Decorative Wire Fencing

A wire garden fencing should be such that it protects your house from encroachers and at the same time makes their heads turn. There are various types of decorative wire fencings available today, some fence designs are more durable while some are more attractive. The trick is to choose the one that meets both demands adequately. One should also ensure that the wire mesh fencing matches the color and texture of the gate.

A typical decorative wire fencing includes a framework, a mesh , gates and fittings. The weight and protective coatings of each of these components is different for different wire fencing and can also change from one manufacturer to another. However, the most widely used wire garden fencing has a coating of zinc and polyester. People some times prefer buying light weight decorative wire fencing due to their lower costs. However, they don't realize that such wire fencing can be easily bent or distorted by over-inquisitive animals, strong winds or careless passersby.

Selecting Decorative Wire Fencing
As mentioned above, a wire fence can be divided into four parts: the actual wire mesh, the framework, the gate and the fittings used for connecting various parts together.

Selecting a wire mesh is based on evaluation of the following three factors: the gauge number, the distance between two vertical wires and the protective coating used. The gauge number specifies the amount of steel present in the wire. Smaller value of gauge numbers is better as they indicate higher quantity of steel in the wire. Usually wires with gauge numbers 4 and 6 are used for decorative wire fencing. The distance between two vertical wires of a mesh should also be as less as possible. Smaller distance indicates more steel used. A distance of 4 inches is considered suitable for wire meshes. Zinc is the common protective coating used for a wire mesh. If the zinc coated wire is cut, the zinc creates an oxidation layer that prevents the exposed portions of the wires from damaging due to red rust. An additional coating of polyester further protects the wires from corrosion and goes along well with the green landscape of the garden.

Selecting the right kind of posts for building the frameworks of the wire garden fencing is the next important task. In this case, the determining factors are the gauge number, the diameter of the posts and the rails used. For wire garden fencing in residential areas, the gauge numbers can range from 16 to 20 while the the diameter should be 2 inches. As far as rails are concerned, usually roll-formed rails with gauge number 16 are used for wire mesh fencing. The other often overlooked parts of a wire garden fencing are the fittings that are used like the nuts, bolts, brackets and other mechanical components used in the gate. These fittings should also be galvanized with zinc and polyester. The pintle used in the gate hinges must be round in shape in order to prevent the gate from sagging.

Other than the steel garden fencing, the other most popularly used decorative wire garden fencings are iron and aluminum garden fencings. Iron garden fencing appears like wrought iron fencing but is actually made up of steel. It is usually available in the form of 3 square feet panels with a spear post at one end. Aluminum fencing, on the other hand, consists of pre-fabricated panels that are later attached to the aluminum fence posts. Cast pickets and horizontal rails are used for building an aluminum garden fencing.

Installing the right variety of decorative wire fencing in your front yard, can give your house a completely different identity and can soon become a distinguishing factor, that makes your house stand out from the other houses in your locality.