News & Tips

Quality construction leads to durable, useful electric fences

Before you begin construction of an electric fence, sketch out your project and choose your products carefully to ensure you have the fewest possible problems. There are many different uses for electric fencing and your purpose will dictate what sort of product will best meet your needs.

For most temporary uses, a thin metal wire (17-gauge) designed specifically for electric fencing is a good choice. Poly wire, made of ultraviolet-stabilized, high-density polyethylene fibers and stainless steel conductors is an alternative that's easy to work with, weather resistant, lightweight, and highly visible. Both types are portable, can be reused, and require little maintenance. For posts, choose plastic step-in or rebar posts. The step-in posts are self-insulating, while the rebar ones will require a screw-on insulator.

Permanent fences, on the other hand, should be considerably stronger. Strength doesn't need to equal that of a woven fence due to the electric current doing most of the work, but it should be a product that is durable.

High-tensile wire is a sensible option, with the choice coming down to plain metal or poly coated wire. Poly coated wire is much more resistant to corrosion. And since much of the poly coated wire is white, it's much more visible. Choose at least a 12½-gauge wire because it will conduct electricity over a much greater distance than a similar, smaller gauge wire. Its thicker diameter can also handle the much greater tension that comes with high-tensile construction.

With high-tensile wire, it's very important to brace your corner posts well, so you can stretch your fence good and tight. Choose solid, treated wooden posts and install them at a depth of 1½ to 2 feet to provide a good anchor point.