Shade Cloth for Temporary Fencing and Site Barriers on Perth Construction Sites

Perth doesn't make site setup easy. Strong sea breezes in the afternoons and hot easterly winds in summer as well as the dry and sandy soil mean that a simple setup can be undone in a matter of hours. So it pays to get your fencing, screening and barriers in place before work starts.

Shade cloth screens the site. Barrier mesh and bunting mark trenches, holes and no-go zones. Star pickets with caps make quick boundaries, and safety barriers control entry points and site traffic.

Shade Cloth for Temporary Fencing

As well as screening a fenced work area from the street and nearby residents, the construction shade cloth you fit to the fence can help reduce dust and rubbish blowing off the site.

For most projects, builders hire temporary fencing from a local fence hire company. A temporary fence shade cloth to attach to your fence panels. Keeps tools, materials and work in progress out of sight from passers-by and adds to tidiness of site viewed by your neighbours.

In addition to our range of temporary fence shade cloth, we sell a full range of dust management products. to help reduce the number of tools, materials and work in progress that are left exposed on construction sites. Shade cloth helps reduce dust and debris leaving the site, but it should be used with other dust control methods, particular dry, sandy sites.

When you choose construction shade cloth, check these things:

• How much it blocks. A tighter weave will block more but will catch more wind.
• UV resistance. Western Australian sun breaks down weak material fast.
• Solid edges. You will need strong and durable eyelets too.
• Size - Match the height and length of your panels so you're not trying to join up lots of small pieces.

Remember that fabric caught in the wind can put considerable load on fencing. On exposed sites, brace the fence, and loosen or remove the cloth in very windy conditions.

How to Attach Shade Cloth to a Fence

Here is a simple way to do it:

1. Tie or clip cloth evenly to the top, middle and bottom of fence panels.
2. Pull the screen tight as you affix it to the fence to prevent it from sagging or flapping in the wind.
3. Overlap the join of two sections of cloth to prevent any openings occurring between joints.
4. Check the tension and bracing regularly. On very exposed sites, you may need to open the cloth and loosen or even remove sections.

Barrier Mesh, Bunting and Star Pickets for Marking Out a Work Area

Barrier mesh and safety bunting are quick ways to mark out trenches, holes and no-go zones. Bright colours such as orange, yellow and red are easy to see from a distance.

Barrier mesh is also called scaffolding mesh or safety barrier mesh.

We stock heavy-duty black star pickets (450–2400 mm) and hot-dipped galvanised star pickets (1350–2400 mm), in lengths suited to different site needs.

Always fit star picket caps. An uncapped picket top can cause serious injury if someone trips or falls onto it, and a cap greatly reduces that risk.

Note: mesh and bunting are indicators that are designed to alert people of potential hazards; however, they will not physically restrict people from entering a no-go area. Use a solid barrier where access must be restricted.

Star pickets are available in our steel posts range, while caps, mesh and bunting are in our site preparation range.

Safety Barriers, Traffic Control and Longer-Term Fencing

Safety barriers keep walkers, vehicles and work areas apart at site entries and along footpaths. They are useful wherever there is a greater risk of people, vehicles or property encountering work in progress.

Solid work barriers provide a boundary where mesh alone is not enough. Combined with traffic cones, cone bars, bollards, delineators and signs, they help direct pedestrians and vehicles and control entry and exit points.

For storage yards and other longer-term applications, chainmesh fencing made with steel pipe posts provides a sturdy boundary. You can add shade cloth to the fence to block the view. Direct Trades Supply also makes its rural and security wire fencing locally.

Safety barriers can be arranged in different ways. Ask the site manager or safety officer which setup is suitable for the site and the work being carried out.

Choosing the Right Setup for Your Site

Choose fencing and barriers to suit the job. Use this table as a quick guide.

Before you choose, think about:

• How long the job is. A few days needs less than a few months.
• How windy the spot is. Open ground tends to need more bracing than the average site.
• The type of site on which you will be working and the soil type. For example, sandy sites may affect pickets and posts.
• Your objectives. For example, hide the view, warn people or restrict access.

Common Mistakes and Maintenance

Many problems that occur with site barriers are caused by a few simple mistakes.

• Putting up shade cloth without thinking about the wind.
• Leaving star pickets without caps.
• Using mesh or bunting instead of a solid site boundary where required.
• Blocking walkways or drivers’ views.
• Not checking ties and bracing after strong wind or storms.
• Reusing torn cloth or damaged mesh.
• Pulling down and storing the shade cloth and site mesh whilst wet.

Checking for potential problems daily can prevent problems from becoming larger issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you attach shade cloth to a temporary fence?

Attach the shade cloth to the top, middle and bottom of the site barrier fence panels using ties or clips. Make sure the cloth is pulled tight with overlaps between joins to prevent any gaps. Inspect the ties and cloth for damage after strong winds.

How do you attach shade cloth to a metal frame?

Tie the cloth to the frame at regular points along the top, middle and bottom to keep the tension even. Shade cloth adds wind load, so make sure the frame is well braced.

Does shade cloth affect a fence in windy weather?

Yes, the cloth creates additional load on the fence when in windy conditions, therefore we recommend adding further bracing where required or even removing sections of cloth when strong winds are forecast.

Why do star pickets need safety caps?

The sharp points of star pickets can cause serious injury if left exposed. Star picket caps are supplied to enable the points to be safely covered.