Welded Wire Fencing Styles
Welded Wire Fencing Styles
"Good fences make good neighbors,” poet Robert Frost writes in "Mending Wall.” Fences define boundaries, keep in pets and livestock, keep out stray animals and provide security -- all things that promote neighborly relationships. Welded wire fences are a cost-effective way to accomplish these goals. This type of Welded Wire Fencing is constructed of vertical and horizontal wires that form a grid. The wires are welded where they touch. Welded wire fencing comes in a variety of wire thicknesses, finishes and grid configurations.
Basic Welded Wire Fencing
Intended for home and farm use, Welded Wire Fencing comes with different-sized openings between wires. Commonly available sizes, shown here in inches with the horizontal measurement given first, are 2 by 4, 1-1/2 by 4, 3 by 2, 2 by 2, 1 by 2, 1 by 1 and ½ by 1, allowing fencing to be tailored to different uses. Wire gauges vary from 11 gauges -- 0.1205 inch diameter -- to 23 gauges -- 0.0258 inch diameter. Smaller gauge numbers indicate thicker diameters. Fencing finishes protect the wire from rusting and wear. Zinc is applied to wires before or after welding for a galvanized finish, with after-welding application resulting in a thicker zinc coating and better protection over the welds. Vinyl-coated fencing heat-bonds a thick layer of PVC to the galvanized product, resulting in longer-lasting fencing. Maximum height is 6 feet.
Stainless Steel Fencing
This type of Welded Wire Fencing is made of stainless steel rather than iron, and needs no exterior coatings to prevent corrosion. It is strong and durable, making it ideal for security applications such as fencing around transportation facilities, along pedestrian walkways and in other public places. It is also used for corralling horses and other livestock.
Security Fences
Welded wire security fences use heavier gauge wire, tougher finishes and different grid patterns. Patterns feature smaller, narrower mesh to prevent an intruder from gaining handholds or footholds to climb the fence. Galvanized wire is finished with a powder coating, with a range of colors available. For these fences, welded wire panels are attached to sturdy uprights with clamping systems, offering maximum heights of 98 inches. Wire diameter depends on the level of security needed. For high-security needs such as military sites, airports, railway lines and telecommunication sites, wire diameters of 5/32 to 5/16 inches are used, with mesh spacing ranging from 1/2 by 3 inches to 2 by 8 inches. For areas needing basic to moderate security, 3/16-inch vertical wires are combined with ¼-inch horizontal wires.
Ornamental Welded Wire Fences
Some fencing companies produce welded wire fences with decorative value. A wrought-iron look can be achieved with panels of varying width and height that use 4- and 6-gauge wires with black powder coating. Grid openings vary depending on height of panels and the wire gauge used. Double-loop decorative fence is available in different colors. The top and bottom edges of the welded wire mesh in this style have a rolled and looped finish that helps provide rigidity and enhance appearance.
