5 Things to Know Before Buying Mesh Fence

28 Oct.,2024

 

8 Things A First Time Mesh Buyer Needs To Know - FenceWrap

We understand that not everyone has bought printed mesh before, and so we think it&#;s important to communicate with you certain information about buying mesh that will help you with your buying decision. 

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As with all things, there are little intricacies about the product that need to be considered when making a decision on what to buy. 

The Product

Before you start and choose your mesh, you need to be sure that you&#;re picking the right grade for what you&#;re trying to achieve.

1. Pick the mesh grade that aligns with your priorities

Banner Mesh is our highest quality FenceWrap that's available - both in terms of print impact, but also longevity and finish. 

We manufacture FenceWrap in three different grades of banner mesh, they are:

  • PrintMax - Made for applications where the highest priority is the print impact and wind is not much of a concern. We recommend this for applications where you&#;re printing full colour photos, or the viewing distance is very short. It also provides the most privacy / screening of a site, so if you don&#;t want people to see through the FenceWrap very much, this is the option for you.
  • BreezeMax - The opposite of PrintMax where air permeability is the highest priority, and the print impact is secondary. This is a great choice for unsupported temporary fences as it will reduce the wind load on the fence. It must be noted though, that because the holes are the largest in BreezeMax, there is less surface to hold the ink - making it more transparent and the print will appear more &#;washed out&#;.
  • FenceWrap Classic - With moderate air permeability, and a good print impact, this is a good balance between the two if you can&#;t decide between PrintMax and BreezeMax.

All of our banner meshes are printed on the same printer, meaning the quality of the print will be of equal quality on all the meshes, just that when you choose a more open weave mesh like BreezeMax you have less actual material to hold the ink, so that's why we say it has less of a print "impact".

2. Step down your mesh height depending on your fence height

Typically temporary fences and fences in general are standard sizes like mm, mm and mm. 

We always recommend that the mesh height chosen is shorter than the fence it&#;s going on. 

For example, on a mm/mm fence, we recommend using mm FenceWrap, and on a mm fence we recommend using mm tall FenceWrap. 

The reasons for this are:

  • The FenceWrap itself will be perfectly square, whereas the fence will have to follow the ground it&#;s on. It&#;s unlikely that the ground is perfectly level, so you can end up with creases in the installation as it follows the fence. Using mesh with a smaller height will help in avoiding creases and allow a smoother installation. 
  • Using a smaller height FenceWrap on the fence will allow it to better &#;stretch&#; onto the fence, giving a neater appearance to the finished installation.

So for the best aesthetically pleasing result, it is definitely worth considering your installation before choosing your mesh height.

3. Don&#;t forget, this is mesh, not a solid surface

Here is an example of the same print on all the PVC we print, from left to right - 100% Vinyl, PrintMax, Classic, BreezeMax. 

These are all printed on the same printer, same inks, same everything. It&#;s just the substrate that is changing. 

You can see the drastic difference between all the different grades and that any print on mesh will appear more washed out than what you&#;re used to seeing on a solid surface. 

This is because once you start to put holes in the mesh, the light from behind starts coming through and &#;washing out&#; the print. Hence, if print impact is your top priority, get PrintMax and reinforce your fence.  

4. How light hits the mesh affects the final appearance

Lighting conditions also affect the appearance of the mesh as does the product choice and artwork choice. 

The mesh can be sunned from the front, or the back, or not at all. 

Generally, if it&#;s being lit from behind, the &#;washing out&#; effect will be increased, and the mesh will appear more transparent. 

This is particularly true if you&#;re using a BreezeMax, and printing it black. We recommend for backlit applications to use PrintMax and a white background colour. 

We&#;ve written a full article on this topic. 

The Artwork

What you print on the mesh makes as much of a difference as does what mesh you choose to buy. Both the product choice and the print design need to be taken into consideration.

5. The darker the background, the more transparent the mesh will appear

Even though the mesh itself doesn&#;t change based on what&#;s printed on it, the colours used can have an impact on the visual appearance once complete. 

Mesh that is printed black (or darker colours in general) will appear more transparent than mesh that is left white (or lighter colours). 

This is because when light hits the surface of the mesh, a black/dark colour absorbs the light and reflects very little back to your eyes. This means that anything that&#;s behind it that&#;s more reflective (i.e. lighter colours) will be more easily visible through the mesh. 

This is opposite for white / light colour meshes as it reflects more light back at your eyes and therefore appears less transparent because it&#;s brighter than what&#;s behind. 

If you are using your mesh as a privacy screen, go with a white background.

6. Contrast is king

What you print on the mesh is also affected by the colours that are used on the different elements of the artwork design. 

Because the material is a mesh, you are already losing some print impact compared to a print on paper or 100% vinyl or anything solid. If you are using a dark colour in your logo or your text, we recommend avoiding a dark background colour. 

For a truly eye-catching design, maximise the colour contrasts. Use light colours for text / logos on a dark background, and dark coloured content on a light background. 

While dark backgrounds typically make whatever is sitting behind the mesh more visible, it also helps draw more attention to brightly coloured text and logos.

You can see in the above photo that the white text looks fantastic, and is easy to read, but the dark blue colour in the logo is very hard to distinguish from the black background.

The same goes for printing light colours on a white background. We recommend keeping all greys on a white background above CMYK 0/0/0/25 to ensure that they&#;re actually visible once printed. 

7. CMYK, Pantone, what does it all mean

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When it comes to printing, colours are defined by CMYK values. 

Basically, a CMYK value tells a printer how much ink to shoot at the surface. A CMYK colour of 50 / 10 / 20 / 0 means it will shoot 50 drops of Cyan, 10 drops of Magenta, 20 drops of Yellow and 0 drops of Black. 

Think of it like a recipe when cooking. However, the tricky thing with CMYK values is that they won&#;t appear the same on all printers as they all manage colours and are calibrated differently; just like when 5 people cook the same recipe, all those dishes will taste a bit different. 

Most logos will have CMYK values defined, but sometimes a brand will have both CMYK values defined (for when printers don&#;t have any Pantone calibration) and Pantone codes too. Here Harbour Trust has both a CMYK value and Pantone colour defined in their style guide. We printed a sample of both, and the feedback we received was that the Pantone was more true to their brand. 

Pantone colours on the other hand is an internationally accepted colour matching system. Everyone in the world has the same pantone book. When we use a Pantone colour in the artwork instead of a simple CMYK value, the printer will pick that up and adjust what it shoots to the surface of the mesh based on our most recent Pantone calibration test. 

Take note though, using a Pantone will not mean the colour will be &#;perfect&#; (which is subjective anyway), it just means it will be the closest possible match that we can achieve. You still need to consider that you&#;re printing on a perforated material,, which will give the colours a more &#;washed out&#; effect.

8. Black will not be jet black - but it will be black

Black is a very popular choice as a background colour, but it can be a bit contentious at times. A black background will not print jet black, and there are a few reasons for this explained below. 

We use a &#;UV Printer&#; and &#;UV inks&#;

Our printer is a type called a "UV Printer", which we use specifically because UV inks have the best outdoor durability, don't fade quickly, etc. 

In general, UV inks produce a matte finish compared to other types of printers like Solvent and Latex printers which give a deeper, gloss-like finish. The downside to Solvent and Latex is that they don't have the same outdoor durability and fade resistance, making it less ideal for mesh.

It&#;s very similar to when a car is painted in gloss black, and matte black; they're both a true black, they just look different because of the finish.

We always use rich black over true black

So instead of using just 100% (CMYK = 0/0/0/100) black in our print, we always adjust to using a rich black in our artwork that adds 40% cyan, magenta, and yellow into the colour. 

This helps significantly compared to if it was just 100% black, but unfortunately you still cannot avoid the &#;washed out&#; look when printing on mesh.

Being mesh doesn't help

We use the same printer and same settings to print all the different materials we print on. You can see in the below photo the exact same print on the 100% PVC through to the BreezeMax.

It looks quite good on 100% PVC, but as soon as you step through to a mesh, some of that light comes through and washes the print out. Of course, if this is coupled with the fact it's UV ink and matte in finish, it adds up to appear less black than jet black.

Setting it up outside will improve the appearance

Once the mesh is installed outdoors, the mesh&#;s appearance will immediately improve and draw attention from the natural lighting and shadows in the surrounding environment. 

It is important to be aware of where you are setting up your mesh, so you can really maximise the impact of your design. If there will be a lot of light behind the mesh, the backlit effect will greatly affect the appearance of black and darker colours.

Do you have a particular design in mind, but not sure how it will turn out? Our team here at FenceWrap are happy to offer our expert advice, as well as arrange multiple artwork revisions and print samples.

Considerations When Buying Wire Mesh Fencing

When you&#;re looking for fencing to keep your property secure, you have a lot of options to choose from. One popular choice is wire mesh fencing, which comes in a range of styles and prices. Investing in wire mesh fencing is a significant decision for any property owner, particularly for those involved in agriculture, construction, or industrial applications. 

Wire mesh fencing provides security, durability, and flexibility, making it a popular choice across various sectors. But, with so many options available, it&#;s essential to consider several factors before making a purchase.

Why Wire Mesh Fencing Is Popular

Unlike aluminium or vinyl options that come in panels which can crack over time, wire mesh fencing features an unbroken surface. This means there are no separate pieces to replace and the fence itself is corrosion-resistant so it will last longer than other materials like wood fences with rusting nails holding them up.

Wire mesh fencing is also lightweight, so it can be installed in any kind of barrier setup. It likewise has a variety of uses; apart from being a security barrier, it can also be used as a divider to utilise mixed-use spaces, or as a frame for urban and vertical gardens.

What to Look at When Buying a Wire Mesh Fence

Wire mesh suppliers offer different types of wire mesh fencing, and with their wide range of options, it may be confusing for you to choose the right one to use. Among the things to look at are:

1. Welding Quality

The quality of the welded wire mesh will largely depend on its diameter and strength. To produce it, manufacturers usually choose wires that are suitable for welding before going through this process with their chosen machine or method to ensure proper functioning when put into use.

You may want to ask the wire mesh supplier how their fences are welded. Mass-produced fences are usually machine-welded; on the other hand, custom or artisan wire mesh fences (for specific purposes) are welded by hand.

2. Product Framework

The choice of wire mesh for a product largely affects how it will be used. For example, if you want to keep pets or children from accessing certain areas then an angled steel framework would suit your needs perfectly. However, this type of framework may not be suitable for high-level security measures or fire protection.

Meanwhile, round-angle wire mesh is a popular option that works well in applications such as security fencing because its resilience makes it last longer than other builds. This type of wire mesh fence is also designed to withstand high-traffic areas without getting damaged easily over time.

3. Purpose of the Fencing

Before you purchase wire mesh fencing, it&#;s crucial to determine its intended purpose. Are you using it to contain livestock, protect crops, secure a construction site, or define property boundaries? The purpose will influence the type of wire mesh fencing you need, including the height, gauge, and style. For instance, if you are fencing livestock, a higher gauge might be necessary to ensure security and prevent animals from escaping.

4. Material Quality

Not all wire mesh fencing is created equal. The material quality is paramount in ensuring the durability and longevity of the fence. Look for fences made from high-quality galvanised steel or coated with a protective layer to resist rust and corrosion. The thickness of the wire is also an essential factor; thicker wires typically provide better strength and resistance to bending. Investing in quality materials will save 

5. Gauge and Mesh Size

The gauge of the wire refers to its thickness, while the mesh size indicates the space between the wires. Both factors play a vital role in the effectiveness of the fence. A lower gauge number means a thicker wire, which can offer greater strength and durability. The mesh size should be chosen based on what you&#;re trying to contain or protect. For instance, smaller mesh fences are ideal for keeping smaller animals or pests out, while larger openings might be sufficient for larger livestock.

6. Height and Design

The height of the wire mesh fence is another critical consideration. If you&#;re fencing in livestock, ensure the height is sufficient to prevent them from jumping over. Similarly, if your fence is intended to deter larger animals or intruders, a taller fence will provide better security. Additionally, consider the design of the fence&#;options such as barbed 

7. Installation Requirements

Understanding the installation requirements for your wire mesh fence is essential. Some fencing options come with pre-assembled panels, making installation quicker and easier, while others may require more complex assembly. If you plan to install the fence yourself, look for systems that are user-friendly and come with clear instructions. Alternatively, if you prefer professional installation, factor in the associated costs when budgeting for your project.

8. Maintenance Needs

Different types of wire mesh fencing come with varying maintenance requirements. Galvanised and coated wire mesh fences generally require less upkeep compared to untreated wood or other materials. However, it&#;s still essential to perform regular inspections for signs of rust, corrosion, or damage. Knowing the maintenance needs of your chosen fencing will help you plan for long-term care and ensure the fence remains effective over time.

9. Local Regulations and Permits

Before installing a wire mesh fence, check with your local authorities regarding any regulations or permits required. Some areas have specific zoning laws or restrictions regarding the height and type of fencing allowed. Ensuring compliance with these regulations will save you from potential fines or having to remove the fence later.

10. Cost Considerations

Budgeting for your wire mesh fencing project is essential. Costs can vary significantly based on the quality of materials, height, and gauge of the wire, as well as any additional features such as gates or coatings. While it might be tempting to opt for the cheapest option, investing in quality materials will pay off in the long run. Consider the overall cost, including installation and maintenance, to make an informed decision that aligns with your budget.

11. Aesthetic Appeal

While functionality is key, the aesthetic aspect of your fencing should not be overlooked. Wire mesh fencing is available in various designs and finishes that can enhance the visual appeal of your property. If appearance is important to you, look for options that blend well with your landscape or offer a more decorative design. A well-chosen fence can improve your property&#;s overall curb appeal and add value.

Conclusion

Choosing the right wire mesh fencing requires careful consideration of various factors, including purpose, material quality, gauge, height, and supplier reputation. Taking the time to evaluate these aspects, you can make an informed decision that meets your specific needs while ensuring durability and effectiveness. 

If you&#;re securing livestock, protecting crops, or establishing boundaries, investing in quality wire mesh fencing will enhance the safety and efficiency of your property. Thus, take your time, do your research, and choose wisely to reap the benefits of a well-fenced farm or property.

Hebei Jinbiao is a leading company in Noise Barrier products and Fencing products in Singapore. We guarantee to provide you with the most high-quality Noise Barrier and Fencing products along with our dedicated assistance. Do not hesitate to contact us. We are looking forward to helping you solve your noise issues, safety issues and protecting you from noise pollution as well as ensuring your safety.