“It’s only a Net,” why in the world is it so expensive?
This seemingly logical question from a potential customer is one we are frequently asked, after a site visit and submission of a no cost formal proposal and contract. Hopefully, this blog post will clear up what is a common misconception about the netting barriers we construct.
First and foremost, the most important aspect of building a netting barrier is the proper design and engineering of the poles (structures) supporting the netting. Even though “it’s only a net” most range netting weighs a 1/3 of a pound per square foot which is a substantial vertical load on the poles, but even more important and absolutely critical is the “wind solid” for the design of the support structures. It is imperative that this is calculated by an experienced structural engineer for the wind load’s which will be placed on the barrier. For example, on a golf or sports barrier, our engineers typically use a 10% solid for design purposes. For landfill trash or industrial dust containment barrier, we have designed up to a 90% wind solid! Once the wind solid is calculated, it must be combined with the local wind speeds required by various city codes which usually range between 80 and 110 mph in most areas of the United States. The combination of the wind solid and wind speed then determines the pole size, strength (known as class for wood poles), and spacing. As you might imagine, it takes a significant structure to sustain the optimum loads placed on the barrier especially at heights above 100 feet or with significant wind solid. For example, we have installed poles at 32’ deep with a 54” steel base and 18 yards of concrete for a dust barrier near Riverside California! Furthermore, the poles cannot be spaced too far apart in order to cut cost because generally speaking, spacing over 75’ will cause excessive sagging of the netting or fabric reducing the longevity of the material and producing an unsightly barrier. Although we always look for ways to reduce the cost of a barrier, because of our impeccable reputation, 40 plus years of aerial construction experience, and the fact that Judge Netting stands behind their work, we will never build a barrier that we cannot engineer (unless expressly directed by our customer to do so in certain rare circumstances) even if permitting and engineering are not required by local authorities.
Some examples of structural failure by some of our competitor’s jobs are shown below, and in every case, it is inadequate structures and poor workmanship that has caused these failures:
This will never be the case with our work, and although we may not always be the least expensive contractor in the business, Judge Netting is always the best!
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