Wire Mesh FAQs & Buyer's Guide

GI Welded Wire Mesh is the standard product for construction reinforcement. For floor slabs and roof slabs, use 4" x 4" aperture, 8 gauge or 10 gauge GI welded mesh. For walls and columns, use 2" x 2" aperture, 10 gauge or 12 gauge. For plastering and rendering work, use 1" x 1" aperture, 16 gauge (also called plaster mesh). Available in rolls (width 1m, 1.2m, 1.5m, 2m) and flat sheets. Galvanized finish resists rust for 8-12 years in normal construction environments.

GI Hexagonal Wire Mesh (also called chicken wire or murgi jali) is the standard product for poultry enclosures. Use 1" aperture, 20 gauge for broiler farms and general poultry. Use 3/4" aperture, 22 gauge for chick brooders and smaller birds. Use 1.5" or 2" aperture, 19 gauge for outer boundary fencing of large poultry farms. Hot-dip galvanized finish is essential - it resists ammonia vapour from droppings and lasts 3-5 years. PVC coated hexagonal mesh lasts significantly longer (6-8 years) in high-ammonia environments and is worth the extra cost for permanent structures.

PVC Coated Hexagonal Wire Mesh is the recommended product for fish ponds and aquaculture in West Bengal. Standard GI mesh corrodes rapidly in constant water contact - typical lifespan is 1-2 years. PVC coated mesh lasts 5-8 years in pond environments. Use 1" aperture for fish cages and pond boundary fencing. Use 1/2" aperture for prawn and shrimp pond screening where smaller openings are needed to prevent escape. For brackish water environments (coastal areas), use SS316 woven wire mesh - it is significantly more expensive but lasts 15+ years. Most inland fish farmers in Bengal use PVC coated GI hex mesh as the practical cost-effective choice.

For compound walls and boundary security, the right product depends on your security requirement. Chain link fencing (also called diamond mesh or chain jali) in 8 gauge, 2" or 2.5" aperture is the standard for residential and commercial compound walls - heights of 1.5m to 2.4m are common. For higher security (factories, warehouses, industrial sites), use GI welded mesh panels in 3mm wire, 50x50mm aperture which is harder to cut than chain link. For maximum security perimeters, add concertina razor wire coils on top of the chain link or welded panel fence. PVC coated chain link (green or black) is preferred for residential and institutional applications as it looks better and lasts longer than plain GI.

For agricultural land boundaries, two products are most commonly used. GI Barbed Wire (also called kanta tar) in 12 or 14 gauge, 4" barb spacing is the most economical option for large perimeters - 2 to 3 strands on wooden or concrete posts is standard for field fencing across Bengal and the Northeast. For orchards and vegetable farms where you need to keep out animals without allowing predators to enter, use GI hexagonal wire mesh 2" aperture, 19 gauge, height 1.2m to 1.5m. For paddy fields in flood-prone areas, use galvanized chain link 1.5m height as it survives temporary submersion better than barbed wire. Tata Wiron brand barbed wire is ISI marked and preferred for large agricultural projects.

Double-twisted hexagonal wire mesh (also called gabion mesh) is the correct product. Standard gabion box sizes are 1m x 1m x 1m and 2m x 1m x 0.5m - these are assembled on site and filled with local stone. Wire specification is 2.7mm to 3.4mm hot-dip galvanized and must meet IS 14322 for government projects. For river bank protection in high-water-velocity areas, use 3.4mm wire with PVC coating for extended life. Gabion mesh is supplied for NHAI road embankment projects, PWD retaining walls, irrigation department river bank protection, and BRO border road projects. We supply gabion mesh in standard coils that contractors assemble into boxes on site. Government tender specifications always mention IS 14322 - confirm this when ordering for any PWD or government work.

Road embankment protection uses two products depending on the application. Gabion mesh boxes filled with stone are used for steep embankment slopes and areas with water flow. GI hexagonal mesh (double twist, 60x80mm aperture, 2.7mm wire) is used as a flat mattress over gentler slopes combined with vegetation for erosion control. For NHAI and state highway projects, the tender specification will specify the wire diameter, mesh size, and coating type - always request the tender specification document before ordering and we will match the exact required product. All material supplied for government road projects comes with test certificates.

For mosquito and insect screening we supply PVC and plastic mosquito mesh (also called mosquito net or mosquito jali) in 18x16 mesh count - 18 wires per inch one way and 16 the other. It is lightweight, does not rust, and is easy to cut and fix on window and door frames. Standard roll widths are 0.9m and 1.2m, in grey and black. For permanent screens in hospitals, food processing units and pharmaceutical plants, where metal mesh is usually specified, use SS304 wire mesh from our stainless steel range.

Industrial filtration uses woven wire mesh (also called wire cloth or wire screen) - the mesh count (wires per inch) determines what particle size gets filtered. Common specifications: 4 mesh to 10 mesh for coarse screening of aggregates and coal. 20 mesh to 60 mesh for medium filtration in chemical and pharmaceutical applications. 100 mesh to 400 mesh for fine filtration. Material grade depends on chemical exposure: GI or MS woven mesh for non-corrosive applications, SS304 woven mesh for food grade and general chemical resistance, SS316 woven mesh for high-chloride and acidic environments. Mining screens (vibrating screens) use crimped wire mesh in heavy gauges. Please share your application, the particle size to be filtered, and the chemical environment - we will recommend the exact specification.

For drainage channel and canal lining protection, gabion mattresses (flat gabion panels 0.17m to 0.3m thickness) filled with gravel or stone are the standard solution for irrigation department projects. For smaller drainage channels in construction sites, GI welded wire mesh 2" x 2" aperture, 10 gauge is used as a support layer under concrete lining. For trash screens and debris screens at drainage inlet points, use GI woven wire mesh 1" to 2" aperture in heavy gauge (8G to 10G) to withstand water flow pressure. Irrigation and MGNREGS drainage projects typically specify IS 14322 compliant gabion material - we supply with test certificates for all government work.

Wire gauge refers to the thickness of the wire used to make the mesh. In India, Standard Wire Gauge (SWG) is used - lower gauge number means thicker wire. Common gauges and their wire diameters: 8G = 4.06mm (heavy structural use), 10G = 3.25mm (general construction), 12G = 2.64mm (fencing), 14G = 2.03mm (general use), 16G = 1.63mm (light fencing, plaster mesh), 18G = 1.22mm (poultry, garden), 20G = 0.91mm (fine poultry, light screening), 22G = 0.71mm (fine chicken wire), 24G = 0.56mm (very fine screening). For construction reinforcement, 8G to 12G. For security fencing, 10G to 14G. For poultry and garden, 18G to 22G. When in doubt, share your application and we will recommend the right gauge.

MS (Mild Steel) wire mesh is plain steel with no coating - it rusts within weeks of exposure to moisture. It is the cheapest option and used only for temporary applications or where the mesh will be embedded in concrete (where rust is less critical). GI (Galvanized Iron) wire mesh is steel wire with a zinc coating applied either by hot-dip galvanizing or electro-galvanizing. Hot-dip GI mesh has a thicker zinc coating (85 grams per square metre or more) and lasts 8-15 years outdoors. Electro-galvanized mesh has a thinner coating and lasts 3-5 years. Always ask for hot-dip galvanized for any outdoor or exposed application. For construction reinforcement that will be embedded in concrete, MS mesh is acceptable and more economical. For all other applications, pay the small premium for GI.

Lifespan depends on product type, coating, and environment. Hot-dip GI welded mesh outdoors: 10-15 years in normal conditions, 5-8 years in coastal or high-humidity areas. GI chain link fencing: 10-20 years. GI hexagonal chicken wire: 3-5 years in poultry environments (ammonia accelerates corrosion), 8-12 years as garden or boundary fencing. PVC coated mesh: 15-25 years as the PVC layer protects the zinc underneath. SS304 mesh: 20-30 years in most environments. MS mesh: 1-3 years exposed outdoors. Factors that shorten life: coastal salt air, animal waste and ammonia, acidic soil contact, constant water submersion, mechanical abrasion. Factors that extend life: sheltered installation, periodic cleaning, correct gauge for the load.

As a wholesale supplier, our minimum order quantities are: GI welded wire mesh: minimum 1 full roll (typically 30 metres). Hexagonal chicken wire: minimum 1 roll (typically 30 to 50 metres). Chain link fencing: minimum 1 roll - roll height and length are made to your requirement. Barbed wire: minimum 1 coil (25kg). SS wire mesh: minimum 1 metre cut length. Gabion mesh: minimum 100kg. For smaller quantities, we can recommend retail hardware suppliers in Burrabazar who sell by the metre. For regular buyers and sub-dealers, we offer credit terms and priority dispatch. WhatsApp your exact requirement and quantity and we will confirm availability and pricing within 2 hours.

Yes. KKB Wire Netting Industries supplies material for government projects across India. We can supply wire mesh meeting IS specifications required for government tenders - including IS 14322 for gabion mesh, IS 278 for GI wire, and IS 1052 for woven wire mesh. We provide delivery challans, GST invoices, and material test certificates as required for government project documentation. For PWD, NHAI, BRO, Railways, and irrigation department projects, share the tender specification document and we will confirm supply capability and pricing. We supply to main contractors who have won government tenders - you do not need to be the direct government buyer.

We dispatch from our godown in BBD Bagh, Kolkata (PIN 700 001) and supply PAN India across all states. Key markets include Kolkata, Howrah, Siliguri, Durgapur, Asansol in West Bengal; Bhubaneswar, Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Patna, Guwahati in the East and Northeast; Delhi NCR, Lucknow, Kanpur, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Ludhiana in the North; Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Surat, Nagpur, Indore in the West and Central India; and Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Coimbatore, Kochi in the South - along with all other cities and states. If you are in any part of India, WhatsApp us your location and requirement - we will confirm delivery, transit time and pricing. For Kolkata and nearby districts, same-day or next-day delivery is possible for in-stock items. For outstation orders, we dispatch within 48 hours and coordinate with the transporter of your choice or arrange transport on your behalf.

Welded wire mesh (weld mesh, weldmesh, iron jali) is made by welding individual wires at each intersection point - the joints are fixed and rigid. It is stronger, holds its shape, and is used for construction reinforcement, security fencing, caging, and structural applications. Woven wire mesh (wire cloth, wire screen) is made by interlacing wires over and under each other like weaving fabric - the joints are not welded. It is more flexible, available in much finer mesh counts (up to 400 mesh per inch), and used for filtration, screening, and sieving applications. For structural and fencing use, choose welded mesh. For filtration, screening, and fine aperture applications, choose woven mesh. When buyers say "jali" in Bengal they usually mean welded mesh for construction and woven mesh for filtration - context determines which they need.

Concertina razor wire (also called razor coil, BTO wire, barbed coil, or security coil) is a coiled wire with sharp razor blade-shaped barbs stamped into it at regular intervals. Unlike traditional barbed wire, the razor barbs cause serious injury if touched, making it a high-security deterrent. It is used on top of perimeter walls and fences at factories, warehouses, prisons, border fencing, defence establishments, and high-security industrial sites. Standard types are BTO-22 (single coil, 450mm diameter) and CBT-60 and CBT-65 (concertina double coil, 600mm and 650mm diameter). The India-Bangladesh border fencing in West Bengal uses large quantities of concertina wire. It is also used extensively by the defence sector and industrial security installations across the Northeast.

Yes, we can supply wire mesh cut to custom lengths from standard rolls. Standard roll widths are fixed (0.9m, 1.0m, 1.2m, 1.5m, 2.0m depending on product) but we can cut rolls to any length you require. For example, if you need 15 metre lengths instead of a full 30 metre roll, we can supply that. Custom width cutting is also available for certain products with additional lead time. For very specific custom sizes in large quantities, share your exact requirement and we will advise on feasibility and pricing. Custom cut orders have a slightly higher per-kg cost than full roll orders to account for cutting and handling.

Wire mesh rusts when the zinc coating (galvanizing) is compromised and the underlying steel is exposed to moisture and oxygen. Common causes of premature rusting: thin zinc coating (electro-galvanized rather than hot-dip), cutting without treating cut edges (cut edges expose bare steel - treat with cold galvanizing paint), coastal salt air (accelerates zinc corrosion significantly), animal waste (ammonia in poultry environments dissolves zinc rapidly), constant water contact (pond, drainage, rain exposure). Prevention: always specify hot-dip GI not electro-galvanized, treat cut edges with zinc-rich cold galvanizing spray, use PVC coated mesh for aquaculture and high-humidity environments, use SS304 or SS316 mesh for coastal or highly corrosive environments. Replacing rusted mesh with the correct specification product for the environment eliminates premature replacement cycles.