Galvanized wire mesh is steel mesh protected by a zinc layer — electro-galvanized for indoor and dry work, hot-dip for general outdoor service. PVC coated wire mesh starts from that same galvanized core and adds a bonded polymer skin (commonly green or black), giving a second barrier against moisture, aggressive soils and UV. Choose galvanized when budget decides and the environment is moderate; choose PVC coated when humidity, coastal air, appearance or service life drive the decision.
1. What Is Galvanized Wire Mesh?
Galvanized mesh is welded or woven steel wire whose surface carries a protective zinc layer. There are two common processes. Electro-galvanized mesh receives a thin, uniform zinc deposit and is the economical choice for indoor and dry applications. Hot-dip galvanized mesh is dipped in molten zinc, producing a thick zinc layer bonded to the wire — PULU’s hot-dip hexagonal fabric, for example, carries a zinc coating of 20–60 g/m², and hot-dip chain link fabric protects steel for decades outdoors. Galvanized finishes are standard across welded wire mesh, chain link fence, hexagonal wire mesh and gabion mesh.
2. What Is PVC Coated Wire Mesh?
PVC coated mesh is not a different product — it is galvanized mesh with one extra step. The steel wire is galvanized first, then covered with a bonded polymer jacket, typically green for garden and sports fencing or black for architectural and residential projects. The PVC skin is UV-stabilised to resist fading and brittleness under intense sun, and it adds a second barrier against moisture and aggressive soils. For high-humidity regions such as Brazil, Argentina and coastal Chile, PULU recommends the PVC-coated version of hexagonal and welded mesh; gabion mesh is also supplied PVC-coated over the galvanized core for aggressive soils and water.
3. Key Differences
The real comparison is single-layer versus two-layer protection. A galvanized finish protects through the zinc alone: even where the coating is scratched, the surrounding zinc continues to protect the wire. A PVC coating protects in two layers — the polymer skin resists moisture and abrasion, and the galvanized core underneath backs it up where the skin is cut. The trade-offs are price (PVC adds a coating step), appearance (a coloured, softer-look surface that blends into gardens and landscapes), and handling (PVC mesh should not be dragged over rough surfaces during installation).
4. Comparison Table
| Factor | Galvanized Wire Mesh | PVC Coated Wire Mesh |
|---|---|---|
| Protection mechanism | Zinc layer only — electro (thin, uniform) or hot-dip (thick, bonded) | Zinc layer plus bonded polymer skin — two barriers |
| Best environment | Indoor and dry outdoor use (electro); general outdoor use (hot-dip) | Humid, coastal, high-rainfall and aggressive-soil environments |
| Appearance | Metallic zinc finish | Green or black; blends into gardens and landscapes, custom colours on request |
| UV behaviour | No organic layer to degrade | UV-stabilised PVC resists fading and brittleness |
| Cost | Electro-galvanized is the economical baseline; hot-dip mid-range | Higher than galvanized — adds the coating step |
| Outdoor service life | Long for hot-dip — decades for thick-zinc chain link fabric | Longest for the same wire — skin plus galvanized core |
| Typical PULU products | Welded mesh, chain link, hexagonal mesh, gabion mesh | Welded fence mesh, chain link, hexagonal mesh, gabion mesh |
5. Application Scenarios
- Indoor shelving, cages and partitions: electro-galvanized welded mesh keeps cost down where there is no rain or humidity load.
- Industrial and airport perimeters: hot-dip galvanized chain link is the standard choice — thick zinc and decades of outdoor service.
- Garden, sports and residential fencing: green PVC-coated welded mesh or chain link blends into the landscape and withstands watering, rain and coastal air.
- Poultry, tree guards and garden protection: PVC-coated hexagonal mesh over a galvanized core for humid climates such as Brazil and coastal Chile.
- Retaining walls, riverbanks and gabions: gabion mesh with a PVC jacket over the galvanized core for aggressive soils and water.
- Coastal and salt-spray projects: PVC-coated steel mesh for general fencing; where the screen itself faces direct salt spray, 304/316 stainless steel mesh remains the premium option.
6. How to Choose
Work through four questions in order. First, environment: dry or indoor work does not justify the coating premium — specify electro-galvanized; general outdoor use is the home ground of hot-dip galvanizing; humidity, coastal air, irrigation or aggressive soils push the decision to PVC coated. Second, appearance: if the fence must disappear into a garden or match an architectural colour, PVC is the answer. Third, budget and service life together: electro-galvanized is cheapest to buy, but replacing corroded mesh in year five costs more than coating it properly on day one. Fourth, substrate: a PVC coating is only as good as the core beneath it — always confirm the mesh is galvanized before coating, not polymer over bare steel.
7. What to Send for an Accurate Quotation
- Product family and mesh size (openings) — for example welded mesh 1″ × 1″ or hexagonal 2″
- Wire diameter before coating, and after-coating diameter if your project specifies it
- Coating: electro-galvanized, hot-dip galvanized, or PVC coated (state the colour)
- Zinc coating weight, if your specification requires one (g/m²)
- Roll or panel dimensions and total quantity
- Destination market and application, so we can recommend the coating for your climate
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PVC coated mesh galvanized underneath?
Yes. In PULU production the wire is always galvanized first and the polymer skin is applied over the zinc layer — never over bare steel. The galvanized core is what carries the corrosion protection if the skin is scratched.
Which finish lasts longer near the sea?
For general fencing in coastal air, PVC coated over a hot-dip galvanized core is the more durable choice. Where the screen itself faces direct salt-spray exposure — beachfront window screening, for example — 316 stainless steel mesh is the premium option.
Can I order colours other than green or black?
Green and black are the standard stock colours for PVC-coated mesh. Custom colours are available on request according to quantity — tell us the RAL reference or send a sample.
Will the PVC layer crack or fade in strong sun?
The PVC used on PULU mesh contains UV stabilisers that prevent fading and brittleness under intense sun — a key requirement in South American climates.
Does the PVC coating change the mesh opening?
The coating adds thickness to the wire, so we quote wire diameter before coating and, where the project requires it, after coating as well. Mesh openings are measured on the finished mesh — send both figures if your specification fixes them.
Which one is cheaper?
Electro-galvanized mesh is the economical baseline. PVC coated costs more because of the extra coating step, but on outdoor projects it usually works out cheaper over the full service life because the mesh does not need replacing as soon.
Request a Quotation
Send mesh size, wire diameter, coating and quantity — quotation with lead time within 24 hours.
Eric Wang · Export Manager · HEBEI PULU METAL ALLOY MATERIAL CO., LTD.
WhatsApp: +86 190 0328 0333 · Email: eric@pulumesh.com