Securing your property from intruders and animals begins by surrounding the area with a fence. Farmers can have peace of mind knowing that their yard has a properly installed fence. There are many types of fencing materials that are available today.
However, if you choose between a chain link fence and a welded wire fence, as they are so popular today, which is a better option? Both fences are customizable and adjustable according to your specific fencing needs.
Read the guide below to find out which of the two fencing materials is suitable for your property.
What is a Welded / Field Wire Fence?
A welded wire fence is the result of creating two wire layers that rest across each other at a certain angle. The wire layers are welded at the intersections to secure even on a solid impact. The strength of a welded wire fence is capable of holding up to forty feet tall fence.
Wild animals and humans cannot penetrate the top of the fence as the cross-sections are welded together. Landowners can request the thickness of welded wire according to their specifications.
Welded wire is an excellent option to protect your property from vehicle impact. It requires less maintenance due to its high-quality materials that can withstand the elements.
Wire mesh fence panels are advantageous compared to chain link fences as they are welded using state-of-the-art welding techniques. Unlike a chain link, this type of fencing material is difficult to twist and bend.
It needs heavy-duty tools to bend the wire mesh to break it so there is no room for robbers to gain entry to your property. If they succeed in cutting the wire, it creates a sound that will alert you.
What is a Chain-Link Fence?
A chain-link fence is also known as a chain-wire fence, hurricane fence, cyclone fence, wire mesh fence, or wire netting. It is a type of woven fence that uses steel or galvanized steel wire with LLDPE coating. The wires are vertical and bent to form a zigzag pattern.
The zig hooks the wire on one side, and the zag hooks to the other to develop into a diamond pattern, which adds curb appeal to your property. Chain link fence is a popular choice among farm owners because it is less expensive and can last for years with minimal care.
Building and farm owners can save a lot of dollars using chain link fence because it is available in large sheets and rolls. If you have a large property, you can surround the area at minimal expense.
Since it is made of steel, it can withstand extreme weather and termites. The height of this fence can reach from three to twelve feet according to your specific needs. You can request color customization aside from its usual color, silver.
Chain link is malleable, which means it is easy to work with but cannot give your property 100 percent security. Intruders may use ordinary pliers to bend or twist the fence.
Advantages of Chain Link Fencing
The benefits of using chain link fencing are:
- Cost-effective. Project managers and landowners can take advantage of the large rolls or sheets of chain link fencing to enclose the entire property, which is a perfect option if you have a tight budget.
- Easy visibility. The large apertures or openings between the mesh allow you to see and communicate with someone on the other side of the fence. The drawback is you lose privacy.
- Flexible. Since it is malleable, the chain link can easily distort and bend when working it for some obstructions in the project site.
- Availability. This material is available due to its popularity. You can source it in offline stores, rent or buy it at a lower price.
How to Install Chain-Link Fence?
Bury a post into the ground and attach the chain link fence. You can use timber, concrete, or steel tubing and drive it into the ground. To secure the fence, the gate post, end post, and corner post should be concrete to hold heavy pressure when animals bump into it.
The line posts should have intervals of not more than ten feet. Attach the fence at the one end of the line post, stretching it to attach the other end. Tie the fence to the line posts and the horizontal rails with aluminum wire or steel wire with a hook on the other end.
Stretch the bottom tension wire or coil wire between the terminal posts to prevent intrusion at the bottom of the chain link mesh, which is between the posts. Although unnecessary, you may install horizontal rails at the top for reinforcement.
Advantages of Welded Wire Fence
The features of both welded wire fences and chain-link fences lead to the conclusion that welded wire fence is a better option. Here are the advantages of welded wire fencing.
- It offers protection: Property owners prefer welded wire fences because it gives ample security to farms, estates, and buildings. The height is customizable up to forty feet, which deter wildlife and intruders from invading the area. The cross sections of the fence are welded close to each other, which are challenging to climb on. The material is not pliable and bendable; even a heavy-duty cutting tool takes time to break the fence. Welded wire fence features anti-climb properties as the mesh panels are too small to hold the toes of the intruder. The small openings keep intruders out of the property. Law enforcement agencies and data centers install a welded wire fence because it is impossible for lawbreakers to penetrate. It is a perfect fencing choice for securing valuable information like documents and data in your storage facility, not unless the intruder has a superpower to gain entry.
- It is versatile: Welded wire fencing materials are rigid yet lightweight. It is modular, which means it can fit into a space and is configurable. You can modify the material compared to a chain link by cutting and shaping it around an obstruction or pipe in your basement without causing damage to the wire. A chain link fence is difficult to handle when installing it in your basement or garage with a similar situation.
- Heavy Duty: Zoos use welded wire to surround the area to protect visitors from an animal attacks. Using welded wire fencing material guarantees heavy-duty functions. It ensures that the thickness covers the fence from vehicle impact, tension, or animal pressure, leaving no damage to your property. You can ask the technician to customize the thickness according to the security level your property needs.
- Less Maintenance: Welded wire fences can last for years requiring less maintenance than chain link fences. The material can withstand weather, temperature changes, rusting, abrasion, and corrosion, making it an inexpensive fencing choice. Since the wire panels are welded together, they do not bend or twist.
My Final Thoughts
If you are looking for durable fencing material, look no further if you are to choose between the welded wire and chain link fence. For security and safety barriers, I would recommend welded wire fencing. Its intertwined small openings discourage intruders and wildlife from climbing or smashing the fence with a hard object. It might sound more costly than chain link fencing, but it is still a cheaper option in the long run as it can stay for years with less maintenance and care.
