When it comes to wire fences, they serve a lot of different purposes and functions. However, how effective and efficient they turn out depends on the type of wire mesh you have chosen for your specific objective.

Be it security or containment, there’s a kind of wire mesh for everything. The two most popular types of mesh are the handwoven stainless steel mesh and welded wire mesh. So, which one is the best for wire fences? Keep reading to find out.

What is Welded Wire Mesh?

Welded wire mesh has wires intersecting each other at various points or in different patterns, just like any other wire mesh. However, it is also then welded at all or most intersection points in the mesh using spot welding or TIG. As a result, it leads to strong points of intersection and an overall, more durable wire mesh.

Here are some pros and cons of such a wire mesh for wire fences.

Pros

• Durability

As mentioned previously, since the wire mesh is welded at several points, it is much more tightly bound and, therefore, much more durable. It can withstand much more force without breaking or unraveling.

• Rigid

Welded wire mesh is also much more rigid. It doesn’t bend or move easily, and therefore, it can also not get deformed so easily. It is much more stable and will retain its shape for a long time.

• More Screening

Whether you are trying to keep something in or prevent something from coming in, a welded wire mesh can be more effective at times. The spaces between the wires can be reduced, and along with the durability and rigidity mentioned above, it makes the wire mesh an excellent barrier. The small fixed holes make it hard for anything to go through.

• Easier to Maintain

Since each wire is welded with the intersecting wire separately, the wire mesh doesn’t unravel so easily, even if you cut the wires at any point. As a result, the wire mesh is much easier to maintain.

Con

• Lack of Flexibility

The only major drawback of welded wire mesh is its lack of flexibility. The rigidity can be a big advantage, but it can also become a drawback at times. If the wire mesh is hit with a lot of force, it will get deformed and stay that way. As a result, you will then have to change the entire thing.

Applications

Because of all these factors, welded wire mesh is ideal for wire fences that are meant as a safety barrier or for protective caging. The durable wire mesh will make it hard for anyone to power through it.

Furthermore, since the wires are melded, this kind of wire mesh is great for deterring climbing as well and, therefore, perfect for security as well. Even if it sustains any damage, such as cutting of wire at any point, the rest of the fence will remain functional and effective as a barrier.

However, this kind of wire mesh is not suitable for enclosing animals as they often lean on such fences and can cause damage.

What is Handwoven Stainless Steel Mesh?

As the name suggests, handwoven stainless steel mesh is woven instead of welding. The wires are simply woven under and over each other till a whole sheet is completed. As you can imagine, this type of wire mesh is much more flexible as nothing is welded together.

While this might not be preferred for security purposes, it does have its own merits. Here are some pros and cons of handwoven stainless steel mesh.

Pros

• Flexibility

The most important benefit of a handwoven stainless steel mesh is its flexibility. Such a wire mesh has much more flexibility and can easily bend and move according to any force and then come back to its position. It can withstand some amount of force as it has some stretchability. It can twist and pull without the wires breaking.

• Appearance

Since such wires can be woven in any way you prefer or in any pattern, they can appear more aesthetically pleasing. That’s why it is often used in architectural designs too.

Cons

• Not Effective for Security

Similar to the welded wire mesh, the woven wire mesh’s flexibility is also its drawback. The lack of rigidity and stability does not make it an effective safety barrier. The wires can easily slide over each other to create a large opening. This also makes it easy to climb.

• Hard to Maintain

Woven wire mesh is also hard to maintain. Even if it gets one small cut anywhere, the whole wire mesh can start to unravel and break down as nothing is fixed together. Therefore, it’s often hard to maintain and requires frequent replacing when used incorrectly.

Applications

The main feature of such wire mesh is its flexibility, and this makes it perfect for places where you simply want to contain something without much need for durability. For instance, such wire fences serve as excellent livestock animal enclosure mesh.

The fence keeps them in, but if they want to lean against something, the woven wire allows them to do that too. Besides that, woven wire fences are also quite effective for sports to prevent balls from going out of the court or ground.

Final Thoughts

Wire mesh is the ultimate solution for most wire fencing needs. However, it’s not always about building taller wire fences or thicker fences. All you need is to choose the right kind of wire mesh. For more flexibility, go for handwoven stainless steel mesh, and for more durability, you should choose a welded wire mesh.

Besides that, if you’re not sure which kind of wire will suit your precise purpose, you can always get in touch with Hebei Ketong Metal Mesh Industry. Our experts will guide you and help you choose the most appropriate wire mesh according to your needs. Contact us today for a consultation or quotation.