, and other specialized applications.
• Other gauges are also available, both heavier and lighter, for more specialized applications.
  

Mesh Sizes 

• 1/8" x 1/8", 1/4" x 1/4", 1/3" x 1/3" and 1/2" x 1/2" - typical small mesh sizes for light gauge hardware cloth welded wire meshes.
• 1/2" x 1/2", 1/2" x 1", 1" x 1", and 2" x 3" - these welded wire meshes are usually made from 16 gauge wire.
• 1/2"x 3", 1" x 1", 1" x 2", 1.5" x 4", 2" x 2" and 2" x 4" - meshes available in 14 gauge wire.
• 1/2" x 3", 1" x 1", 1.5" x 1.5", 2" x 2" and 2 x 4" - 12.5, 11, 10.5 and 8.5 gauge wires are available in some of these mesh sizes.

And Finishes 

• Galvanized Before Weld - the most common and generic type of welded wire mesh found in most retail stores. Products are economical but have a limited lifetime. Galvanized wire is welded into the mesh configuration. The welding process burns the protective zinc coating off the wire, exposing it to rust and corrosion.                                                                                                                                                                                                   
• Galvanized After Weld - the welded wire meshes with superior rust and corrosion resistance. Use these products when you want the mesh to last. The initial higher cost is offset by a long lifetime, avoiding the need for frequent replacement. After the mesh is welded it is immersed in a bath of molten zinc, thoroughly protecting it against rust and corrosion.   
                                                                                                                                                  
• Vinyl Coated - combining the double rust and corrosion protection of zinc and vinyl, these welded wire meshes combine long life with an attractive appearance. Black and green are the usual colors. Look for a PVC-coated product. There are high-quality products available and there are less expensive inferior products on the market. You get what you pay for.
                                                                                                                                          
• Other types of wire, such as stainless steel, are also available in welded wire meshes.

What kind of welded wire mesh do you need? Are you having trouble finding the welded wire mesh that you want? Give us a call. (866) 328-5018  We know what's out there and can be helpful in the decision-making process.

Would you like more choices?

Galvanized - Built to Endure

Black vinyl-coated apron fence is a strong hexagonal netting fence that will last for years, eliminating the inconvenience and extra expense of frequent replacement. This 1½" hex mesh is woven in the USA by Keystone Steel & Wire in Peoria, Illinois. Heavy 17 gauge 100% U.S.-produced galvanized steel wire is used throughout. The high-quality rolls are then shipped to a different mill. Here they are prepped and custom-coated with a thick, flexible, durable coating of black PVC, the same material used on lobster trap wire. You can be assured of a superior product when you buy this vinyl-coated apron fence.

Vinyl coated apron fence is available in 150' rolls in two heights: 60" (48" with a 12" apron) and 72" (60" with a 12" apron). It is not necessary to use the apron. You can have a full 60" or 72" fence.

For A Very Effective Barrier

• Made and finished by two of the leading US mills
• Tight quality control during both phases of production - weaving and coating
• Double protection against rust and corrosion by zinc and PVC
• This thick coating is tightly bonded to the wire
• PVC is flexible - will not crack or peel 
• PVC is treated to resist UV degradation
• Heavy, strong 17 gauge wire before coating - over twice as thick as the light 20 gauge wire used in regular hex netting
• Unique design - the bottom 12" of the fence can be bent to form an apron
• No need to dig a trench to bury the wire when you want to keep small critters either in or out of an area
• Lay the 12" on top of the ground for an effective barrier
• Black color blends with the background, becoming virtually invisible
• Hence, a black vinyl-coated apron fence is less distracting to your view

Vinyl coated apron fence is a great choice for:

• Gardens
• Tennis courts
• Beagle training pens
• Deer exclusion fence
• Chicken, poultry, and game bird pens

How could you use this fence?

A vinyl-coated apron fence is a high-quality product and a fine investment for your property's protection.

They're so Quiet, Beautiful, and Unmanaged

As deer become overabundant in some areas of the country, there are some unfortunate results:                 

• The diversity of the forest understory is reduced
• Native species of flora must increasingly compete with non-natives
• New growth and seedlings are damaged or eaten
• Smaller trees are damaged by deer rubbing against them
• With less diversity comes fewer songbirds as intermediate forest vegetation is lost

The presence of deer is becoming obvious. The intensity of the assault on your trees and shrubs seems to increase every year. In their search for fodder, your plantings become a readily available supply of food, replacing what is available during the warmer growing months.

Pruning That You Don't Want

Are you frustrated as you watch the deer eat and destroy the greenery on your property?

And are you discouraged by the sight of the trees you planted being nibbled and stripped?

Addressing the problem is next, but how to proceed? Some answers:

Your Plants and Trees Protected

Deer fencing can protect your trees and shrubs. You can use it to surround individual plantings. Deer fence can also be used as a protective perimeter fence around your entire property. In both cases, you prevent deer from having access to what you want to protect.

Three types of deer fence available:

1. Galvanized high-tensile woven wire fence, also known as deer and wildlife fence, is heavy, very strong, and highly effective. 330' rolls are available in different heights from 48" through 120", these fences offer the best protection. Some sizes are available with wire that is painted black. The black color enables the wire to blend with the background making the fence virtually invisible. The horizontal and vertical wires are securely locked together by a third wire in a "fixed knot" construction.
                                                                                                                                                                   
2. Black vinyl-coated woven wire deer fence is made from 20 gauge, 1" hexagonal mesh. Basically chicken or poultry wire that has been coated with a thick layer of black PVC, this lighter weight fence can be used as an effective barrier. Lighter and easier to work with than the deer and wildlife fence, the underlying wire is protected from rust and corrosion. Rolls are 150' long and up to 84" tall. 90" height is available in 100' rolls.
                                           
3. Black polypropylene deer fence with a 2" x 1.75" extruded mesh is the easiest to work with and install. Particularly effective in protecting individual trees and shrubs, this versatile fence can also be used to secure larger areas. 7.5' x 164' rolls are lightweight. The black color makes this fence unobtrusive.

Which fencing solution would you choose or have you chosen?

Would you consider a fence, or do you have a different solution to the problem?

A Power Plant Accommodates Turtles

Turtle Fence is being used to keep turtles out of construction areas.

The huge Ivanpah 440-megawatt solar power electric generating facility in south-eastern California is being surrounded by more than 39 miles of turtle fence. Why? Because before construction can begin on the site, all desert tortoises must be removed. And after completion, turtles will not be able to re-enter the site. The desert tortoise is a threatened species and considered vulnerable. They live their rather languorous lives in burrows anywhere from 3 to 10 inches deep, also in rock shelters or pallets. This is to minimize exposure to extreme temperatures, minimizing loss of water, and keeping their body temperature stable. Soil type is important to them for the purpose of den construction and nutrition, preferring alluvial fans, washes, and canyons. Appropriate burrow sites aid their population and their fidelity to their nesting grounds is strong. 

Galvanized Mesh

What has been selected as the best mesh to use for the purpose of assisting in this project? Locally sourced, US-made galvanized after weld, 16 gauge, 1" x 2" wire mesh that has been welded into 36" x 100' rolls. After the welding process, the mesh is drawn through a bath of molten zinc. The wires, including the welded areas, are covered with a thick corrosion-resistant coating. The welded wire turtle fence will last for years.

During installation, a portion of the fence is buried in the ground to discourage burrowing. The above-ground portion is tall enough to prevent the turtles from climbing over the fence. In this case, tortoises are being protected by being kept out of an area.

Here's some background on the situation:

Do you think this is a good solution?

Vinyl Coating  Questions and Answers

Q: What should you look for when you want to use a wire mesh to build a fence with superior qualities?

A: Vinyl-coated welded or woven wire mesh or fence.

Q: Why are these products superior?

A: Because they share the following four characteristics:

1. Vinyl-coated meshes are more durable.

• The vinyl coating gives extra rust protection, sealing the galvanized wire underneath
• Coated wire will last far longer than wire that is only galvanized

2. Vinyl-coated fences are more attractive.

• Color masks the utilitarian and commercial appearance of plain galvanized mesh
• A vinyl-coated wire fence will dress up your property
• Black color is virtually invisible from a distance and will not detract from your view

3. Vinyl-coated wire is safer.

• Vinyl cushions the wires
  
• Areas that may have sharp edges, like the top and bottom of the fence, are protected and sealed
  
• There is a lower risk of injury from contact with the fence--safer for animals

4. Vinyl-coated fencing is cost effective.

• Using vinyl-coated welded or woven fence reduces the need for frequent replacement
  
• The higher initial cost can be offset by the labor and material cost of more frequent repairs and replacement of galvanized material

Can you think of more reasons why or situations where it would be better to install a vinyl-coated fence instead of a galvanized fence?

Here's a look at the mesh in production: