Chain Link Fence Installation

Chain link is the fence we build more of than any other metal style, and around Lake Livingston it goes almost everywhere: around yards with dogs, down the slope of waterfront lots, around mobile homes and cabins, along commercial frontage, and around pools that have to meet a barrier code. It costs less than most fences, it goes up fast, it needs almost no care, and it does not block the view. It is also easy to build badly. A chain link fence that was stretched by hand on shallow posts shows it within a year. Here is how we build it so it stays tight.

Where chain link makes sense

• Dog yards and runs. Four to six feet, with the bottom tension wire or a buried edge for diggers. Making a simple dog run fence has the details.
• Lake lots. Black vinyl-coated chain link fades into the trees and keeps the water in view. See lakefront fencing.
• Commercial lots, storage and equipment yards. Six to eight feet, heavier framework, wide drive gates. See commercial fencing.
• Pools. Self-closing, self-latching gates and heights that meet the barrier rules.
• Mobile homes, cabins and rentals, where a low-maintenance fence pays for itself.

Not sure chain link is the right fence? Do you need a chain link fence? walks through the decision honestly.

Fabric, gauge and coating

Residential chain link is usually 11- or 11½-gauge wire in a two-inch mesh; commercial and security fences go heavier, to 9-gauge, with smaller mesh where climbing is a concern. Galvanized fabric is the standard silver finish. Black (or green or brown) vinyl-coated fabric puts a bonded coating over galvanized wire and is the choice for a yard or lake lot where you would rather not notice the fence. The framework, meaning posts, top rail and fittings, should match the fabric's coating so nothing on the fence is bare steel.

How we build it

1. Posts in concrete. Terminal posts at corners, ends and gates are heavier and set deeper; line posts go below the soft topsoil. Everything is plumbed and allowed to cure before the fabric goes on.
2. Top rail and tension wire. A continuous top rail keeps the fence from sagging. A bottom tension wire keeps dogs from pushing the mesh out at the ground.
3. Fabric stretched with a come-along, not by hand, and tied to the rail and posts at consistent spacing. A fence stretched right has no belly between posts.
4. Gates framed from the same coated pipe, with hinges and latches sized for the gate. Double-drive gates for trailers and boats get a drop rod and a center stop.
5. Grade changes. Chain link follows a slope better than most fences. On steep lake lots we let the fabric rack with the grade so the bottom stays consistent.

Privacy slats and windscreen

Slats woven through the mesh turn chain link into a mostly solid screen and come in colors that match the fabric. They are a common upgrade around pools, patios and dumpster areas. Windscreen fabric does the same on commercial fences. Both add wind load, so posts and spacing have to be sized for it from the start.

Frequently asked questions

Galvanized or black vinyl-coated chain link?

Both are built for the humidity. Galvanized is the classic silver fence and costs less. Black vinyl-coated fabric and framework nearly disappear against trees and water, which is why so many lake lots and nicer yards choose it. The structure underneath is the same.

What height should a chain link fence be?

Four feet handles most dogs and marks a yard. Five and six feet are common for larger dogs, pools and commercial lots. Taller fences are built for storage yards and equipment, usually with heavier framework.

Can chain link be made private?

Privacy slats woven through the mesh block most of the view and come in several colors. Windscreen fabric is another option on commercial fences. For full privacy, an R-panel or wood privacy fence does it better.

Can you repair a chain link fence someone else built?

Yes. We re-stretch sagging fabric, replace bent posts and top rail, fix gates that drag, and splice in new fabric where a tree or a truck took a section out.