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Electric fences should not be thought of as a “plug in and forget” fencing solution.
Like any other type of fence, they require regular monitoring to make sure they are still functioning. If animals find a point of failure, they will not only immediately exploit it but also keep returning to that spot even after the fence is once again charged.
The memory of being once able to break through at that point may overcome the shock they receive from the fence.
One of the key issues is that vegetation, either plants growing up or green branches falling down, may grow and make contact with the fence. Because green vegetation contains significant amounts of water, it conducts electricity well and may short out the fence. For this and other reasons, electric fencing should be patrolled regularly and
fixed as required. Regular patrols will also discover the thousand and one other perils that afflict any fence, such as trees falling on it, wire breaking, posts loosening, and so on.
If a temporary electric fence is to be switched off for the season, the mesh, twine, or tapes should be also be rolled up and removed. Otherwise deer or other animals may break down and destroy the fence because it is not strong enough by itself to be a physical barrier.
rIgID fenCes
Fences with rigid horizontal members made of wood, plastic, or metal can provide an effective and attractive physical barrier. By adding a strand of electrified wire at some location where it’s almost hidden from view
Rigid fences range from high-cost, high-maintenance types to simple types made with local materials.
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(e.g., inside the fence), the effectiveness of containment can be improved even more.
Fences made with wide, horizontal painted wooden boards tend to be the most expensive in terms of both construction and maintenance costs, and probably for that reason they are looked on as the most beautiful and prestigious. Farms encircled by long rows of gleaming white-board fence look prosperous and scrupulously maintained. Given today’s cost of lumber and the labor involved with maintaining traditional painted wooden fences, they almost have to be!
(Above) Vinyl and other plastics are now being widely used in attractive, easy-to-erect fences with low
maintenance requirements. (Below) The interior of plastic fence materials, as shown in the end of this section on hinge installation, shows how the smooth plastic boards are strengthened with hidden internal ribbing.
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To achieve the good looks without being burdened by the costs and maintenance chores, new materials are now being used in board-type fences. Specially coated metal or plastic boards or tubes are used to resist corrosion, cracking, fading, peeling, and other problems associated with wooden fences. The horizontal members use new methods of fastening to the posts to simplify construction and reduce maintenance.
The posts themselves may also be designed for easier installation. In some designs, the horizontal members are round tubes, which provide far more resistance than flat
boards to bending by animal pressure.
The horizontal members may be bolted, not nailed, to the post to avoid problems with loosening, or they may slip into precast slots in the post. With bolt-on types, the hinged nature of the connectors allows the fence to easily follow contour changes. For anything more than a few feet of board-type fence, these new designs offer huge advantages while still preserving the desired classy looks.
Another popular and effective rigid fence is the type made by connecting prefabricated livestock panels made of Prefabricated steel panels can be quickly erected to provide a very strong barrier that’s easy to move when the need arises.
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round or square steel tubing. This type of fence is very strong and easy to erect or take apart to move to another location.
The fence can easily be enlarged as the budget for more panels becomes available.
Although early versions tended to be quite utilitarian in appearance, newer models are being made with more attractive and durable finishes, such as powder coating in custom colors. Panel gates are also available to match this style of fence or to quickly add a strong gate in other types of fence.
(Left) Prefabricated, sag-resistant steel panel gates are easy to install in any type of fence. (Below) The loops at the bottom of these prefabricated steel panels help keep long gates from drooping.
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