Every type of fence needs coating to prevent or delay corrosion, and chainwire fences are no exception. Through the years, however, numerous questions and misconceptions have developed over various kinds of coatings. These have led to confusion and, eventually, undesirable results after the order has been made.
You’ll want to spare yourself the hassle. To get you started, here’s a quick rundown of various coatings available for your chainwire fence.
1. Galvanising
This time-tested coating method commonly uses zinc, a rust-resistant metal that practically makes your fence’s steel corrosion-free. Customers can choose among 3 types of coating: standard, medium, and heavy. Factors usually considered in determining the zinc coating’s thickness are the wires’ life expectancy, the area where these would be exposed, and cost.
The good thing about galvanising is that it provides flexibility and softness. As such, most galvanised steel fences are used for vines, orchards, and farms.
Chainwire fences are usually made of pre-galvanised wire, which is the preferred material to purchase because it gives the finished product a uniform look. In some cases, the wires are meshed to form the fence first, then are galvanised afterwards. Unfortunately, this often results in a lumpy looking surface.
2. Powder-coating
This is the basic type of coating applied to untreated wires. There are 3 types of powder-coating – Polyethylene (PE), Polyutherane (PUR), and Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC).
PVC is the most commonly used and most durable among the 3 kinds of powder coatings. Compared to PVC, PE is mainly used to make plastic bags and plastic films, and is a more flexible material; while most PURs do not melt when heated.
Since PVC coatings are immune to high levels of salt, acid, and alkaline, it is suitable for fences located near swimming pools with chlorine, coastal locations, or water desalination plants.
Powder-coating hits 2 birds with 1 stone. Compared to plain galvanising, powder-coating can be used not only to colour your chainwire fence, but also provide it with double protective coating.
Learn more about powder-coating here.
3. Zinc-Aluminium (ZA)
Should you wish to notch up your coating, then you may want to consider the combination of zinc and aluminium, also known as the ZA and Galfan coating methods. Introduced in the 1980s, the Galfan coating is made up in ratios of either 95% zinc and 5% aluminium, or 90% zinc and 10% aluminium. Most ZA-coated wires undergo a double-dipping process. The wire is initially coated using the regular galvanising bath, then is quickly given another dip in a ZA bath.
Like regular galvanising, buyers may also choose between standard, medium, and heavy coating.
Because of its superior corrosion resistance, the ZA method has been widely used to coat wire ropes springs among other fencing materials.
4. ZA + Powder-coating
Powder-coating may be added to ZA-coated wires to enhance even more the fence’s durability and lifespan. This type of coating is used on fences that are exposed to highly-corrosive elements like chemical fumes in industrial areas. This may also be used on fences installed in places with high salinity like beaches and other seaside areas.
5. Stainless Steel
If you really need to put a high premium on coating, then stainless steel is the way to go. It lasts way longer than mild steel coated fences as chrome is used in the alloy. But since more effort is required to work with these alloys, this translates to rather higher manufacturing costs. This is among the many reasons why stainless steel fences are most commonly only used in areas with extreme weather conditions.
Know more about your chainwire fencing options today
Need to know more about the options for your chainwire fencing installation needs? We’ve got you covered! Contact our Newcastle fencing experts who can answer all your questions about gates and fences in Newcastle and nearby areas. Call today for a fencing quote request!