DECORATIVE WALK-IN STEEL FRUIT CAGE AND VEGETABLE CAGE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. What are the benefits of purchasing a steel fruit cage from you, rather than from another company?
Our steel cages are made using square tubing, whereas other companies use round tubing; 25mm square tubing is stronger than 25mm round section tube. Also, our connectors are plastic coated solid steel with square sections, again making them stronger. Other companies’ connectors are of a different design that simply screws to the tops of the uprights. Also, our door is far superior to most others because it has a support brace for strength, a footplate for the upright to hold it firmly in place, and a door catch. The support brace prevents the door frame from ‘dropping’ out of shape, which could allow a gap to appear above the door frame, which in turn, could allow birds to enter.
Of course it's easy to dismiss competitor's cages and praise our own design but we hope the information above gives plenty of substance to our claims!
2. What are the benefits of purchasing a steel walk-in fruit cage, rather than an aluminium one?
Steel cages are stiffer and feel more rigid than aluminium. Our steel cages are supplied with galvanised, powder coated square tubing which allows us to offer a 10 year guarantee. Steel cages also tend to look better in the garden as their black framework allows them to blend in better to the garden.
3. How many support braces would I need for my fruit cage?
These give a cage extra rigidity when exposed to high winds, or softer soil. For these specific cages, we would recommend that you brace all 4 corners of a cage. For cages over 6m/19’6” we recommend that at least the middle upright is braced. Please contact ourCustomer Services Department or call us 0845 218 5301 to find out exactly how many braces you will require for your cage.
4. How many footplates would I need for my fruit cage?
These ensure that uprights maintain position on softer grounds, or in areas that are exposed to windy conditions. We recommend that all uprights are fitted with a footplate. Please contact our Customer Services Department or call us 0845 218 5301 to find out exactly how many are required for your cage or download our Walk-In Steel Fruit and Vegetable Cage Footplates and Sockets Guide for an instant answer.
5. How many ground sockets would I need for my fruit cage?
These make installation of your uprights much easier and the cage more rigid in softer soils as they sink into the ground further and are a snug fit on the uprights. However they can be difficult to drive into stony hard baked soils. Please contact our Customer Services Department or call us 0845 218 5301 to find out how many are required for your cage or download our Walk-In Steel Fruit and Vegetable Cage Footplates and Sockets Guide for an instant answer.
6. Where do I position my door unit?
We recommend that you position your door unit against a corner upright, purely for stability. However, you may position it against any of the external uprights of your cage. Should you wish to position it in-between two external uprights, you will also need to purchase some extra parts, which are not currently advertised on our website. Please contact our Customer Services Department or call us 0845 218 5301 to order these.
7. Can I order extra parts for my fruit cage e.g. spare connectors?
Yes, you may. The component parts for our fruit cages are not currently advertised on our website, so please contact our Customer Services Department or call us 0845 218 5301 to order.
8. Can I see one of these cages already installed?
Being a mail order company, we do not have our products on display. You may however visit one of our show or reference gardens dotted around the country. Please visit our Products on Display section for more details.
9. Can a decorative roof unit be added to a standard flat roofed steel cage at a later date?
Unfortunately this would not be an easy process. However, we will always evaluate customers requirements, so please contact our Customer Services Department or call us 0845 218 5301 for a free quotation form. Alternatively you may download a bespoke fruit cage form.
10. You advertise that these cages can cope with ‘slightly sloping’ ground. How much is ‘slightly sloping’, before the cage has to be quoted as a bespoke cage?
The aim is always to achieve a level roof 2m from the ground, so that the doors and the side netting work correctly. If the slope in question means that distance of the uprights at one end of the cage will be less than 25cm into the ground, then the cage needs to have longer uprights, and therefore would be classed as ‘bespoke’. This is to ensure that the uprights are inserted into the ground sufficiently to achieve the required structural integrity. These standard steel cages can cope with locally uneven ground of about plus/minus 10cm on one upright per bay, but it is better to level any dips or bumps before erecting the cage.
For sloping ground we advise contacting our Made to Measure Team:-
11. Can footplates and braces be added to my cage at a later date, if required?
Yes they can. However, it is a little tricky because you will need to remove the horizontal bars and connectors from the uprights in order to add these parts. It is far easier to plan your purchase carefully, order the braces and footplates with your cage and fit them as you install the cage.
12. Can I fit the braces to internal uprights, as well as external?
The braces are designed to be fitted to the external uprights, but there is no reason why you cannot also add them to the internal uprights, to give your cage that little bit of extra stability.
13. What is the longest bar length you do, without it being supported by an upright?
The longest bar length that we supply as a standard size is 3.5m long. If you would like more information regarding the size of bars supplied with our cages, please contact our Customer Services Department or call us 0845 218 5301.
14. If I order a standard cage, but then cut the bars to get exact sizes, does this affect my guarantee?
Unfortunately altering a standard cage will affect its guarantee. If you require a size that is not advertised as a standard size please contact our Made to Measure Team:-
15. I have fitted the roof netting to my cage however it has left a lot of overhang in the corners, which looks messy. Any tips?
The roof netting supplied with a cage will always be slightly larger than the cage itself, because we like to allow approximately 50cm overhang on each side for securing it into place. You can simply roll up any overhang and secure it into place using the releasable cable ties, that are supplied with your cage as standard fixings.
16. Can I swap the standard netting for another type?
Yes you may request alternate netting than that supplied with the cage as standard. Please contact our Customer Services Department or call us 0845 218 5301 for details of the netting we can provide.
17. Can I order a size that is not advertised on your website?
For a non-standard, or ‘bespoke’ size fruit cage please contact our Made to Measure Team:-
18. Can I use insect mesh to cover my cage?
Due to the extremely small mesh size of both of our insect meshes, we do not advise that you cover a walk-in fruit cage with this material; the wind would not pass easily through the mesh, so would act a little like a boat sail. This could cause damage to the netting and the cage.
