The Fence Post

A Wide Range of Styles

Hardware cloth is available in many different styles. The most common standard specifications of this wire cloth, available at most retail stores, are usually welded. As domestic production has declined, woven wire mesh hardware cloth has become difficult to find.

The most readily available types of hardware cloth, available in 50' and 100' rolls are:

• 19 gauge with 1/2" x 1/2" openings 
  • also called 2 x 2 or 2 mesh - two squares to the inch
  • available in 24", 36" and 48" widths                                                                                                                                                     
• 23 gauge with 1/4" x 1/4' openings
  
  • sometimes referred to as 4 x 4 or 4 mesh - four squares to the inch
  • available in 24", 36" and 48" widths

Less common styles are more difficult to find at the retail level:

• 21 gauge with 3/8" x 3/8" openings 
  • sometimes called 3 x 3 or 3 mesh - three squares to the inch
  • available in 24", 36" and 48" widths                                                                                                                                                    
• 27 gauge with 1/8" x 1/8" openings 
  • also referred to as 8 x 8 or 8 mesh - eight squares to the inch
  • available in 24", 36" and 48" widths

In general, as the opening size of the mesh decreases, so too does the gauge or thickness of the wire used decrease.

Welded wire cloth meshes for many different applications, including:

• aviaries
• window guards
• screen door reinforcement
• exclusion screens for nuisance wildlife
• small animal cages
• shrub and tree protection
• sieves and strainers
• stucco mesh
• ferro-cement boats
• sculptures and other structures

Can you think of other possible uses for hardware cloth?

Have you used hardware wire cloth for an interesting or unusual project?

Woven Mesh is Often Preferred

There are many different sizes of wire meshes that are available with small openings. Most often called hardware cloth, these meshes are usually welded using light gauge wire. After fabrication, the finished product is hot dipped in zinc. This Galvanized After process not only provides good protection against rust and corrosion, but also stiffens the welded fabric.

Until recently, Galvanized After woven meshes were as easy to obtain as the welded products. Woven mesh is not always exactly square due to the weaving process which can cause slight distortions resulting in a "wavy" mesh. Depending on the final application, woven products are often preferred over the welded meshes. They tend to be a bit heavier and stronger. They are also more costly.

Some Common Sizes

As the small opening wire mesh size gets smaller, so does the gauge or thickness of the wires. The more common sizes and wire gauges of square meshes are:

• 1/2" - also known as 2 x 2 and 2 mesh (2 squares per inch) 19 gauge wire
• 3/8" - also known as 3 x 3 and 3 mesh (approximately 3 squares per inch) 21 gauge wire
• 1/4" - also known as 4 x 4 and 4 mesh (4 squares per inch) 23 gauge wire
• 1/8" - also known as 8 x 8 and 8 mesh (8 squares per inch) 27 gauge wire
                                                                      

Galvanized After Mesh, Special Ordering                                                                                    There are many other Galvanized After mesh sizes and gauges available as well. These are often called industrial wire cloth. They are woven, heavier, more expensive, and often must be special ordered. The more common sizes are:

• 5/8" - 17 gauge wire
• 3/4" - 16 gauge wire

In addition to galvanized products, the 1/2", 19 gauge and 1/4", 23 gauge mesh styles are available with a black PVC coating over the Galvanized After core wire.

These excellent and long lasting meshes can meet the requirements of many different projects and Louis Page can help you think through the various mesh types and possibilities. Simply call us at (866) 328-5018.

Tough and Long-lasting Benefits

Vinyl Coated Hardware Cloth - small opening, galvanized after weld (GAW) wire cloth mesh covered with a thick coating of black vinyl. There are two specifications available:

• 19 gauge - 1/2" x 1/2" mesh 
• 23 gauge - 1/4" x 1/4" mesh

The thick, flexible UV inhibited PVC coating is tightly bonded to the underlying wire. Black color blends with the background, becoming virtually invisible. This tough durable finish stands up to rough treatment and can be used in any situation where a long-lasting small mesh is needed. Vinyl coated hardware cloth has the following features:

• black coating is unobtrusive - it blends with the background
• ideal for use in wet areas - underwater or underground applications
• thick, tough, black PVC coating over galvanized after weld (GAW) wire mesh
• double protection from rust and corrosion - outlasts galvanized hardware cloth
• excellent underground gopher barrier
• easy to see through window glass or screen protection
• prevents small rodents from gnawing the bark off young trees
• makes an effective, unobtrusive barrier to prevent small nuisance animals from entering an area around or in the home
• use wire cloth as an apron attached to a fence or as a buried ground wire to keep animals from digging under a fence

19 gauge 1/2" x 1/2"	23 gauge 1/4" x 1/4"