Delimiting land is essential if you want to secure your property. It is also an excellent solution to prevent the little ones from escaping parental supervision, the pony or the dog from taking to their heels. The installation of a rigid mesh responds perfectly to these problems. You don’t need to be a DIY pro to install it. But it is still necessary to inquire upstream about the rights and obligations in terms of closing.
Specificities of rigid mesh
There are different categories of fencing for fencing land in urban or rural areas. The rigid mesh is made of galvanized steel mesh that has undergone a surface treatment process called thermolacquering. This process makes it possible to protect the metal in order to ensure its longevity but also to color it to increase its aesthetic qualities. The meshes of the mesh are crossed and welded together for greater rigidity. The rigid mesh has indisputable advantages. He is :
- Solid,
- Undeformable,
- Resistant to climatic conditions,
- Suitable for land exposed to winds,
- Deterrent to intrusions,
- Aesthetic,
- perfectly straight,
- Offers good value for money.
Flat panels and pleated panels
These are the two categories of welded wire mesh panels.
Flat panels offer significant security due to their good rigidity but also the greater number of wires compared to a pleated panel. From an aesthetic point of view, the flat panel is very simple. Its sleek appearance blends well with a contemporary-style construction.
Ply panels are made of wires, the diameter of which usually does not exceed 5 mm. The threads form a fold, a kind of bulge on the upper part of the panel. This feature increases the rigidity of the entire fence element. They are less expensive than flat panels while being of good quality.
A la carte fence
The rigid mesh is offered in panels that come in different sizes, from 60 to 200 cm high by 150 to 300 cm long. As for its color palette, it has been enriched over time. Today there are nearly 200 different colors. It is finally possible to escape the green and bring a decorative touch to your garden, provided you unleash your budget. The consumer can now opt for tailor-made or almost.
A fence on the ground or on a low wall
The rigid mesh can be placed on the floor or on a low wall. It is rather recommended for fencing a flat garden or a moderately sloping ground whose unevenness is regular.
On the other hand, the rigid mesh not being blackout, it cannot be used as a screen. However, it can be supplemented by a cannisse or an evergreen plant fence capable of protecting the premises from prying eyes in summer and winter.
Easements, local uses: what about administrative restrictions?
Everyone has the right to fence their land. However, this right may be limited for administrative or other reasons. The most common cases are:
- right of way,
- Servitude,
- settlement of a subdivision,
- The area is classified,
- The specific building standards imposed by the POS (Land Use Plan) or the PLU (Local Urban Plan).
To find out more, a short visit to the town hall of your municipality is very useful before undertaking the installation of a dividing fence, even if it is a fence. Indeed, although the rigid version is by far the most aesthetic, it can be refused on the facade of a property in certain municipalities in favor of a low wall surmounted by a claustra or another type of fence.
Materials needed to install a rigid mesh panel
If you don’t have the budget to entrust the installation of a chain-link fence to a professional, all you have to do is install it yourself. The task does not pose any particular difficulty. It simply requires motivation, a little free time, great precision in the measurements and the appropriate tools, namely:
- A chalk line or, failing that, a marking bomb,
- A meter,
- A spirit level,
- A cutting pliers,
- A hammer,
- A trowel,
- A screwdriver,
- A spade,
- cleats,
- A wheelbarrow or other container for preparing a cement-based mixture.
Obviously, it remains to obtain the mesh panels, the associated rack posts, as well as the fixing collars. If you wish to install the fence on a screed or a low wall and be dispensed with sealing, it is possible to use post plates.
The main steps for installing a rigid chain-link fence
The installation of fence panels on the periphery of the field does not tolerate any approximation. The final result therefore depends not only on the beauty of the product but also on the care with which it has been applied. Having two people to install rigid panel mesh around your property is a plus.
Land preparation
Before installing the mesh panels, you must start with:
- Eliminate all plants that may prove to be troublesome, while preserving those that you wish to leave in place to benefit from good shade and be out of sight.
- Delineate the perimeter of the field with the marking bomb or a string and a few stakes.
- Level the ground if necessary in order to limit the relief.
- Dig square holes to receive the posts, 50 cm deep by 30 cm on each side.
Installation of rigid mesh panels on flat ground
Professionals advise starting the installation of a mesh panel fence from one of the corners of the land. The installation principle is as follows:
- Prepare a cement-based mixture (25% cement and 75% gravel and sand + water).
- Embed a panel between two posts.
- Attach the middle/end collars to hold the assembly together, at the base, in the middle and at the top. The number of collars required is 4, 6 or 8, depending on the height of the panel.
- Plant each post in a previously dug hole.
- Use a spirit level to find perfect plumb.
- Wedge the posts using the cleats.
- Fill each hole with cement.
- Proceed in the same way for the following panels, taking care to attach the panels to each other with clamps and always check the verticality and horizontality carefully using the spirit level.
Installation of rigid mesh on a screed or a low wall
This solution makes it possible to obtain a very aesthetic result and may seem less tedious than the previous one if the post plate is used. Indeed, the plate is used to fix the post to the screed or the low wall, or even to concrete studs, not with cement but with specific screws and expansion plugs.
The technique may seem complicated if you do not have some DIY experience. It is best to seek the intervention of a specialist, or at least a more knowledgeable friend, so that the assembly is sustainable.
No question that at the slightest gust of wind the fence bends and breaks! Installing your mesh panel implies respecting the rules of the art to enjoy a harmonious and solid structure for many years. It is therefore better to buy your equipment from a specialist capable of seriously advising your client on the principle of installation and the safety rules when necessary.