When considering the best steel wire rope or mesh product for your building project, there is no one single answer for every case. Instead, the solution will depend on a range of factors, including cost and the type of installation.
Here is a comparison of some of the steel wire rope and mesh products on the market. This includes galvanised steel and stainless steel wire rope and mesh.
Galvanised steel products
Galvanising involves coating the metal with zinc. This doesn’t affect its strength but provides protection against weathering and corrosion. Depending on the product and the installation, galvanised steel can last for up to ten years.
A popular galvanised steel mesh product is Chainlink, used in many fence and barrier installations.
Another steel mesh product on the market is Weldmesh. This is made from galvanised steel in some cases, and low carbon steel or stainless steel in others.
Stainless steel wire rope or mesh
Stainless steel is a metal alloy that contains chromium, nickel and other elements. It is the combination of elements in stainless steel that gives it superior corrosion resistance.
316-grade stainless steel is particularly robust. This product contains molybdenum which renders it marine-grade and resistant to sea spray. 316-grade stainless steel is used in all Jakob Webnet mesh products, enabling them last around 25 years.
A comparison of steel mesh products
Chainlink
Chainlink can provide a functional solution for cheap fences and barriers. It comes with the benefits of very easy installation, modularity, fire-resistance, transparency and airflow.
However, it has several disadvantages as well. These include high maintenance requirements, low strength, poor longevity and durability and low customisation. It is also relatively easy to climb, and not what you’d call aesthetically pleasing!
Weldmesh
Weldmesh is a welded rigid metal wire screen product often used in industrial projects. It can provide a relatively inexpensive and effective solution for fences, barriers, screens, gates and more.
This mesh product offers a range of benefits – such as low maintenance needs, high strength, good security, high modularity and longevity.
Disadvantages of Weldmesh include poor customisation, low flexibility and lack of aesthetics.
Webnet mesh
Webnet mesh is made from marine-grade 316-grade stainless steel wire rope. Marine-grade stainless steel is used in all Jakob stainless steel wire rope products.
Webnet comes in a range of aperture-opening sizes. It is often used to provide barriers for fall protection where it offers excellent durability, robustness, strength and longevity. It also has very low maintenance and cleaning requirements, can easily be customised for each project and is very quick to install.
When it comes to price, Webnet sits somewhere between Chainlink and Weldmesh.
Apart from great strength and functionality however, Webnet offers additional advantages. These include:
- Flexibility / malleability – Webnet’s “fabric-like” qualities enable it to be draped over structures or formed into various shapes. This lends itself to artistry and form as well as function.
- Aesthetics – Webnet has a light and thin profile which means it can look great on its own, such as for balustrades or screens, or when used to support other building elements as in a green or decorative facade. The mesh can also be painted any colour to suit.
- Adaptability – the mesh is great not only for facades and security or safety barriers, but it can also be used as space or room dividers or as window screens that don’t obstruct views.
A potential downside of Webnet is its climbability. However, this can be remedied by installing mesh with an aperture opening size of 40mm or less.
All the products described here offer transparency, airflow and fire-resistance. However, it is Webnet mesh that really shines when it comes to both functionality and aesthetics. If you would like to know more about using this stainless steel wire rope mesh product, get in touch with our team.
