Chainwire material is usually durable and long lasting. The fence wire is galvanised, producing an almost corrosion proof material. However, with the passage of time the wire weave of the fence relaxes causing it to sag. Chainwire mesh may also lose tension due to constant climbing or from the pressures of intense weather.
Chainwire Fence Is A System
The chainwire fabric which defines the fence is too flexible to do an effective job on its own. The framework provided by the terminal posts, the line posts and top-rail give the fabric the support it needs to do its job. Securing the bottom of the fence is accomplished with a tension wire.
Besides being dangerous to children, loose chainwire fence is not very secure. Chainwire fence may need occasional maintenance in order retain its integrity and structure. Chain wire fences can be tightened with just a few house hold tools. Pliers, bolt cutters, wire cutters, a come-a-long and tension wire are all you need to repair a fence in this condition.
The tension wire provides stability and security by keeping animals in or out as well as people who try to go under the fence. The wire helps to hold the chain wire fence in place, almost to the ground. It keeps the fence mesh tight so that it can’t bend at the bottom. A good chainwire fence installer, like Chainwire Fencing, installs the tension wire at installation. The tension wire usually runs from pole to pole at the base of the fence. Many DIY’ers fail to add tension wire, causing their hard work to only last a short time.
Installing the Tension Wire
You can tighten your chainwire fence by following this simple procedure.
If there is no tension wire already installed within your chainwire fence then you need to consider installing one on your chainwire fence. Take a tension wire and cut it into suitable lengths using the wire cutter. You should keep in mind about the length of tension wire. Excess length is less of a problem than trying to over-stretch the wire. Allow extra length for tool grip. The perceived waste of material from cutting away and discarding excess length is minuscule in comparison the frustration of working with too short of a wire.
The bottom tension wire is attached to the terminal posts using brace bands. Form a loop in the end of your bottom wire and thread the brace band bolt through the loop and secure the brace band assembly. Place the brace band on the other terminal post and thread the wire through it. Many fencing installers use a home made tensioning tool formed from a metal pipe with two holes drilled at one end. After threading the tension wire through the brace band, thread it through the holes in the pipe. Take up tension in the wire by turning the pipe, wrapping the wire around it. Once all the slack is pulled from the wire, wrap the end around the standing part of the wire, securing it to the brace band bolt.
Contrary to popular belief, the bottom tension wire does not need to weave through the diamond pattern of the chainwire material. The bottom wire is tensioned at installation and the chainwire fabric is attached to it using clips called hog rings. The hog rings are placed at regular intervals, usually every two or three feet.