Attractive, versatile, and creative - a chain-link fence system can be a great option. With the right fence, you can expect years of protection, privacy, and value. But as with any investment, it pays to do your homework beforehand. Chainwire fencing comes in a wide range of qualities, colors, sizes, and types, so take a little time to find out what's currently available. That way, you get the best value for your money and the right fence for your needs.
Not all are the same
The link in the chain has four elements: fabric, frame, accessories, and doors. It's how you combine them that makes the difference. Each of these components is available in a range of weights (gauges) and types of protective coatings. Suppliers can mix and match components in an effort to cut costs or differentiate their products. The most common coating is zinc (galvanized), but you will also find chain link components with colored vinyl or polyester coatings in addition to zinc. These color treatments enhance the landscape and blend naturally with trees, shrubs, and shrubs. They will also give you even more protection against corrosion or rust.
Our minimum recommendations for these components will generally follow the minimum practices defined by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).
Some can't handle residential wear and tear
A light chain link system cannot withstand much abuse. The frame can easily be bent, the fabric can be distorted, and animals can easily damage it. Even common occurrences such as a person climbing or sitting on the fence, strong wind blowing debris against it, or a dog jumping over it can cause irreversible damage. Undercoats can also allow components to rust prematurely. Fence manufacturers make products for many different uses, including light and temporary needs. Consumers sometimes buy fences like this because of their lower price, or because they don't understand that all fences are not the same. The result: a "permanent installation" made of materials that were not designed for longevity.
The tests on light gauge fences were conducted under the auspices of the Chain Link Fence Manufacturers Institute (CLFMI). They found that a 75-pound dog and a 100-pound child could seriously damage or even collapse smaller-gauge fences. In addition, the CLFMI conducted a survey of recent fence buyers to find out what they expected of their chain fence. It turned out that once they fully understood their options, 100 percent of these buyers would have selected a heavier fence.
Select your chain link fence fabric based on these three criteria: wire gauge, mesh size, and type of protective coating. The gauge (ga.) Or diameter of the wire is one of the most important factors; helps you know how much steel is actually in the fabric. The smaller the gauge number, the more steel, the higher the quality, and the stronger the wire. From lightest to heaviest, common gauges are 13, 12-1 / 2, 11-1 / 2, 11, nine, and six. Unless you are building a temporary fence, I would recommend a fence between 11-1 / 2 and 9 gauge. The six gauge is typically for heavy or specialized industrial uses and the lighter gauges are best suited for temporary fencing.
Measure the mesh
Mesh size tells you how far apart the parallel or diamond-shaped wires are in the fabric, and is another indication of how much steel is in the product. The smaller the diamond, the more steel there is in the fabric. From largest to smallest, typical mesh sizes are 2 3/8 inches, 2 1/4 inches, and two inches. Smaller meshes such as 1 3/4 inch are common for tennis courts, 1 1/4 inch for swimming pools, and 5/8 inch, 1/2 inch and 3 / 8 inch also available.
Consider the coating
Various types of surface treatments help protect and beautify steel Fencing Newcastle. As we mentioned earlier, the most common protective coating for chain link fabric is zinc. Zinc is a sacrificial element. In other words, it dissipates while protecting the steel. It also offers cathodic protection, meaning that if the wire is cut, it "heals" the exposed surface by developing a layer of white oxidation that prevents red oxidation. Typically, galvanized chain link fabric has a 1.2 ounce per square foot zinc coating. For specification projects that require higher degrees of longevity, two-ounce coatings are available. As expected,
There are two main ways chain link fabric is galvanized or zinc coated. The most common is post-weave galvanizing (GAW), where the steel wire is first formed into chain link cloth and then galvanized. The alternative is galvanized before weaving (GBW), where the wire strand is coated with zinc before forming the mesh. There is some debate as to which is the best method. GAW ensures that the entire cable is coated, even the cut ends, and galvanizing the cable after it is formed also tends to increase the tensile strength of the finished product. GAW is typically the method of choice for larger fabricators as it requires a higher level of manufacturing experience and capital investment than simply weaving the wire, and produces efficiencies only available with this method. GBW is still a good product, however,
You will also find aluminum coated (aluminized) wire on the market. Aluminum differs from zinc in that it is a barrier coating rather than a sacrificial coating and as a result cut ends, scratches, or other imperfections are prone to red rust in a short period of time. Aluminized wire is best suited where aesthetics are less important than structural integrity. Another metallic coating sold under various trade names such as Galvinal ™, Bezinal® or Galfan ™ uses a combination of zinc and aluminum, combining the cathodic protection of zinc with the barrier protection of aluminum.
Do you want color? Look for polyvinyl chloride applied in addition to the zinc coating. This provides a second type of protection against corrosion and is aesthetically combined with the environment. These colors come in three main coating methods: extruded, where the vinyl covering spans the steel core (suitable for most residential / light commercial applications), extruded bonded, where an adhesive bonds the vinyl covering to the wire of the core and thermally fused, where the vinyl siding is fused with the galvanized steel core (suitable for all applications).
Make sure you understand both the gauge of the finished product and the steel core wire. A product that is produced in an 11 gauge finished diameter means, with most coating processes, that the steel core is very light it would not be recommended for normal 1 3/4 inch to 2 inch diamond mesh installations 3/8 inch.
Finally, the fabric must meet these specifications:
- Specification for Zinc Coated Chain Link Fence Fabric (A 392-96)
- Specification for Aluminum Coated Chain Link Fence Fabric (A 492-96)
- Specification for Zinc Alloy-5% Aluminum-Mischmetal (Galvinal) Coated Chain Link Fence Fabric (F 1345-96)
- Specification for Polyvinyl Chloride Coated Steel Chain Link Fence (F 668-96)
How to choose a fence frame?
As with chain link fabric, you'll want to look at three things when deciding on your chain link fence frame: steel gauge or thickness, pipe diameter, and type of protective coating.
Start with the meter. The gauge (ga.) Of the steel is an important factor as it is directly related to the strength of the frame, as well as the fabric. From lightest to heaviest, common residential fence gauges are 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, and 15. All residential frames must be made of steel that has a minimum yield strength of 45,000 pounds per square inch. Most people tend to ignore tensile strength and focus more on gauge and diameter, but they shouldn't. Most of the national manufacturers comply with the minimum tensile strengths; however, some products (typically imported) that do not meet the requirements reach the market. Low tensile strength 16 ga. the post may not be as strong as a 17 ga. post with adequate tensile strength.
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