The Fence Post

Do You Know What Kind of Mesh to Use?

There are galvanized before weld (GBW) wire fencing materials that will keep your pets and children in the yard. For a longer-lasting and more durable product, you can use either galvanized after weld (GAW) or stainless steel fence. Vinyl-coated welded wire fences make an attractive and long-lasting garden fence. Choose from an extensive variety of wire gauges and mesh sizes. Smaller meshes are ideal for animal cages and wildlife exclusion barriers. Welded wire fences are both versatile and practical.

The Characteristics of Your Fence 

A fence made from woven wire can be strong and heavy enough to contain wildlife and livestock. There are different styles, heights, and mesh opening sizes designed for specific types of animals - from tall deer and wildlife fences to short hog wire fences. Flexibility and strength are two important characteristics of woven wire fences. Chicken wire or hexagonal mesh is woven from lighter gauge wire. Black PVC coating ensures both durability and an attractive appearance, providing protection for your poultry and fowl as well as your garden.

Often there's a poor selection at the big box stores. Best to look further.   

Which type of wire fence is best for you? Think about its intended use, its appearance, and how long you want it to last before you make a decision. And remember there are many more possible choices than what's on display at your local big box store...most often their limited selection is just expedient and relying on the typical foreign suppliers.

Repair? Replace?

Sadly, during a major storm, your fence can be easily damaged. Strong winds can blow down large branches. Entire trees can be uprooted, landing on your fence. Often the damage can only be repaired by replacing what was there with new fencing materials. Hopefully, these storms will pass you and your family by and cause no damage to your home and property. If your home is spared but your property and yard were not so fortunate, you will have to take down the damaged fence and replace it.

Rethinking Your Fence

If wood post and rail with attached wire were damaged, you can replace the wire with perhaps a vinyl-coated wire for long life. You will find that 2" x 3" or 2" x 4" and smaller meshes are available that will keep your pets and children securely in the yard. Many people prefer black vinyl-coated wire as it blends in very well with the background. It does not stand out as galvanized wire tends to do.

Did your pool wire get damaged? Your pet fencing? Your garden fence? Fencing materials protecting your flowers and shrubs, especially from deer? There are many different types of welded and woven wire meshes available in both galvanized and vinyl-coated finishes. And there is a wide variety of plastic meshes from which to choose.

Big-box stores--offering a limited selection and spotty service

If you decide to do these repairs yourself, remember that there are many types of fencing materials available that you will never find in your local big-box store. Beware of the limited selection: it really does pay off to broaden your search. Why not go for something different, with better construction, and readily available?

Are you having difficulty finding the type of fence you want?

Are you frustrated by the absence of knowledge about fencing materials encountered in most retail stores? This is when you turn to Louis Page, who knows fencing. As you consider your replacement, here's a helpful blog to get you started.

In this garden fence example, a 2" x 4" welded mesh was used. Other types of fencing materials would also work well:

• Galvanized before weld or weave (GBW)
  
  • 1/2" x 1" mesh, 16 gauge
  • 1" x 1" mesh, 16 gauge or 14 gauge
  • 1" x 2" mesh, 14 gauge
  • 1" hex mesh, 20 gauge
• Galvanized after weld or weave (GAW) - longer lasting
  
  • 1/2" x 1" mesh, 16 gauge
  • 1" x 1" mesh, 16 gauge or 14 gauge
  • 1" x 2" mesh, 14 gauge
  • 1" hex mesh, 18 gauge
• Vinyl coated - longest lasting
  
  • 1/2" x 1" mesh, 16 gauge
  • 1" x 1" mesh, 16 gauge or 14 gauge
  • 1" x 2" mesh, 14 gauge
  • 1" hex mesh, 20 gauge

Have you ever needed a truly heavy gauge chicken wire?

Do you want something stronger than 20 gauge galvanized before weave chicken wire fencing?

Are you frustrated by how quickly GBW hex mesh rusts and needs to be replaced? There's an alternative:

Galvanized After Weave Chicken Wire Fence: 18 gauge, 1" Hexagonal Mesh 

Made by Keystone Steel and Wire in Peoria, Illinois, this "saltwater netting" is woven from heavy 18 gauge wire. 18 gauge wire is more than 30% heavier than the 20 gauge chicken wire available in your local retail store. After the wire is woven into a hexagonal mesh with 1" openings, it is passed through a bath of molten zinc. It emerges with thick, durable rust and corrosion-resistant galvanized after weave (GAW) finish. The wires are thoroughly coated, including the twisted areas that tend to hold moisture.

Heavy chicken wire fence is available in 150' rolls. Widths are 36", 48" and 72". This mesh, designed for use in saltwater, will last for many, many years.

Excellent for:

• Poultry runs
• Garden fence
• Game bird pens
• Saltwater applications, such as crab pots
  

18 gauge heavy hex wire is a great option and if you want a chicken wire fence that will withstand the test of time, consider this product.

With Extensive Benefits:

• Initial higher cost is offset by the longer lifetime of the wire.
  
• Stronger, heavier wire will stand up longer to normal wear and tear.
• Frequency of repair and replacement is reduced.
• Heavy galvanization assures robust protection against rust and corrosion.

Have you ever had the opportunity to try GAW chicken wire fence?

Do you think it makes sense to pay more initially to avoid the cost and labor of repair and replacement?

Being Prepared

Time to make plans. Colder months are a great time to look through gardening, landscaping, and seed catalogs. Visualize what you would like to do in the yard and garden this spring. Whether you're in an area where your yard is just dormant or snow actually covers the ground, you can begin to draw up plans and designs on the inside where it's warm and comfortable.

Do you:

• need to install a new fence? 
• want to improve your landscaping?
• want better results from your garden?
• need to consider replacing your fence?
• need to repair winter damage to your fence?

Now If a fence is on your to-do list, there are many possibilities and options open to you. Start by considering what you want to accomplish and what the end product should look like. For example:

Welded or Woven Wire Mesh - Galvanized or Vinyl-Coated

• Use a smaller mesh, especially at the bottom of the fence, to keep smaller animals from getting into your garden
• Bury 12" or more of the fence underground to discourage burrowing
• Bend 12" or more of the fence to the outside of your garden laying it on top of the ground for an effective protecting apron

A vinyl-coated wire fence is a smart choice for both appearance and durability. Do your plans call for a fence that blends in well with your property's background? Consider a black vinyl-coated fence that comes in many different mesh sizes, wire gauges, and heights. Check out this blog for some other excellent options.

Gabions - Practical and Stylish

As you consider your next outdoor project, whether it be a commercial establishment or a residence, gabion baskets are a great solution for stabilizing vast areas of possible erosion due to potential flooding conditions, providing definition to the landscape, or creating a stylish look on a residential property. 

Looking Around

Reputable fence companies can give you more ideas. They can also quote you prices for installation if you choose not to do it yourself. There is most likely a fence you can't find at your local store that Louis Page can help you find. Remember, those big box stores are not going to necessarily stock the variety of wire and the gauges in which we specialize. Also, the galvanization of the products we stock is only first-rate and guaranteed to last. On to spring!