How to put up chain link fence, install chain link fence, Materials
Chain link fence is the most common fence that is used in every country around the world It can prove to be expensive if you have someone come and fit it, but not all the time. Before you fit chain link fence yourself, ask a fence expert, not just a builder, for a quote on your fence.
You then price up the materials yourself from a local supplier, and see what the difference is in the price. You may be amazed or even startled by the differences in the prices, depending on which company you use.
Here is a step by step guide on how to erect your own chain link fence. It can be difficult at times and hard work, but it will save money if done correctly.
If you need anything else to know about chain link fence, please use the comment box at the foot of this page, and I will reply to your inquiry as soon as possible. I have added photographs on page two, for your convenience in visually understanding each piece.
Posts
There are many different styles of posts, and once you start with one style, you really need to stay with that type, as they do not interchange with each other very well, they all look similar with slight changes, but they all do the same job in the end.
The height of the post is entirely up to you, there are many ready made sizes available, the most common sizes are 1 meter, 1.5 meter and 2 meter in height.
You must contact your local planning permission department / office before erecting a fence, you do need planning permission as this fence is classed as a permanent fixture, and some areas will only allow a certain height.
Corner posts
These posts come with two attached supports, both at right angles to the post, and have eight or ten, depending on the make and size of the post, welded pieces of steel on the post with a hole in each one, these holes are for the tensioners, and two for the supports.
End Posts
These come with one support, and have four or five welded pieces of steel protruding from the post with two holes in them, one is for a tensioner, one if for the pletina, which should already be attached, a pletina is just a long piece of thin steel, going from the top of the post to the bottom piece of welded steel, these are used to pull the mesh evenly and tightly when attaching the actual fence.
Centre Posts
These posts have two supports, with two steel welded pieces attached to the post with one hole in each solely for the supports to attach to it.
Normal Posts
These are just posts on their own, with three or four holes for the straining wire to enter through, or they may have little hook like pieces of metal welded to the post, these and the centre posts will have the same amount of holes or hooks and at the same height.
Tensioners
These are the little ingenious devices that help to keep your chain link fence tight, they attach to each end, corner and centre post at the top, middle and bottom. Be careful when tightening at the end, these can pull a car and pulling a concreted-in post out of the ground, is easily done.
Pletinas
As mentioned, these are simply a piece of long thin steel, about 2cm wide, and are as long as the gap in the post from the top hole to the bottom hole, and should come already attached to an end post.
Brackets
There are corner, end and centre brackets. The centre brackets are used a lot, as each centre post will need at least three of these. Normally you would not need any corner brackets, and only in certain conditions do you need the end brackets, which will be explained as and when I need to.
Straining Wire
This is the wire which will hold the fence up, so it needs to be strong, your local suppliers will have the right wire for this job, the thickness slightly varies between each supplier.
Nuts and Bolts
The supplier will ave nuts and bols to fit the supports if you get both these items from the same supplier, he will try to give you small bolts, but try and get them at least 2 cm long, it will make life easier later on. Coach bolts are good for this, as when they are on, there is not much chance of someone trying to undo the bolts from the outside.
The Mesh
The chain link mesh will come in rolls of 25 meters in length, and can come in two different styles, one a wide diameter roll, and one is called 'compact". If possible, only go for the compact roll, as this has a better finish with less dents and damaged pieces. You can get different thicknesses of the wire used in chain link fence, but the price difference is very small, so go for the slightly thicker one if possible, most suppliers will only carry the one thicknes, but ask anyway.
Apart from extra supports possibly needed, which will be explained later, the above materials are the only types you will need for the fence itself, you will also need cement and ballast, a mixture of sand and preferably small stones. Please see below for the next part of how to install a chain link fence.
FREE Fencing Links
Erecting Chain Link Fence Yourself 2 ( posts and supports )
Erecting Chain Link Fence on a Stepped Wall