The Fence Post

Did you know that an outdoor cat has an average life expectancy of two to five years, while an indoor cat can live for 15 years or more?

Avoiding Visits to the Vet

I have four cats and it can be a little overwhelming at times. So they go outside a few hours a day. But as it turns out there are many dangers not only from cars but also from raccoons, coyotes, foxes, and even other cats. And with these dangers can come very expensive vet bills. Believe me, I know! One of my cats got into a fight with something and had an abscess that had to be lanced - $450! And because we didn’t know what bit her she was quarantined inside for 6 months just in case of rabies.

Innovation for Kitty

I just happened to have an old metal shed frame, that didn’t have a tarp anymore. So I bought some inexpensive chicken wire and started wrapping. I left one end open and remembered to not have any sharp edges. I made a door for me to get in and out using PVC piping also wrapped with chicken wire and strapped with safety ties. When I was done building the cage I moved it up against a back window and cut a kitty door in the window screen. I also added Plexiglas to keep out most of the cold in the winter. I used a tall cat condo so they could get up and down from the window and also use it as a scratching post. Now add some toys and maybe a catwalk and they are back to chasing the bugs and everyone is safe.

Practical Ideas  

This was a very inexpensive quick solution for me but not everyone has an old frame lying around. So here are some ideas:

• • The wire fencing material that you use depends on the look, your budget, and the difficulty of working with the material.
  • Chicken wire is easily bent around piping whereas a heavier mesh would be great for the wood panels.
  • Vinyl-coated black is less noticeable, more attractive, and will last for many pets to come.
  • There are a wide variety of welded wire gauges and mesh openings to choose from. Choose by the size of your pet and what you’re trying to keep out. 1” x 2”, 1” x 1” meshes in 14 and 16 gauges are good choices to eliminate predators.
  • PVC piping can be used to make panels all the way around. You can have them cut to any size and fasten them together with glue and safety ties. There is also a PVC primer that can be used for welding pieces.
  • Pressure-treated 1” x 3” strapping can be used, wider if making large panels. Sandwich the fence in between and staple or nail the strapping together, using the same method for the top and door.

Your cats will now have the best of both worlds. And no more expensive vet bills. You can leave the money in your wallet!

Terry    

Panels Will Streamline a Project  

• Are you bidding on a commercial or municipal project that requires wire mesh safety panels for a boardwalk railing, deck railing, bridge railing, or other areas where public safety is of concern?
• Is there an industrial application that needs wire mesh to protect workers from injuries, such as machine guards and storage areas?
• Do the specs call for a heavy gauge welded wire mesh with an opening size that is hard to find, for example, 12.5 gauge black vinyl coated 2" x 2" mesh? Or do you want a galvanized after weld (GAW) or even a stainless steel product?

Managing Straightening and Space

You can go ahead and buy welded wire mesh in rolls. But as the gauge of the wire increases, so does the difficulty of straightening out the mesh so it will lie flat - especially towards the center of the roll where it is wound most tightly. This can be an especially difficult task when your workspace is limited. There may not be enough unobstructed space to open and roll out the material. Then there's the potential problem of cutting pieces to the right dimensions. And what do you do with the scrap pieces left after the panel is cut?

The List of Benefits

Wire mesh panels are effective in solving these problems and challenges. Custom cut panels have the following positive features:

1. Convenient
2. Pre-flattened
3. Faster to install
4. Easy to work with
5. Lower in labor cost
6. Less scrap and waste
7. Save on material costs
8. Wide choice of wire gauges
9. Smaller pieces are lighter in weight
10. Many different mesh sizes are available
11. GBW, GAW, Vinyl Coated, and Stainless Steel
12. Custom cut panels are sized to specific project requirements

What will you use on your next project?
Would pre-cut, pre-flattened panels save you time and money?

And please note that there may be minimum quantities requirements.

The Durability of Stainless Steel 

Stainless steel wire mesh is long-lasting and versatile. The range of different gauges and mesh sizes that are available is extensive. Especially suited to situations where the mesh will be exposed to corrosive substances, stainless steel products can perform much better and last longer than other materials.

A List of Benefits

Stainless steel wire mesh panels can be special ordered, pre-cut to whatever sizes your project calls for. The advantages:

• Get only what you need
• Save material costs
• Reduce and eliminate unusable scrap
• Save labor costs
• Easy to use
• No need to buy material in rolls
• No need to struggle to flatten the curve of the roll before cutting pieces
• Save time
• Start on your project as soon as panels arrive
• Cuts are precise, done in a controlled environment
• Custom cut panels are tailored to your specific needs
• Wide choice of specifications for different purposes 

Stainless steel wire meshes can be the perfect solution to many difficult applications. And the availability of custom-cut panels makes the job that much easier. Truly a win-win!

Seriously consider using pre-cut wire mesh panels on your next job.

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? 

As you look around...

Fencing materials can be galvanized or vinyl-coated, small or larger openings, and a variety of heights. For long life and appearance consider vinyl coated wire. We can't stress enough that black (not green) blends extremely well into the background and almost disappears rather than boldly stands out.

Terrain Issues

Consider the terrain you will be fencing - is it level or uneven? You will want to use a fence that conforms or "racks" if the ground is uneven. On level ground, a welded wire fence is perfectly suitable as there is no give to it. Welded wire is not "rackable." Farm and Field fence adapts beautifully to the topography of your property.

Remember, with vinyl coated wire you avoid costly replacement because it lasts and lasts; plus it has a very pleasing appearance. And! Don't forget fence panels--they can really streamline installation and are perfect for remodeling decks.

Which type of fence material works best for you?