Sculpture by Susan Nichols

At Louis Page, we love chicken wire art and we love the work of Susan Nichols. Another chicken wire artist we came across is Australian Ivan Lovett. We highlighted him in this blog postand itis wildly popular, and we continue to receive many questions about the various uses of chicken wire. Today, we are sharing some of our favorite photos of chicken wire art. Take a look at the specifications below if you'd like more details.

1. Here is a beautifully displayed piece by the artist, Derek Kenzett

2. Here is a gallery piece by the artist, Benedetta Mori Ubaldini

3. Here's a lighted piece by Cedric Le Borgue

4. Here is "Floating Mountains, Singing Clouds" by Mei-ling Hom

5.Here is a sculpture of chickensbySusan Nichols

6. Finally, here are home decor projects that we found on the web

Source: Crafty Sisters

Source: Shades of Light

Source: toocraft.com

Source: The Painted Parlor

Specifications and Chicken Wire

The mostcommon specificationsof chicken wire available are made using 20 gauge wire woven into 1" or 2" hexagonal mesh. Other types available are 1/2" x 22 gauge, 1" x 18 gauge and 1-1/2 x 17 gauge.

Finishes and Chicken Wire

Finishes available are:galvanized before weave(GBW),galvanized after weave(GAW) and PVCvinyl coated(VC). Not all specifications are available in all finishes.

Uses for Chicken Wire

This fencing material is ideal for use around the home, farm, and in industrial applications - any place where a lighter weight mesh can be used. Conventional uses include:

• deer fence
• craft projects
• stucco netting
• window guards
• game bird flight pens
• garden perimeter fence
• tree and shrub protection
• holding insulation in place
  
• exclusion barriers for birds
• chicken runs and poultry houses
• trellis for climbing plants & flowers
• backing mesh for post and rail fence
• framework for sculpture and float decorations

We have highlighted our favorites sculptures and DIY projects from across the web. Perhaps you have a favorite chicken wire artist? Or maybe, you take the DIY approach and have created a sculpture of your own? Whatever the case, we want you to know, we love a good chicken wire sculpture or homestead project and sell hexagonal wire aka chicken wire (GBW, GAW, and Vinyl-Coated) check it out our productshere.

Installing fencing?

First: Consider the environment in which it will be placed,asking yourself these key questions--

• Is it near the coast?
• Is it exposed to extreme changes in temperature?
• Will it be located in a wet or humid environment?
• Will it be in close proximity to corrosive chemicals?

Identifying these factors will help you determine the best type of fence product and coating for your needs.

GBW - Galvanized Before Weld

Let?s start with the basic low-cost GBW welded wire fence. This product is available in a wide variety of styles and sizes for lots of different applications. This is what most ?Big Box? stores sell.

• The good news? It is inexpensive.The "bad" news? It has a shorter life because it is more susceptible to rust and corrosion.And the reason? The wire is welded before it is galvanized. The welding process can ?burn-off? the zinc on the weld points. This makes the wire more vulnerable to rust and corrosion.

The initial strength and gauge of the Galvanized Before Weldwire is the same as Galvanized After Weldand Vinyl Coated. But the finish is not nearly as durable resulting in a shorter usable lifespan.

If price rather than quality is the most important factor, then GBW might be a good choice for you.

GAW - Galvanized After Weld

GAW welded wire is dipped in molten zinc after being welded or woven. The wire is fully encased in zinc for greater protection and longer life. This is especially important if the fence is to be installed in coastal areas, and if rust and corrosion are primary concerns.

• The good news? Extended lifetime.The bad news? It is slightly more expensive than generic GBW meshes.The reason? After the wire mesh is welded or woven, the finished product is drawn through a bath of molten zinc. The wires are thoroughly galvanized. And most importantly the welded joints are completely covered and protected from the elements. Moisture, which tends to collect in these areas, is prevented from contacting the underlying wire.

If quality and long life are the most important factors in how you will make your decision, Galvanized After Weld is a great choice. The thick galvanization present on the wires adds years of life to the fence. GAW fencing materials will long outlast commonly available GBW products. You have to look harder to find GAW wire fencing materials, but we sell it and your search will be rewarded with years of service. Avoid the needless expense and hassle of frequent replacement. Buy a product that will last!

VC - Vinyl Coated

VC welded wire has been coated with a layer of PVC after the mesh is welded up. The vinyl covers the mesh and provides strong protection against the element.

• The good news? Extended lifetime and attractive appearance.The "bad" news? It can be more expensive than GBW and GAW products.The reason? The addition of the PVC coating adds an impervious barrier, protecting the wire from Mother Nature's harshest elements. Protected wire will not rust as quickly.

If you want a product that is not only attractive but is also able to withstand environmental stresses, VC welded wire mesh is the perfect one to use. Black mesh becomes virtually invisible. We sell green and black vinyl coated products.

Note: It is very important to know what to look for when considering VC wire fencing materials. The best possible protection and longest life expectancy are offered by a product that is vinyl coated over GAW wire mesh. You will have rugged double protection. You will not be disappointed.

SS - Stainless Steel

SS welded wire fences provide the greatest level of protection and long life in any environment. The product is more expensive up front but can save lots of money and time in the long run because the fence will not need to be repaired or replaced. Stainless Steel wire needs no additional coating because it will last for years and years.

• The good news? A very long lifetime with little maintenance required.The "bad" news? It is more expensive.The reason? Stainless Steel is a more expensive material. But in certain applications, it will ultimately prove less expensive.

And Stainless Steel wire needs no additional coating because it will last for years and years in practically any environment.

That is our high-level overview of fences. This is a great place to start if you are new to fence products and/or you are planning for a certain project. We have experts on hand to answer any questions that you may have and we provide free quotes.

Wire Gauges, those Numbers, and Numbers into Inches Here is everything you need to know about the wire gauges used in welded and woven wire mesh fences. We cover what a wire gauge is, what do the different numbers mean and even provide a handy chart converting gauge numbers into inches.

Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary defines wire gauge as any of various systems consisting of a series of standard sizes used in describing the diameter of wire.

The Rolling Mill

The process all starts with heavy coils of large diameter wire called rod made in a rolling mill. The rod is then shipped to a wire manufacturing mill. To make the wire used in wire fence and mesh, single strands are "drawn" through a series of increasingly smaller dies or plates and reduced to a specific gauge/diameter. The gauge is determined by the wire's final use - single strand wire, welded wire mesh or woven wire fence. Heating of the wire is not required in the drawing process. Here is a photo from a Riverdale Mill, one of the mills in the United States that supplies welded wire for us.

There have been several different gauge designations since this process was introduced. Numbers have been used to designate wire diameter since 1735. They originally referred to the number of draws used in the process. The first draw was called 1 gauge, the second 2 gauge, the third 3 gauge, on down to the final draw of the thinnest wire being made. This is why thick wires have a lower gauge number than thin wires. 9 gauge wire is thicker than 14 gauge because it requires fewer "draws" than 14 gauge.

The Birmingham Wire Gauge

The Birmingham Wire Gauge, also known as the Stubs Iron Wire Gauge, was originally developed in early 19th-century England as a means of standardizing gauge sizes. It has been used in a medical setting (needles) since the early 20th century. In 1855, Brown and Sharpe established a formula-based progression of 39 steps - from 1 gauge through 40 gauge. This is now known as the American Wire Gauge and is used extensively in the United States.

The Most Common Gauges

The following values show in inches the most common gauges of wires used in welded and woven wire mesh and fence:

• 8.5 gauge - 0.155 inch
• 9 gauge - 0.1483 inch
• 10.5 gauge - 0.128 inch
• 11 gauge - 0.1205 inch
• 12.5 gauge - 0.099 inch
• 14 gauge - 0.080 inch
• 16 gauge - 0.0625 inch
• 18 gauge - 0.0475 inch
• 20 gauge - 0.0348 inch
• 21 gauge - 0.0317 inch
• 23 gauge - 0.0258 inch
• 27 gauge - 0.0173 inch

There are many different combinations of wire gauge and mesh size manufactured. You can select the right product for the requirements of your project.

It's More About Comparing Welded Wire To Woven Wire Than Identifying The Differences

When it comes to the subject of ?welded versus woven wire? fences, it may be more helpful to consider it more of a comparison, as both certainly have various merits in their favor. The intersections of these wires are spot-welded to create a sheet. However, woven fences are created through a process that is quite different and much more complicated. Using machinery, wire is loosely twisted into a gentle spiral, with each overlapping at the ends. With a quick twist, the link is made permanent and the distinctive ?zig-zag? diamond shape is formed.

Welded Wire Fences Look Like This

Welded Wire Fence (Attached to Wooden Fence) Example #1 -Straight lines are strong and sturdy

Welded Wire Fence (Attached to Wooden Posts) Example #2 - Straight lines are strong and sturdy

Vinyl Coated Welded Wire Fence Example #3 - Distinctive ?zig-zag? diamond shape

See how example #3 is woven? The fence "lines" are straight in examples #1 and #2 and there is a little "zig-zag"in example #3.

Structure and Functional Merits

By understanding their basic structures, it is easy to see their functional merits. A woven wire fence's linked yet loose structure allows for a large amount of bend, twist and pull without breaking -- a perfect design if you have grazing livestock to contain. In some styles of woven agricultural fence, the vertical wires are one continuous strand. This makes a very strong and secure mesh that will hold together well when under pressure. There is an unfortunate disadvantage to ?chain-link? fence, another type of woven mesh. This fencing is only fully effective so long as every link remains strong. Once cut, it?s only a matter of time before this form of fence will become untangled and inefficient.

Welded wire fencing, which has a structure that is solid and inflexible, is ideal for a firm and definite barrier. When cut, the wires will not begin to unravel from one another. The disadvantages of this fencing type can be seen in situations when pressure is introduced, such as livestock in need of a leaning post or any sort of vehicular crash. If weight is applied, it?s difficult for a welded wire fence to spring back to shape. It will likely deform permanently and need replacing.

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Black Vinyl Coated Welded Wire Fence

Yard gard is a general term used for a type of fence that encloses a yard. Not all yard gard products are created equal.

We recommend black vinyl coated welded wire fencing, also known as yard gard. The vinyl coating helps the fence stand up to the elements so it doesn't rust as quickly. The vinyl coating ensures the fence looks better longer. Aesthetically, the black color helps the fence blend into the surrounding environment. Black coating "hides" a fence better than green vinyl coating in most environments. The welds of the fence make the fence strong, so it doesn't bend. If you choose smaller openings, the fence will be more difficult to climb for critters. Also, there are no sharp edges to injure people or animals.

Vinyl Coated Welded Wire Yard and Garden Fencing are Better for the following reasons:

In other words, high-quality vinyl coated wire meshes are strong and durable - perfect for lawn and garden fencing, pet enclosures, boundary fence, children's play areas and many other uses. The heavy, resilient, flexible black PVC coating is permanently bonded to the galvanized core wire. It will not crack or peel and is unaffected by extreme temperatures. UV inhibitors retard degradation from sunlight. The black color is very unobtrusive when installed. With the double protection of galvanized core wires and vinyl coating, these lawn and garden fence meshes will withstand the elements for many years.

Three mesh sizes are available:2" x 2", 1-1/2" x 4" and2" x 4". The narrow mesh openingsdiscourage fence climbing. We also offer different gauges: 11, 12 1/2, 14 and 16. Check out our Lawn & Garden fences.