The Fence Post

Yes! You Can Still Buy American-made Fencing

Nowadays, it seems like everything is made in China or some other country. While this may be true for a lot of products, it is not true for all fence products. There are a lot of fence products still made with pride and exceptional quality in the great US of A! In fact, most fence products are still available from domestic manufacturers.

• GBW, GAW, and Vinyl Coated welded wire fencing materials are all available from US manufacturers such as Riverdale Mills (Northbridge, MA) and C.E. Shepherd (Houston, TX).                                      
• Bekaert Corp. manufactures all types of low carbon and high tensile field fence, horse fence, sheep & goat fence, and deer and wildlife fence in galvanized, zinc aluminum, and black paint over ZA finishes.
  
• Stay-Tuff Fence Manufacturing produces high tensile deer & wildlife fence, field fence, horse fence, goat fence, and barbed wire in New Braunfels, Texas.
  
• Oklahoma Steel makes a wide variety of field fence, barbed wire, deer and wildlife fence, agriculture panels, horse fence, and GBW welded wire in Madill, OK, and Centerville, IA.
• Franklin Steel produces top-quality steel painted and galvanized studded T fence posts in Franklin, PA.
  

These companies employ hard-working, tax-paying Americans! American-made products are superior in quality and are surprisingly price competitive versus imported products. American-made products provide an overall better value than lesser quality imports because the fence will last many years longer and will not need to be replaced. Just think of the hassle, expense, and inconvenience you will avoid! Just like the old saying “You get what you pay for.”

>You may be aware of “The Buy American Act” which restricts the purchase of supplies that are not domestic end products. For manufactured end products, the Buy American Act uses a two-part test to define a domestic end product.

1. The product must be manufactured in the United States; and
2. The cost of domestic components must exceed 50 percent of the cost of all the components.

The Buy American Act applies to all U.S. Federal government agency purchases of goods valued over the micro-purchase threshold but does not apply to services. Under the Act, all goods for public use (articles, materials, or supplies) must be produced in the U.S., and manufactured items must be manufactured in the U.S. from U.S. materials. Many states and municipalities include similar geographic requirements in their procurement legislation.

If quality and supporting America are important to you, please consider buying products made in the USA the next time you need fencing. Sure you may pay a little more, and you may have to dig a little deeper to find products made in the USA since most retailers and discount online sellers primarily sell imported products. But the effort and added costs are well worth it in the long run. Go USA!

Informed Decisions

When researching the type of wire fence you want to purchase, there are many things you will want to consider before making a decision. Have you thought about the following?

• Aesthetic considerations - how important is appearance?
• Function is a significant factor - what do you want to keep in or out?
• Cost is important - should you buy the least expensive product or invest in fencing material that will last a long time and save on future expenses as well as the labor of early replacement?
• Country of origin may be something you want to take into account - is there any connection between the quality of a fence and where it is made?
• The topography of the site should be considered - are there irregularities in the ground's surface where the fence will be located?
• The manufacturing method is important - is a welded product a better choice than a woven fence mesh?

When making a decision about which wire fencing material to use, one of the most important aspects to take into account is the type of "finish" the wire has. There are four basic types:

1. GBW - Galvanized Before Weld and Galvanized Before Weave  Check these out so you understand the differences.  
2. GAW - Galvanized After Weld and Galvanized After Weave  "After" is the crucial word here. More below.       
3. VC - Vinyl Coated welded and woven                                                                                          
4. SS - Stainless Steel and other alloys.

GBW

Galvanized before wire fences can be either welded or woven. Galvanized wire is used to manufacture the mesh.

Welded products - the zinc coating is burnt off during the welding process. The welded points where the horizontal and vertical wires intersect are left unprotected and exposed to rust and corrosion. In wet weather, moisture tends to collect at the joint, hastening the process. While it is true that zinc can "flow" from the areas adjacent to the burnt intersection, the weld spot never regains its full protection. These are the types you see in your local building supply store and garden center. Differences in gauge, mesh opening size and height are considerable. You can find a product that will meet your needs. It is important to keep in mind the fact that these items have a limited lifetime. Welded GBW fencing materials are relatively inexpensive and utilitarian.

Woven products - these do not have any welded areas and therefore do not have the same vulnerability. These range from lightweight hex netting up to field fence and heavy gauge woven high tensile deer and wildlife fence. The heavier fences have an extended lifetime, especially those with Class 3 galvanizing.

GAW

Galvanized after fencing materials are galvanized after the welding or weaving process. The mesh is drawn through a bath of molten zinc which thoroughly seals the wire, including the welded and woven areas. These products are heavily protected from rust and corrosion and have an extended lifetime that far exceeds the lifetime of the same products with GBW finish. You can tell if a product is galvanized after by looking at the welded and woven areas. You can actually see how the zinc seals the areas. GAW items are initially more expensive. However, when you consider the extra material and labor cost of replacement, the higher initial cost of GAW meshes can be justified.

GAW fencing is more specialized and therefore is not as easy to find at retail stores. The welded meshes are often used in making animal cages. They are ideal to use in areas where there is constant moisture or exposure to corrosion. There is an even wider range of choices in wire gauge, mesh size, and widths due to the more specialized end uses of these items. The GAW hex netting meshes are often used in saltwater applications and in building game bird pens - areas where long life is sought and appreciated.

VC

Vinyl-coated fencing materials are coated with either polyester or PVC after the welding or weaving process. The most common colors are black and green. The black in color is the most unobtrusive. It blends with the background, becoming virtually invisible. As with GAW products, the vinyl coating thoroughly coats the entire mesh, sealing it against rust and corrosion. The additional cost is offset by longer life expectancy and a more attractive appearance. Many different specifications are widely available in retail stores. Visually, vinyl makes them aesthetically pleasing.

As with any product, there are different quality grades available. The least expensive products do not bond the vinyl securely to the wire. The vinyl is easily cut and can then be peeled off the wire with your fingers. The higher quality grades have vinyl coating that is tightly bonded to the wire and resists scraping, even with a knife. And there are products available that have the double protection of GAW wire under the coating. These offer the longest-lasting meshes available. As always, higher quality means higher cost. You get what you pay for. The higher initial cost can save you money over the life of the mesh.

In addition to the regular generic retail items, there is a wide range of gauge and mesh opening size specialty items not available in stores. There are welded meshes used in lobster traps, safety mesh in railings, animal cages, and other unique applications. Woven hex meshes are used in such things as bird pens and deer fence.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel fencing materials are perhaps the most specialized type available. They have the advantage of being resistant to rust, corrosion, and other environmental stressors. Stainless steel welded wire meshes have often been used as fences in coastal areas. They are quite expensive and can be difficult to impossible to obtain at retail stores. Their appearance is more utilitarian than attractive. These items have an extended lifetime. Other alloys such as copper are also available in a variety of gauges, mesh sizes, and weaving styles.

Which of these four types of mesh would you like to use in your fencing project?

Are you having difficulty finding the product you need at your local retail store? 

Galvanized After Wire Mesh: Welded or Woven

• When galvanized before welded wire mesh is made, the zinc coating at the weld points is compromised. It can be burnt away, leaving the wire unprotected. And these intersecting areas tend to hold moisture longer than the single wire strands.
• Woven meshes, especially in the light gauges like chicken wire hex netting, also have their weak points. The twisted areas of the mesh tend to hold moisture, causing them to rust out. Dipped in the zinc bath, these wire meshes will last for a long time, even in corrosive environments. 

The Importance of Buying Galvanized After Wire (GAW) Mesh

GAW meshes:

1. Last longer
2. Stand up better to rough use
3. Have an extra thick coating of zinc
4. Have joints thoroughly protected from rust and corrosion
5. Are more useful in areas that will rot a wire mesh that is galvanized before

When you want to use galvanized wire mesh in a project, be sure to consider the advantages a GAW product offers. Think of the expense and labor involved in replacing a GBW mesh that rusts quickly. Invest in a quality product. Wouldn't you rather do it right the first time? Now take a look at the work of some premium fence installers with some very high standards:

Have you ever used a galvanized after wire mesh? Are you aware of the many alternative higher quality wire mesh options that are available, but not at your local big box stores? For a thorough discussion of the many varieties of fence products available, check out this blog.

Which One Shall I Choose?

There are many different wire fence products available from which to choose. And it can be difficult to know which one to buy. One of the decisions you will need to make is whether you want a galvanized fence or a mesh that is vinyl coated.

Some differences between galvanized and vinyl coated wire mesh and fence?

Galvanized fences and meshes are either welded or woven. There are Galvanized Before Weld or Weave (GBW) and Galvanized After Weld or Weave (GAW) meshes. The difference between these two types is explained in our blog "Galvanized Before vs Galvanized After Mesh & Fence". The most common and most readily available fence meshes are GBW. These are the commodity meshes sold by all the big box stores. GAW products are:

• harder to find
• they are higher quality
• more expensive 
• they will last years longer

Both share the same characteristic of having a galvanized finish. But GAW meshes are far superior.

Vinyl Coated (VC) fences are also available in either welded or woven meshes. They are different from galvanized products because they have a double layer of protection from rust and corrosion - vinyl coating over previously galvanized wire. This gives these meshes an even longer life. The highest quality and longest lasting products with the best rust protection are those that feature vinyl coating on top of GAW wire. These are the meshes used in such things as lobster pots and crawfish traps.

Why are vinyl coated meshes more expensive?

The cost of the vinyl applied to the wire adds to the cost of the final product. Additional handling and processing during the manufacturing process also add to the cost.

And vinyl coated fence, is it really worth the extra expense?                                                              Meshes and fences that have been vinyl coated have the longest lifetime due to the extra protection they have against rust and corrosion.

What about how it looks?

They are also more aesthetically pleasing. The black and green color stand out less than the brighter galvanized finish. In fact, black mesh tends to disappear into the background, becoming virtually invisible. You can see whatever is on the other side of the fence more clearly.

It is also important to remember that although the initial cost of a vinyl coated fence is higher, it may ultimately be less expensive. Don't forget the cost and aggravation of needing to replace a product with a shorter lifetime.

The choice between galvanized and vinyl coated fence

Think about how long you want the fence to last. How frequently will you want to replace it? If you want a fence that will last a long time and maintain its nice appearance, go with the vinyl coated mesh. If you only need the fence to last a few years, use a GBW mesh.

Again, consider aesthetics--

Think about how you want the fence to look. If the fence will be in a prominent place and you want it to look attractive, use a vinyl coated mesh. If the fence will be less visible and you don't mind a utilitarian appearance, use a GBW mesh. You can also use a GAW mesh if you want the fence to last longer.

And if you need further clarification, please don't hesitate to call us and ask questions--(866) 328-5018

GBW fence and mesh are made from strands of galvanized wire. The wires used can be any gauge. After being drawn down to the final diameter, the wire is galvanized - coated with zinc. The wires are then welded or woven together. During the welding process the protective layer of zinc is burnt off. This leaves the wire unprotected at the welded joint where the wires cross. When the wires are woven, the galvanizing is not affected. However in the meshes that are tightly woven with several twists, such as hex netting chicken wire fence, the woven area where the wires intersect is a vulnerable area.

When GBW meshes and fencing are used outside and exposed to the elements, rain or any corrosive liquid will collect at these vulnerable spots. Rust and corrosion will start to eat at the wire, weakening the mesh and fence, limiting its lifetime. There is a wide variety of mesh opening sizes made. Some fences with the same openings are available in a variety of gauges.

GBW fences and mesh features -

• economical

• limited lifetime, unless used inside or in other protected locations

• heavier gauge outlasts lighter gauge - 12-1/2 gauge lasts longer than 14 gauge

• available in a wide variety of gauge and mesh combinations

• temporary fence

• concrete reinforcement

• indoor storage area partitions                                                                                                                                

Galvanized After Weld (or weave)

GAW mesh and fencing will last a long time. After the wires are either welded or woven into a mesh, the entire finished product is drawn through a bath of molten zinc. The GAW mesh emerges with a thick coating tightly bonded to the wire. Each strand of wire is protected. More importantly, each vulnerable welded or woven area is thoroughly sealed.

GAW fences and mesh are ideal for use in any area where exposure to water and other corrosive substances will be expected. The extra zinc of the galvanized after mesh and fence guarantees a longer lifetime than galvanized before products. Meshes and fence are more costly than galvanized before. GAW specifications are available in a wide selection of gauges and mesh opening sizes.

GAW fences and mesh features -

• long lifetime - resistant to rust and corrosion                                                                                                         
• wires and welded or woven spots are thoroughly galvanized                                                                              
• available in different gauges and mesh sizes                                                                                                         
• salt water use                                                                                                                                                             
• small animal cages                                                                                                                                                      
• greenhouse benches                                                                                                                                                  
• in-ground wire for groundhog barriers and bird pens