When it comes to securing your premises, the choice of fencing material is a critical decision. GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic) and steel palisade fencing are two of the most popular fencing systems. 

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While both have their merits, they also come with distinct features that make them suitable for specific applications. This article compares GRP and steel palisade fencing and takes you through factors you must consider, such as installation, use cases, strength, colour options, and installation requirements. By the end, you'll better understand which material is best suited for your needs.

What is GRP? 

Before we dive into comparing the two types of palisade fencing, we need to discuss what GRP is. GRP is sometimes called fibreglass composite plastic. It is made from strands of glass called fibres woven together to create a flexible fabric and set into a hardened thermoset polymer resin. The reinforcement from the glass gives the resin amazing strength and durability, making it perfect for many applications across hundreds of sectors. 

Installation

GRP Palisade Fencing

One of the standout features of GRP palisade fencing is its ease of installation. The material is lightweight, making it easier to handle and install and often comes pre-drilled. This can result in reduced labour costs and a faster installation process. At Ezi Klamp, we offer a pre-site assembly service that makes onsite construction easier and faster.

Steel Palisade Fencing

Steel, being a heavier material, can be more cumbersome to install. Like the GRP fencing, it can still be installed by a small team but can take longer due to the weight of the material. Most systems come as complete onsite construction, meaning every fencing panel needs to be assembled on-site.

Use Cases

GRP Palisade Fencing

GRP is particularly useful in environments that require corrosion and chemical resistance, such as water treatment plants and chemical plants. Its non-conductive nature also makes GRP fencing ideal for use near railways and electrical substations.

One of the many benefits GRP fencing has over traditional steel fencing is its low value to thieves. This is because the materials used have little to no scrap value, making it perfect for use in low-traffic areas or sections that cannot be monitored. 

Steel Palisade Fencing

Steel is the most common of the two materials. Steel is often used in high-security and industrial sites where maximum strength is required. Driving around any town or city, you will see steel palisade fencing used as boundary fencing around schools and businesses. However, it is unsuitable for environments such as chemical plants or those requiring electrical insulation.

Strength Comparisons

GRP Palisade Fencing Strength

Don't let the lightweight nature of GRP fool you. It is a strong and secure option, providing safe fencing that is tested to and complies with BS -12:. Its strength can be comparable to steel's but without the added weight.

Steel Palisade Fencing Strength

Steel is known for its high tensile strength, making it a robust choice for high-security areas. However, it is susceptible to corrosion unless treated, compromising its long-term durability. Just like our GRP fencing, steel palisade fencing is tested to BS -12:, so you can be confident in your security.

Colour Options

GRP Palisade Fencing

One of the advantages of GRP is that it comes in various colour options, allowing for aesthetic flexibility. We stock our palisade fencing in two colours, Grey and Green, featuring durable GRP pales, which means we can have your fencing on-site within just 48 hours. 

Steel Palisade Fencing

Steel fencing comes in a galvanised finish as standard, providing a durable coating; however, to improve its appearance, it can be powder coated to any standard RAL colour of your choice.

Maintenance Costs

GRP Palisade Fencing

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GRP palisade fencing can last up to 25 years, is maintenance-free, and requires no special treatments post-installation. This means that whilst GRP fencing may be more expensive upfront, it can greatly reduce the cost of the fence's lifespan when taking in labour costs and costs of replacing sections.

Steel Palisade Fencing

Steel fencing is the cheaper upfront option, making it the perfect choice for many use cases. But unlike GRP, steel requires some maintenance over its lifetime.

Why Choose Ezi Klamp's GRP Palisade Fencing?

Ezi Klamp's range of GRP Palisade Fencing and Steel Palisade Fencing offers a comprehensive fencing solution for any of your fencing needs. For more in-depth information on GRP fencing, you can also refer to our detailed guide on GRP Palisade Fencing. 

If you would like to speak to one of our team about our range of fencing, you can reach us on  970 or us at , and an experienced member of our team will be able to help guide you through the process from design to installation. 

Palisade Fencing: Everything You Need to Know

South Africa is a beautiful country with a notoriously high crime rate. Unfortunately, this means that every South African must take precautions to secure both their family and business. Whether you live in a secure road enclosure or have installed the best alarm systems the question often remains, should I build a wall or install a palisade fence?

In this article we will discuss the benefits of palisade fencing and why it is the superior option when securing the boundary of your property.

The Benefits of Palisade Fencing

There are many benefits to palisade fencing that makes it the preferred fencing option for many South Africans. Some of the more noticeable benefits consist of:

• Crime Deterrent: Palisade fencing is a fantastic crime deterrent as they are very visible and make burglars think twice before attempting a break-in. Palisade fences are notoriously hard to climb. There is also the added danger of losing one's footing and falling onto the spikes located at the top of the fence. This can seriously injure a person and make it more difficult to escape.
• Durability: High-quality palisade fencing is manufactured by making use of 2.0 mm steel. This ensures that it is highly durable. It will also be difficult to cut or bend this fencing. If one wants to cut through, one would have to make use of power tools such as a grinder. Even when using power tools it will take some time and effort to cut through the fence, not to mention the amount of noise it will make.
• Cost-Effective: Palisade fencing comes in at a competitive price when compared to building a brick wall for instance. This is because it is manufactured in large volumes by making use of welding robots.
• Customisable: As palisade fencing comes in panels that are secured with a palisade post between every panel, it is extremely customisable. Anything is possible, whether you are looking to have a main gate with or without a separate pedestrian gate. All you have to do is take accurate measurements off of which the correct number of panels and posts can be ordered. You can also customise the height of your fence and the type of spike you would prefer.

Types of Palisade Fencing

There are typically four types of palisade fencing spike designs. Different spikes offer different levels of security as some provide more resistance to intruders. The type of spike design one chooses also depends on the aesthetic look preferred. The four spike designs one can typically choose from consist of:

• 3-Spike
• 7-Spike
• Large Flower
• Devil's Fork

The 7-spike and large flower spikes are typically quite popular as they provide more spots for burglars to get stuck and hurt themselves.

How to Determine Your Palisade Fencing's Price

The price of palisade fencing largely depends on the quality of the fencing you are opting for as well as the area you are planning on covering. Even though a palisade fence making use of lower quality and thinner steel might be cheaper it is easier for burglars to bend and cut through. Therefore, it is advisable to opt for the slightly more expensive option, when your safety hangs in the balance.

Calculating the number of panels and poles required is quite easy as you can make use of a simple formula. All you have to do is measure the distance to be covered by palisade fencing, subtract the size of the gate and pedestrian gate to be installed, and divide that total by 3.076m. All you have to do is then round that number up.

((distance) - (gate size)) ÷ (3.076m) = (number rounded up)

The Best Palisade Fencing in South Africa

Staalbeer is a steel supplier that also manufactures steel palisade fencing. They only make use of the highest quality steel to ensure that you, your family, and your business are completely safe and have the best fencing with which to deter burglars. They are able to manufacture your palisade fencing to specific requirements and are even able to manufacture the gates for your fence.

To find out more about Staalbeer and how they can secure your property, visit the AgrifoodSA directory.

For more information, please visit Palisade Fencing Manufacturers.