I'm exploring different options for a trellis to cover my boundary fence and wall, and I thought about using steel rebar mesh instead of traditional wooden or metal trellises. I found a 3.6m x 2.4m sheet for around £30, which is much cheaper than the smaller wooden options and should last longer. My plan is for it to rust over time, and I hope to have it covered with climbing plants and shrubs. I've seen Corten steel edging and planters being popular, so I figured why not a trellis? But I'm wondering what potential drawbacks there might be or if anyone thinks this is a bad idea?
3 Answers
Using steel rebar could be a great idea! Just keep in mind the weight—it might be a bit tricky to handle. You can always paint it if the rustic look isn’t your style. Also, climbing plants like clematis will probably wrap around it easier than they would on thicker wooden trellises!
Absolutely! I’ve seen rebar sheets used in a variety of ways—like between timber boards or hung horizontally with plants and it looked fantastic! Just remember to be gentle with the rebar as it's not super strong at the welds. Owatrol oil treatment can help prevent rust dust if you’re worried about that as well!
Thanks for the advice! I hadn’t considered the rust staining until now; I’ll definitely look into treating it!
I’ve seen steel rebar used effectively but be cautious about its weight. They can flop around a bit, and those ends can be very sharp! Also, unless you have evergreen climbers, the trellis might look bare during winter. One solution might be to use spacers when attaching it to a wall to prevent rust stains from ruining your paint.
Good point! What kind of fixings do you think would work best to keep it secure?