Galvanised?

[dave45]

Chicken compound galvanised fencing - used 3 types of fencing - one type has rusted within a year.

Bought some galvanised wire for stringing up fruit trees, left it outside still coiled up for 6 months - that has rusted too.

How difficult can galvanising be? Are standards really so low? I can't remember or prove exactly where I bought them and you don't expect this to happen and keep receipts or anything... so how can you tell if galvanised anything is good stuff or a complete waste of time?

[eco-mick]

I found this out too, chicken wire - cr*p - mine also lasted a year before it started to rust away too. - that horrid brown colour

This time for their new enclosure I invested in new steel welded stuff that is not galvanised at all

[grahamhobbs]

I've had chicken wire for years and it hasn't rusted (bought from Builders merchant) but I don't have chickens

[dave45]

All I can think of doing is to buy the stuff a year before you need it, keep the receipt and packaging and leave it out in the rain unused for year. If it survives rust-free use it. if not demand you money back.

[oldjerry]

It's a good point this,there is fencing wire here thats been up 15 years and is still good,some has rusted in less than 3 years.Why?????......
Well we (and our local suppliers) reckon it's down to the change in supply,and of course today all these products come from ........China.

[dave45]

Why?

probably coz too few people complain and demand their money back.

[Milims]

We have some plastic stuff - it hasn't gone rusty at all!

[Thomzo]

I don't know the answer but I bought some from Countrywide and it's still fine 4 years later. My neighbour bought some for half the price off the internet and it didn't last 6 months.

Zoe

[dave45]

So I mailed in a complaint to B+Q

this is what their robot said

"We are very sorry that you have had cause to complain about this
particular product and can appreciate your disappointment. Unfortunately
we are unable to do anything as the store warranty has expired.

B&Q always welcome feedback from our customers regarding any of our
products or services and we are very grateful that you have taken the
time and trouble to bring this matter to our attention.

Once again, please accept our sincere apologies and we hope that despite
this disappointment you will continue to shop at B&Q stores in the
future. "

Actually I will think twice before using them again. Maybe its worth paying extra from a builders merchant? how do you tell?

[oldjerry]

I'm no lawyer (barrackroom praps) but if that doesnt constitute selling something unfit for purpose what the hell does? If you replace the fencing why not take the old stuff,which never re-rolls, well and leave it in their doorway? Saturday lunchtime would be a good time...

[dave45]

Oldjerry - if you can't get satisfaction get revenge

there's a lot to be said for it.

[gregorach]

Practically everything in B&Q is rubbish. Avoid them if at all possible.

[baldybloke]

I bought some from Scats a while back and it hasn't rusted yet. Mainly because it's unused in the garage. Just need to galvanise myself into action and deploy it. Will keep you posted.

[dave45]

"Practically everything in B&Q is rubbish. Avoid them if at all possible."

their 2.5m x 3" fence posts were good value 2 years ago... then I went for some more last year and they'd nearly doubled the price (the recession y'know). I believe random huge price increases on non-core items are part of the new way of operating in the supermarket business. Look out for it *. The galvanised fencing was next to the fence posts.

I also used some other stuff from B+Q which was OK - the 1cm-square welded mesh. Very stiff, very expensive. The stuff that rusted was 2" hexagonal twisted. 1" hexagonal seems OK too.

The point remains that unless you can get access to lots of customer feedback you can't tell at the point of sale what is any good and what isn't.... and even then they could change suppliers without telling anyone.




* Wilco's seed prices for instance - compare prices 2 years ago with today's !

[slysimon]

I guess you always have the option of taking the new rolls to a local galvanising firm and have another layer put on. More expense I know, but at least you would be confident that it would last.