Top 6 Factors to Consider When Buying Welded Wire Mesh

Welded wire mesh is a versatile type of metal mesh fence, typically made from high-quality galvanized iron wire or PVC-coated low carbon steel wire, which provides rust and corrosion resistance. Welded wire mesh is well-suited for outdoor use and has a wide range of applications including poultry farming and property protection. When selecting and purchasing welded wire mesh for your project,do you know what factors you should consider?

I. Introduction

A. Welded wire mesh specs

Welded wire mesh is a construction metal fence made by welding crossing low carbon steel wires at their intersections to form a strong, grid-like structure. Welded wire mesh is available in various wire gauges and mesh sizes, making it versatile for a range of applications. The welded wire mesh is valued for its durability, strength, and resistance to corrosion, which can be further enhanced through treatments like galvanization or PVC coating. Welded wire mesh is commonly used in construction for reinforcing concrete, as a base for flooring, in fencing, and for safety barriers. Welded wire mesh is also employed in agricultural applications, such as animal enclosures.

B. Overview of Common Applications

Agricultural Fencing: Used for animal enclosures and pens, such as for cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens, and other livestock. Welded wire mesh helps in managing pasture land and keeping animals separated.

Gardens and Landscaping: Welded wire mesh can be used to create supportive trellises for climbing plants or to protect garden beds from pests like rabbits and deer.

Industrial and Construction Sites: In industrial settings and construction sites, welded wire mesh is used for machinery protection, material storage, and as a safety barrier to prevent falls and keep out unauthorized personnel.

Road and Highway Barriers: Welded wire mesh can be used as crash barriers along roadsides or central dividers on highways to guide traffic flow and provide safety measures.

To be suitable for a variety of applications, qualified welded wire mesh meets the following six requirements.

1. Raw Material Quality

Welded wire mesh is the metal fence created by welding low carbon steel wires together at the intersections to form a grid pattern. The raw materials also known as mild steel, is popular due to its affordability, strength, and ease of welding, making it suitable for general applications. We all know that iron wire is super easy to cut, but did you know it's also super strong and long-lasting? The tensile strength of qualified welded wire mesh should reach 120N, which means the welded wire mesh can stand up to whatever animals or people throw at it, keeping the welded wire mesh strong and preventing loss.

2. Mesh Size

The size of welded wire mesh includes:mesh size,wire diameter and roll size.

Wire diameter

The wire diameter of the welded wire mesh can range from 0.5 mm to 8 mm, depending on the application requirements.Common diameters include 1.2 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, and 4 mm.

The error in wire diameter must be within 0.02mm, which you can check with a micrometer after receiving the welded wire mesh.

Wire roll size

Welded wire mesh is available in sheets or rolls.The welded wire rolls widths of 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, and 6 feet,lengths of 50 feet, 100 feet, and 150 feet are suitable for transporting and installing.

The 6ft welded mesh fencing panels are popular for construction projects.

Mesh size

Mesh size as know as opening size is the distance between two adjacent parallel wires, measured from the center of one wire to the center of the next.

Common mesh sizes include 1/2 inch, 1 inch, 2 inches, etc. Smaller mesh sizes (e.g., 1/2 inch) are used for finer applications like animal cages or garden fencing, while larger mesh sizes (e.g., 2 inches) are suitable for heavy-duty applications like concrete reinforcement.

3. Uniform mesh holes

Welded wire mesh with uniform mesh holes offers several advantages:

Consistent Structure: The uniformity of the welded wire mesh holes ensures that the welded wire mesh has a consistent structural integrity across its entire surface, which is crucial for applications like concrete reinforcement where even distribution of stress is necessary.

Ease of Installation: The regular pattern of the mesh holes simplifies the installation process, as it allows for precise alignment and fitting, whether the welded wire mesh is used in construction, fencing, or as a component in machinery.

Aesthetic Appeal: The even appearance of welded wire mesh with uniform holes can be visually appealing, making it suitable for applications where appearance is a consideration, such as decorative fencing or architectural features.

Customizability: While the mesh holes are uniform, the overall size, wire gauge, and material of the welded wire mesh can be customized to meet specific project requirements.

Compatibility with Automation: The regular pattern of uniform mesh holes is compatible with automated installation processes, which can increase efficiency and reduce labor costs in large-scale projects.

4. Welding points

The welding points in welded wire mesh are integral to its strength and functionality. The welding points ensure that the welded wire mesh's structural integrity is maintained, providing a stable grid that can withstand various weights and pressures. These welding points are particularly crucial in applications requiring high tensile strength, such as in construction for reinforcing concrete or in security fencing. The uniformity and consistency of the welding points across the welded wire mesh also contribute to its load-bearing capacity and even distribution of stress. Additionally, the quality of the welding points affects the welded wire mesh's durability and resistance to environmental factors like corrosion.The welded wire mesh which is welded after galvanized manufacturing process can feature better strength and rust resistance.

5. Surface treatment

In addition to being galvanized welded wire mesh, PVC coated welded wire mesh also widely used for your projects!

Galvanized welded wire mesh

The galvanized welded wire mesh includes hot-dipped galvanized welded wire mesh and electro-galvanized welded wire mesh.

Hot-dip galvanizing involves immersing the welded wire mesh into a bath of molten zinc at temperatures around 840°F (440°C). This creates a thicker layer of zinc on the wire, typically ranging from 35-280g/m².The thick zinc coating provides long-lasting corrosion protection, making the hot dipped galvanized welded wire mesh ideal for outdoor use and harsh environments where durability is crucial. 

Electro-galvanization, on the other hand, uses electrolysis to apply a thin layer of zinc to the welded wire mesh. The welded wire mesh is submerged in a solution of zinc ions and an electric current is applied to attract the zinc ions to the welded wire mesh, resulting in a coating that is much thinner than that of hot-dip galvanizing, usually between 15-35g/m².  This method provides a more uniform coating with less distortion to the wire, but the thinner layer of zinc means that it may not offer as long-lasting protection against corrosion as the hot-dip process.

PVC coated welded wire mesh

PVC-coated welded wire mesh is a type of welded wire mesh that has been covered with a layer of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic. This coating not only provides an extra layer of protection against corrosion but also enhances the aesthetic appeal of the welded wire mesh. PVC-coated mesh offers color options(white,green black,etc), allowing PVC coated welded wire mesh to be used in applications where appearance is important.

6. Weft wires

Welded wire mesh is made by welding iron wires in a crisscross pattern of warp and weft. Another easily overlooked aspect is whether the weft wires are extended. Extended wefts can make the welding more secure, but it is best not to expose the extensions by more than 2mm for aesthetic and safety reasons.Protruding extensions can hinder the welded wire mesh's corrosion resistance if not uniformly coated, leading to rust. Functionally, the weft wires might interfere with the welded wire mesh's interaction with concrete in reinforcement applications, affecting structural integrity.

SUNSHINE Group is proud to have over twenty years of experience in producing the best welded wire mesh around! If you're looking for top-quality welded wire mesh,we've got a wide range of sizes and can also offer expert advice. Get in touch today!