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The Fence Post

Coatings for Welded Wire Fences vs. Rust and Corrosion

July 30, 2013 | by Rick Hoffman

stone wall and wire fence in front of ocean

Environmental Factors
 

When thinking about installing fencing, you should first consider the environment in which it will be placed.

  • Is it near the coast?
  • Is it exposed to extreme changes in temperature?
  • Will it be located in a wet or humid environment?
  • Will it be in close proximity to corrosive chemicals, etc.?

Identifying these factors will help you determine the best type of fence product and coating for your needs.

GBW - Galvanized Before Weld

Let’s start with the basic low-cost GBW welded wire fence. This product is available in a wide variety of styles and sizes for lots of different applications. This is what most “Big Box” stores sell.

  • The good news? It is inexpensive.
  • The bad news? It has a shorter life because it is more susceptible to rust and corrosion.
  • The reason? The wire is welded before it is galvanized. The welding process can “burn-off” the zinc on the weld points. This makes the wire more vulnerable to rust and corrosion.

The initial strength and gauge of the GBW wire are the same as GAW and VC. But the finish is not nearly as durable resulting in a shorter usable lifespan.

If price rather than quality is the most important factor, then GBW might be a good choice for you.

Bird on fence post

GAW - Galvanized After Weld

GAW welded wire is dipped in molten zinc after being welded or woven. The wire is fully encased in zinc for greater protection and longer life. This is especially important if the fence is to be installed in coastal areas, and if rust and corrosion are primary concerns.

  • The good news? Extended lifetime
  • The bad news? It is slightly more expensive than generic GBW meshes.
  • The reason? After the wire mesh is welded or woven, the finished product is drawn through a bath of molten zinc. The wires are thoroughly galvanized. And most importantly the welded joints are completely covered and protected from the elements. Moisture, which tends to collect in these areas, is prevented from contacting the underlying wire.

If quality and long life are the most important factors in how you will make your decision, GAW is a great choice. The thick galvanization present on the wires adds years of life to the fence. GAW fencing materials will long outlast commonly available GBW products. You have to look harder to find GAW wire fencing materials, but your search will be rewarded with years of service. Avoid the needless expense and hassle of frequent replacement. Buy a product that will last!

VC - Vinyl Coated

VC welded wire has been coated with a layer of PVC after the mesh is welded up. The vinyl covers the mesh and provides strong protection against the element.

  • The good news? Extended lifetime and attractive appearance
  • The "bad" news? It can be more expensive than GBW and GAW products.
  • The reason? The addition of the PVC coating adds an impervious barrier, protecting the wire from Mother Nature's harshest elements. The protected wire will not rust as quickly.

If you want a product that is not only attractive but is also able to withstand environmental stressors, VC welded wire mesh is the perfect one to use. Black mesh becomes virtually invisible.

green vinyl coated mesh

Note: It is very important to know what to look for when considering VC wire fencing materials. The best possible protection and longest life expectancy are offered by a product that is vinyl coated over GAW wire mesh. You will have rugged double protection. You will not be disappointed.

 

SS - Stainless Steel

SS welded wire fences provide the greatest level of protection and long life in any environment. The product is more expensive up front but can save lots of money and time in the long run because the fence will not need to be repaired or replaced. Stainless Steel wire needs no additional coating because it will last for years and years in practically any environment.

  • The good news? Very long life with little maintenance required
  • The "bad" news? Yep, It's pricier.
  • The reason? Stainless Steel is a more expensive material. But in certain applications, its longevity will ultimately prove less expensive.

Did you know there are a great many varieties of wire mesh fencing materials available to you?

Do you have some new ideas or questions about what you would like to use on your next project?

stainless steel mesh

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Rick signature  Rick VP sales Louis E. Page, Inc. 

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Topics: vinyl coated wire, stainless steel, galvanized after, galvanized before

Gopher vs. Fence Materials - What Is The Best Defense?

March 16, 2013 | by Rick Hoffman


Gopher in hole with Bill Murray from film Caddyshack

The Wee Beasties: Not so Funny

Who can forget the classic movie “Caddyshack” and Bill Murray’s ongoing battle with the varmints! It was hilarious in the movie but when it’s your yard being attacked, they don’t seem nearly as cute and cuddly. What can you do?  Well, you could always try to hire Bill Murray to blow up your yard or bring in a Gopher snake or Barn Owl to eat the rascals...or you can take a more sensible and less dramatic approach…install a gopher deterrent fence.  

Sure it’s a lot of work, but if protecting your land, lawn, trees, shrubs, and garden is important to you, then it’s worth it! Even one gopher can cause tremendous and costly damage. In most cases, it is only one gopher terrorizing your property since they are extremely territorial and solitary animals. It just looks like there must be a whole “herd” of them from all the holes and damage.

gopher pest control

Fight Gophers as well as Rust and Corrosion

The first step is choosing the right type of fence to use since it will have to withstand the rigors of being buried. Choosing the wrong type of fence can be a costly and very frustrating mistake. Chicken/poultry wire or aviary fence is not intended to be buried and will fail in a short period of time. Galvanized After Weld, Vinyl Coated, and Stainless Steel wire provide protection from rust and corrosion and will last for many years. Obviously, these are not the favorite choices of gophers. In terms of mesh size, ½” x ½” is ideal because the openings are small and stiff enough to prevent gophers from gaining access to the surface.

For protecting lawns and garden areas, the fence should be buried 2 to 6 inches deep, covered with soil, and the sod or plants installed on top of the soil. The wire should be secured using sod staples or “U” pins placed two to three feet apart. Be careful to have tight overlaps of 4-6 inches without buckling or openings. After the gopher bumps his head a few times, he will move on to greener pastures! For above-ground use, these meshes can easily be made into baskets to protect individual plantings.

A Perimeter Fence

Another option to help keep the gophers out is the installation of perimeter fencing. The fence should have small openings and the bottom of the fence should be buried 2 to 3 feet deep with at least 6 to 12 inches above the ground to prevent gophers from burrowing underneath or invading from the surface. The buried portion of the wire should have a ninety-degree bend to the outside.

In Conclusion

For additional weapons in the war against gophers, try putting a pine-scented cleaner or chili powder in the burrows. Gophers hate this!

Don’t let gophers defeat you. Take back control of your lawn and garden so you can spend time playing golf or whatever it is that you enjoy.

And, be sure to say hello to Bill for me!

Rick signature  Rick VP sales Louis E. Page, Inc.

Gopher Deterrent Fence

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Topics: gopher fence, stainless steel, galvanized after, vinyl coated, 1/2x1/2

Four Types of Wire Mesh Fencing Materials

January 10, 2013 | by Duncan Page

cat in front of black vinyl coated wire fence

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.
A professional fence installer in your area can help you make an informed decision.
Okay, let's break these down--

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.

wire mesh - galvanized after weld

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.

2018greenvinylwire_post-rail-812539-edited

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? 

signature-resized-600_thumbDOP_-_1_small-resized-600

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Topics: vinyl coated wire, stainless steel, GAW, galvanized before

What? You need a fence? Didn't the World End on December 21st, 2012?

December 20, 2012 | by Duncan Page

Mayan temple after world ends 12.21.12

 Apocalypse--when?

According to Wikipedia, the Mayan calendar predicted that cataclysmic or transformative events were to occur on December 21, 2012. This date was regarded as the end date of a 5,125 year-long cycle in the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar. Various astronomical alignments and numerological formulae have been proposed as pertaining to this date, though none has been accepted by mainstream scholarship.

A New Age interpretation of this transition is that the date marked the start of time in which Earth and its inhabitants may undergo a positive physical or spiritual transformation. December 21st was to mark the beginning of a new era. Others suggest that the date marked the end of the world or a similar catastrophe.

Some scenarios suggested for the end of the world:

  • the arrival of the next solar maximum
  • an interaction between Earth and the black hole at the center of the galaxy
  • Earth's collision with a planet called Nibiru.

Wait a minute!

Since you're reading this blog you have obviously disregarded the dire warnings and predictions about the world's demise and continue making plans for the days, weeks, months, and years to come. And you have survived whatever may have happened on December 21st, realizing yet again that another predicted catastrophic ending of the world never materialized.

Elvis Presley Dancing

In either case, you are free to think about what type of fencing materials you will need.

Okay, so what's your fence for?

  • Define your property or boundary line?
  • Keep deer and other wildlife away from your trees?
  • Keep pets from running all over the neighborhood?
  • Protect children as they play securely in your yard?
  • Prevent gophers from destroying your lawn and plantings?
  • Prevent "critters" from entering your garden to eat your plants?
  • Protect your home and property from nuisance wildlife damage?

And the particulars for this fence?

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

Varieties, Styles...

Make sure you are looking for the right kind of fencing to do the job correctly. Many varieties and styles of fence are available for your consideration and needs.

Finish - galvanized before, galvanized after, vinyl coated, stainless steel

Construction - woven, welded mesh

Mesh sizes - fencing materials are available in a variety of mesh opening sizes:

   Welded: 3" x 3", 2" x 4", 2" x 3", 2" x 2" 1½" x 4", 1" x 2 " and 1" x 1"

   Woven: ½", 1", 1½" hex, 2" x 2", 2" x 4" and the varying openings of field fence

Wire gauges - from lightweight 20 gauge up to heavyweight 10.5 gauge

What has been most difficult for you when trying to decide which type of fencing material to use? Has it gotten any easier since the date of the earth's "transformation" has passed?  Are you aware that there are many types of fences available that you will never find at your local retail store?
                                                                                                                                                        

So, cataclysms aside, feel free to check out our helpful Fence and Mesh Guide to help you decide:

A Fence for Your Needs

 

Duncan Page signature

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Topics: fencing materials, vinyl coated wire, stainless steel, galvanized after, wire gauges

12 Reasons You Should Use Wire Mesh Panels

June 28, 2012 | by Duncan Page

pre-cut welded wire panels - railing safety

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

fence panels and lawn

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.

Duncan PageDuncan Page signature

Fence Panels

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Topics: welded wire mesh, panels, stainless steel, galvanized after, vinyl coated

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