The benefits of having a fence are almost too many to name. They offer privacy, security, and control of your property. A fenced yard is a great place for a dog to play, and children are safer with a fence in place.
Businesses can benefit from fencing, too, preventing trespassing and vandalism. Many businesses opt for a wire fence, rather than a wood fence.
There are many types of wire fencing to choose from, whether you’re looking to protect your home or your business. The world of wire fencing is much larger than the standard chain-linked fence you’re used to!
The question, then, is this: what types of fencing are there? More importantly, which kind of fence is the best choice for your property?
Keep reading to learn about the different types of wire fencing. By the end of this article, you’ll know how to choose a wire fence that’s right for you!
Woven Wire Fencing
The most common–and most recognizable–style of wire fencing is woven wire fencing. Picture a chain-linked fence, like the kind offered by Butte Fence. That’s the most traditional form of woven wire fencing.
It’s not the only kind of woven wire available, though. There are different configurations you can choose if you’re looking for something a bit more decorative.
Woven wire fencing is made the way you might expect. Strands of wire are literally woven together to form the fencing. The wires are secured together with knots.
This allows the fencing to have a certain amount of flexibility; because the wires aren’t fused together in any way, they have some give.
This level of flexibility makes woven wire fencing a great choice for fences around livestock and other animals that might wander into the fencing by mistake. The fence has enough give that it won’t hurt the animal.
Farmers use woven wire fencing for livestock so often that many people call it agricultural fencing or livestock fencing.
One weakness of woven wire fencing is that it can unravel easily. If one link breaks, the entire fence can start to come apart, so it’s important to address holes quickly.
Welded Wire Fencing
Superficially, welded wire fencing is much like woven wire fencing. They can look quite similar, and both use the same materials (aluminum or, more commonly, steel wire).
That’s where the similarities end, though.
Rather than a loosely woven set of wires held together by knots, welded wire fencing is built by laying horizontal and vertical wires over each other. These wires are then spot-welded together.
This creates a much firmer, sturdier structure than a woven wire fence provides. There’s very little give to a welded wire fence.
While the flexibility of woven wire makes it the best wire fencing for dog runs and livestock areas, welded wire fencing is better suited to applications like prison yards and military compounds.
That said, welded wire is still a great choice for a home or business. One of the benefits of welded wire fencing is that the welding process allows for a greater variety of fencing patterns. This allows for more decorative looks.
Welded wire fencing also avoids the unraveling issue that woven wire fencing has. A single hole in a welded wire fence won’t spread, because it’s surrounded by welded wires that will hold firm.
Electrified Wire Fencing
A less common–but still popular–style of wire fencing is the electric fence. These fences are just what they sound like: wire fences with an electric current running through them.
In terms of construction, electrified fencing is generally woven wire fencing that uses very thin steel or aluminum wires. That means it has the same level of flexibility–but with an additional shock when you touch it.
Electrified fences can carry a variety of different voltages, depending on your needs. While the idea of running a current through your fence might sound dangerous, electrified fences are safe as long as you take care of them.
An electrified fence can carry a lethal charge, but it’s rare; such fences are only used in specific institutions, such as prisons. They’re often behind barricades to prevent accidental contact.
Electrified wire fencing is most commonly used in agriculture. Like basic woven wire fencing, it’s great at keeping animals inside their fields.
An electrified wire fence can deliver a low-voltage jolt to any livestock that wanders into it–just enough to encourage the animal to move away, but not enough to cause harm.
Barbed Wire Fencing
Installing a barbed wire fence is a popular way to keep out unwanted intruders, but not the ones you might expect. Like electrified wire fencing, barbed wire is most commonly used in agricultural settings.
Specifically, it’s often used as a barrier between two farms, preventing animals from one field from straying into a different one.
Barbed wire fencing is another form of woven wire fencing, but it’s constructed differently than chain link or other woven fence styles.
In a barbed wire fence, two steel wires are twisted together, which makes them stronger than a single wire on its own. At various points along this length of the fencing, smaller bits of wire are knotted around the main wires.
These knots leave the ends of the smaller strips protruding out, providing the painful barbs that lend the fencing its name.
Barbed wire is popular with livestock because the barbs will dig into any animal that tries to break through the fence. It discourages them from pushing harder.
Barbed wire has other applications, too; it’s commonly used along the tops of fences and walls around prisons and similar compounds. It’s an easy way to prevent people from breaking into or out of sensitive areas.
Understanding the Types of Wire Fencing
No matter what kind of property you want to protect, wire fencing can help. Understanding the types of wire fencing available will allow you to make the perfect choice for your home or business.
Now that you’ve installed a fence, what’s your next project around the house? Whatever it is, our how-to blog can help, with great advice for home renovation, fresh design ideas, and more!