What Is Chain Link Fencing?
Chain link fence is and has been one of the most popular styles of fence for both residential and commercial fencing projects. The fence consists of steel tubing used as a top rail that connects to steel posts on the sides. This is called the frame or framework of the fence, held together by rail clamps and topped with post caps. Inside the fence frame, a wire mesh made of individual metal strands woven together to create the diamond pattern, sometimes called the fabric, is hung and stretched between the two end posts.
The other components, such as the clamps and top caps, are called fittings. Those fittings connect and cap off the fence as well as attach the fabric mesh to that framework.
Due to their affordability and versatility, chain link fences are often chosen to fence in residential yards. Businesses looking to add security to their lot also often use chain link due to its relatively low cost, low maintenance, and ease of customizing its configuration to the land. Since the fencing and components can be purchased in any quantity, it is easy to configure a fence to any height, color, grade, and length.
Some common terms you should be aware of:
- Hurricane Fence or Cyclone Fence are also common names referring to chain link fencing
- The diamond-shaped woven steel making up the main body of the fence can be called either fabric or mesh
- The steel tubing is used for both posts, the vertical poles in the frame, and top tubing, the horizontal pole across the top connecting the end posts
- Frame or Framework is the term used to describe all the posts making up the fence but NOT including the mesh
- Components is a category term used to describe everything other than the frame and mesh
- Caps are the small topper that is put on top of the post to close off the tubing hole and make the fence both safer and better looking
- Clamps are the parts that hold tube pieces together to connect them and extend the fence
- Bands are used to both connect and add tension to the steel mesh when connecting it to the top post
Common Uses For Chain Link Fences
As previously mentioned, chain link fencing is a common choice for residential and commercial fencing projects. This is simply because of its many different applications.
Residentially, chain link fencing provides perimeter security for a property, keeping children and pets in the designated area. The fence also adds security in keeping people out while not blocking visibility through the mesh, so unwanted visitors will be easily seen. Building codes also require fencing for swimming pools and other uses, and chain link meets those requirements.
For commercial use and construction applications, chain link is a very common and versatile option. The fence is easy to install and can be customized to any shape and size needed for the job. It can be used on projects as small as dumpster enclosures and large as huge construction projects. Even large facilities like airports and factories use chain link fences both for perimeter security and internal security.
When higher security is needed for places such as manufacturing facilities and prisons, chain link fencing is topped off with barbed wire arms and barbed wire. This helps deter potential intruders and makes it difficult to get over the fence. This is a cost-effective and physically effective way to enhance a property's security.
There is also an option to temporarily block off non-permanent chain link fence sections or temporarily secure certain sections or areas. These are often used indoors when a new renovation happens or on a temporary work site where a permanent fence is unnecessary.
What Sizes Do Chain Link Fences Come In?
A common question a lot of potential installers ask is, what heights do chain link fences come in? Chain link fence comes in many heights and can be configured in any desired length. Because the components, framework, and mesh can all be purchased piecemeal, the fence's length and shape have endless possibilities.
Many manufacturers offer different heights, starting as small as 3' (three feet) tall, and can sometimes make a custom height of 20' (twenty feet) tall. Standard sizes for the fencing usually come in 1' (one-foot) increments until it reaches the height of 8' (eight feet), where it then increases in 2' (two-foot) increments.
Most fencing manufacturers can make custom heights for different project configurations. Custom orders usually involve more steps and a longer lead time. Typically, customer orders require a minimum total linear footage or quantity. Make sure to call your fencing supplier and speak with a salesperson who can help you determine what will best suit your needs.
Does Chain Link Fence Come In Different Colors?
A typical chain link comes in a silver or grey-looking color. Most people associate this original, traditional-looking fence with chain link. The steel tubing and mesh on this fence are standard galvanized steel to help prevent rust and other weather-related degradation. However, chain link fencing is now available in various colors. It is now possible to purchase chain link fence mesh and its components in brown, white, green, and black, which are quickly becoming new favorites. Just like using different heights, these colors will incur an additional cost due to the extra steps in the process they require.
What Is Galvanized, and Why Is It Silver?
That grey or silver color typical on steel fencing comes from the coating that covers the base metal. That coating is zinc-coated through a galvanization process. Galvanized is the most common and popular coating type. The covering helps protect against rust and other forms of weather-related degradation.
Like with other exposed metals, the metal would oxidize when exposed to the elements without the galvanized coating. Eventually, it would start to rust out and fall apart. The addition of zinc greatly slows that process. The galvanized coating will also oxidize when exposed to the elements. However, unlike uncoated or raw steel, it won't rust; instead, its shiny surface will begin to fade and turn a dullish grey.
When there are special requirements for fencing, galvanized coatings sometimes don't meet them. In this instance, the fence installation company will choose an aluminized coating, an alternative offered by the manufacturer. Most people cannot tell them apart from galvanized fences because they look similar. However, aluminized will differ because it is more resistant to temperature fluctuation and abrasion. This does come at a higher price point.
Aluminized coatings are often used in areas where they may be exposed to airborne chemicals. Those chemicals can cause faster erosion in chain link that is not aluminized. One commonly seen example is a chain link fence next to a roadway that experiences winter conditions. The salt or chemical spray makes an aluminized fence a better choice for withstanding the test of time.
Why Choose Different Colored Chain Link Fencing?
Sometimes, a homeowner or business owner does not like the old industrial look of that silver fence in their yard or around their property. Therefore, manufacturers offer different color options for those customers. These colored options are darker than the original Silver and blend in with their surroundings far better. They are more eye-pleasing and create a more minimal look. They still have the original steel components but are coated in either vinyl or powder coat.
These two types of coating, vinyl and powder coat, offer a similar look but provide different benefits. They will both provide a rubber-like, smooth texture to the finish. It will also help the fence hold up better against the elements, especially with temperature fluctuations during season changes. They will be priced higher than a traditionally styled galvanized fence, but the vinyl coating will still be less than that of a powder-coated fence. This is because the powder coating is far more durable.
Many customers opt to use a different colored coated mesh or fabric while still using the galvanized framework. This will help change the overall look while keeping costs down.
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What Does Grade Mean When Talking About Chain Link Fence?
Chain link fence comes in different grades. In general, there are three grades: residential, commercial, and industrial. What is it that makes them different grades? Well, that grade is largely determined by two different components. The first is the gauge, or the thickness, of the wire used to make the mesh fabric. Next is the size of the framework or pipe tubing used. This referenced size also includes the pipe's diameter and wall thickness.
What Is Fabric Gauge?
Chain link fabric, the diamond-shaped woven steel mesh, is offered in different gauges. The individual wire thickness is what is used to determine the gauge. The smaller the gauge number, the thicker, heavier, and stronger the wire mesh. For example, an 8-gauge wire is stronger than 12-gauge wire mesh but heavier. Residential fences typically have a wire fabric gauge between 9 and 11.5. Commercial-grade fencing projects typically use 8 to 9-gauge wire fabric. Industrial chain link fence most often uses 9-gauge wire but occasionally uses a heavier gauge, such as the very thick and strong 6-gauge.
What Is Fabric Size?
The fencing fabric, or the mesh, also comes in different sizes. This size is determined by the space measured between each link. The most common sized mesh is around 2 inches; however, many other sizes are available. For certain projects, small mesh, often called mini mesh, is available when a finer woven pattern is needed. This is common in dog kennels, tennis courts, and other applications where a stronger, tighter mesh is needed with a lower likelihood that anything can pass through it. Like the idea behind chain mail, the smaller the diamond, the tighter the weave and the stronger the mesh.
Why Pipe Size Matters?
Many customers will ask, does pipe size matter? Can't you use any pipe to make the fence frame? The simple answer is yes. The size of the pipe matters. Only three parts make up the framework part of a fence. The first part is the terminal post, consisting of the corner, end, and gate posts. Next is the lined post, which consists of the intermediate posts installed between the terminal posts. Last are the top rails, the pipes running horizontally at the fence's top.
Occasionally, a bottom rail is installed to provide extra security and durability. This is not typically common on residential projects. The components of the framework are available in various diameters and wall thicknesses. The larger the diameter, the stronger the framework will be. The wall thickness of the framework also determines its overall strength. Again, the thicker the wall, the stronger the frame.
Common Top Rail Sizes
Chain link fencing framework is configured in many different diameters. The top rail diameters are 1 3/8 inches and 1 5/8 inches. Residential projects normally use smaller top rails, around 1 3/8 inches, on fences up to 5 feet tall. Taller or commercial and industrial fence projects typically use pipe diameters of 1 5/8 inches.
Common Line Post Sizes
The line posts are the posts that fall between the terminal or end posts. Usually set 10 feet or less on-center, they provide a solid point of attachment for the chain link fabric and hold the top rail in place. Residential fencing projects typically have line post diameters of around 1 5/8 inches and 2 inches. Commercial and Industrial projects typically have a line post size of 2 inches, 2 3/8 inches, and occasionally 3 inches in diameter. The latter provides extra strength for taller projects.
Common Terminal Post Sizes
The terminal post will be the largest diameter post in the framework. This post holds the fabric's tension along with the top rail's help. Gate posts are also considered terminal posts. Typically, the gate post is the same size as the other terminal posts on residential jobs. However, the gate posts usually have a larger diameter on commercial and industrial projects. Large-diameter posts help prevent a gate post from sagging or feeling springy under the weight of the gate it supports.
Residential chain link projects typically have a terminal post diameter of 1 7/8 to 2 3/8 inches. Commercial and industrial jobs typically use a terminal post with a diameter of 2 3/8 to 2 7/8 inches. Gate post diameters depend on the width and height of the gate leaf. The standard diameter for walk gates and smaller double-gate openings on commercial and industrial jobs is 2 7/8 inches. When a double gate spans more than 10 feet, a 4-inch-diameter gate post is common. 6 5/8-inch or 8 5/8-inch wall posts are used for the widest gate openings.
Common Pipe Wall Thicknesses
The wall thickness of the fence frame affects the fence's grade and strength. The three most commonly used and seen thicknesses are .065 thousandths, 20 weight, and 40 weight. Residential fencing jobs typically use the .065 thousandths thickness measurement. It provides adequate strength while keeping costs down. Commercial fencing projects typically use the SS20, or 20-weight, framework. SS20, or 20-weight, is stronger than the residential .065 but not as heavy as the 40-weight. It offers good strength at a mid-tier price.
| Residential Grade | Commercial Grade | Industrial Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Line Post Diameter | 1-5/8" - 2" Diameter | 2" - 2-3/8" Diameter | 2-3/8" - 3" Diameter |
| Terminal Post Diameter | 2" - 2-3/8" Diameter | 2-3/8" - 3" Diameter | 3" - 4" Diameter |
| Post Wall Thickness | .065 thousandths | SS20 | SS40 or Schedule 40 |
Industrial fencing uses SS40 framework or 40 weight. It is the heaviest and strongest option but is also the costliest. However, if the projects are not too large, the cost difference between SS20 and SS40 is fairly small. Most clients will use the 40-weight, heavier, thicker pipe for their commercial and industrial chain link fences. It offers maximum strength and longevity. Factories, baseball fields, and prisons are the most common places where you will see this weight of chain link pipes.
Shop Chain Link Fence Tubing & PipeChain Link Fence Gates
Often, when installing a chain link fence, you will also need to install a gate. Gate entries allow entry to and exit from the fenced-in area. The type and width determine the gate's opening width.
Residential Chain Link Fence Gates
Chain link gates can be built in practically any width. Walk gates consist of a single panel, called a gate leaf. Common widths for walk gates are 3, 4, 5, and 6 feet. Any opening larger than 6 feet wide requires double gates. Double gates are great for accessing larger equipment or trucks, or for future expansion or construction. Double gates are also commonly used to cross over a driveway.
Double gates use two different gate leaves, or single gate panels, to cover the wider opening of that gate. A center post between the two gate leaf panels is not required. One of the leaves will have a sliding rod that enters the ground to keep it stationary. This is known as the drop rod or cane bolt. Typically, one-half of that gate will be used as the main gate. However, when additional access is needed, the drop rod can be pulled out of the ground, and the second gate leaf can be popened
Commercial and Industrial Chain Link Fence Gates
For commercial and industrial fencing installations, it is common to see double-gate openings spanning up to 30 feet. With those large distances, the customer must also consider the space needed for each gate to open. Other options suit their needs if there is not enough open space for a swing gate. Cantilever gates are sliding gates that roll on a rail parallel to the fence. The thing to remember, though, is that cantilever gates must be one and a half times the size of the gate opening. This extra length provides the counterbalance the gate needs to keep it from dragging on the ground.
Cantilever gates work well and are used in both industrial applications. They are best suited for installation jobs where limited space or a large span needs to be covered.
Chain Link Fence Extras
Additional options and features can be added to a chain link fence. Typically, these extras are used only for industrial or commercial jobs.
Barbed Wire Fence
Barbed wire is simply a strand of wire with small sharp pieces tied to it to create the barbs. The small, clipped wire is tied on at various increments. It is typically installed with three strands facing one side of the fence, usually outward. The wire is angled at a 45-degree angle set by the barb arm or points vertically straight up.
The barbed arm is a part that includes a cap at the bottom to close the pipe hole and an arm that extends to hold the barbed wire. These barbed-wire arms add roughly one foot of extra height to the fence.
When additional security is important for the fencing job, a six-strand barb arm is available. This arm adds three barbed wire stands to the fence's inside and outside. The six-strand variety is most commonly used at prisons, military facilities, or recycling centers.
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Privacy Slats
Due to its effectiveness, affordability, and low maintenance, chain link fencing appeals to many customers, especially compared to wood or vinyl. But if privacy is the goal, chain link favors visibility over cover. So how can you add privacy to a chain link fence?
Privacy slats are commonly used to add privacy to a chain link fence. These slats are small strips that weave in between the links of the fabric. While originally made of aluminum, these strips are now primarily made of vinyl and are easy to weave in by hand.
Standard privacy slats offer roughly 75% coverage, while a winged variation offers around 95% coverage. There is also the option to use hedge privacy slats, which are strips of privacy slats disguised as covered in leaves to make the entire fence appear to be a bush.
Privacy Screening
People also use privacy screening to add privacy to a chain link fence. Although it is not as durable as a privacy slat, it is easier to install and more cost-effective.
Privacy screening is available in semi-transparent and opaque options. Thanks to modern printing technologies, these screens can be printed with signs, advertising, logos, or slogans, turning any chain link fence into a billboard. This practice is common at sporting facilities like baseball and football fields.
Privacy screening is susceptible to damage and abuse by wind and the elements. It is also recommended to remove it during the winter, when the climate becomes a bit harsher. Due to the weather damage, it is recommended that the screen be replaced every few years. It is considered to be a more temporary solution.
How Is Chain Link Fence Installed?
The installation process for chain link is fairly simple, and the method is the same regardless of the fencing project's height. However, depending on your location, the installation method may vary slightly due to different procedures. Here are the basic steps.
How To Set The Posts
Every single fence installation must begin with setting the posts. Chain link fence installation is no different and begins the same way. There are, however, a few differences. In the Northeast, all posts are concreted for chain link fence installation. Frost levels help to determine how deep the posts should be set. Occasionally, cities or towns have their own requirements that must be followed.
As a general rule, 24 inches deep is the minimum recommended depth. The contractor will often set the depth at 36 inches for extra strength. As previously mentioned, some cities may require a depth of 42 inches and will also require an inspector to approve the depth before filling the hole with concrete. This process is called post-hole inspection.
In southern climates, only the terminal posts are set in the concrete. Line posts will be driven using a pneumatic driver or hand. The installation method varies based on the job's region and climate. Regardless of where, though, the posts must go in first.
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Connecting The Top Rail
In the next step, you will need to connect a top rail after the posts are set and leveled. Installing the top rail is easy and quick, but it must be done before the mesh is hung. Typically, it comes in 21-foot lengths and rests on top-of-the-line posts, secured with a guide called a loop cap. When the top rail reaches the end of the fence or a gate, it will connect to the terminal post with a post or chain link fitting. This connector has several names, so be sure you use the correct one for your application.
Stretching The Fabric
There are several ways to stretch the fabric once the framework is completely built. Even dedicated fence installation tools help you hand-hold and stretch the mesh to fill the void in the frame. The mesh is attached to the terminal post by using connectors or fittings. Fence ties are then finally applied to hold the fence upright.
Shop Chain Link Fence Stretching ToolsHanging The Gates
The final step in the installation process is to hang the gates to access the area. Most installs will have at least one gate to install, but often, there are multiple, including double gates. The gates hang between two set terminal posts. On a single-leaf walking gate, one terminal post will serve as the hinge post, and the other as the latching post. Double swing gates require both terminal posts to act as hinge posts.
There are many configurations of hinges and latches for chain link gates. Male and female hinges and fork latches are the most commonly used components. After the gates are hung, the fence installation is complete.
