The Design

Our fence was designed from the ground up using materials that would not only exclude pests but also provide a lifetime of durability even in the most demanding conditions. Costs are kept down with an elegant simple design with each component matched with the others to provide strength and durability over time.

A great deal of emphasis is placed on compatibility of materials used to ensure that accelerated corrosion does not occur. We have gone to great lengths to achieve this, producing our own wire mesh, washers, fencing staples, brackets and capping, and sourcing our rivets from the aeronautics industry.

We also specify that the ground treated posts are “seasoned” appropriately to ensure residual chemicals in the treatment process do not accelerate deterioration of metal components. In all the components work cooperatively in providing a visually pleasing, durable, pest proof barrier..

Pest Permeability

The pest proof integrity of the fence has been drawn from the research and experience of the Kaori Sanctuary . Research on climbing and jumping ability of an array of pest animals was commission by Karori Sanctuary Trust prior to construction of their fence in 1999 and it is from these data that mesh size, fence height, and capping width, have been taken. Modification to Karori Sanctuaries design have been made in areas such as capping brackets and by manufacturing our own mesh (tested for baby mouse permeability). Through these steps we have overcome the perceived weak points that have allowed mice entry to Karori Sanctuary and strengthened the overall design.

Day old mice on mouse proof mesh

Pestproof Fences are designed to keep out: cats, dogs, rats, mice, cats, mustelids (stoat, ferret, weasel), hedgehogs, brush tailed possum, rabbits and hares. We also believe that the fence will be effective against mink, mongoose, cane toads, snakes, foxes, and many other small to medium sized terrestrial mammals and reptiles.

The fence is also resistant to livestock, though we strongly recommend the addition of electric outrigger wires to reduce maintenance overtime. Compression of soils around the perimeter of the fence due to animal tracking and increased acidity from accumulated animal waste reduces the in ground life expectancy of the fence due to reduced O² levels and increased soil acidity. Stock tracking and digging can also increase erosion and cause breeching of the fence due to undermining the buried skirt.

Regular inspections of all predator fences are essential regardless of their pest proof integrity. Land subsidence, falling trees and branches, and deliberate corruption of the barrier can happen at any time. Regularly inspection of the entire fence line will minimise the impact of these events, on the precious residents within, as quick action to remedy the situation can be taken.

The Galvanised Micro Woven Mesh

The micro woven mesh, made expressly for Pestproof Fences, is “Lifewire plus” zinc coated with the addition of 5% aluminum. The addition of the aluminum extends the coating life by 2-3 times over the same weight of zinc only galvanizing providing a coating life up to 36 years in extreme marine conditions with an over all life expectancy between 25-70 years to mechanical failure within the marine zone (sites away from the coast have considerably higher life expectancy).

Another feature of this wire product is that corrosion will appear on the underlying steel where the coating has been lost. This alerts managers to programme maintenance, several years in advance of mechanical failure of the fence. Because of the exceptional strength of the Pestproof Fences micro woven mesh any damage to the wire that may leave it permeable to pests is clearly visible due to the extreme trauma required to corrupt its integrity.

The Capping

The Pestproof Fences capping exploits the traditionally strong half round profile, as used for milenia, to provide strength and rigidity to the fence. The capping is formed from 0.95mm Z600 galvanised sheet metal and not only locks the fence together as one continuous unit for life, but it sheds all pests that try to climb over it. All capping corners are robotically cut and seam welded before heavy duty galvinising and all capping sections have expansion and contraction holes drilled prior to leaving the factory.

Three grades of capping support bracket are available to withstand the various wind and snow loadings that different aspects of the fence can be exposed to. The simple design of these brackets ensures they do not provide purchase for animals attempting to scale the fence. Our engineering service will recommend the most appropriate brackets for each section of your fence to ensure integrity and minimize cost.