How Deep Do Chain Link Fences Need to Be?
Also called wire netting or hurricane fence, chain link is a sturdy, secure fencing option. Depending on your needs, you can choose from a variety of heights for your new fence.
Experts recommend burying posts at least 30 inches deep. If you don’t, your fence could become unstable and uproot itself.
Posts
Chain Link Fence NJ systems are affordable, durable, and easy to install. However, the stability of your chain link fence relies heavily on how deep the posts are buried in the ground. If the posts are too shallow, your fence will sag. If they are too deep, the post may rot or even break. To prevent this from happening, you should bury your posts at least 30 inches deep.
Before you reach for your post hole digger, first gather all of the materials you’ll need. This includes chain link fabric, wooden posts, tension bands, and gate hardware. You should also have access to tools such as a tape measure, pliers, and a shovel. Once you’ve gathered your materials, mark the boundaries of your fence line with stakes. This will help you determine the exact locations of your terminal (corner, end, and gate) and line posts.
Dig the holes for your posts with a post hole digger, making sure to include some gravel or crushed stone as a footing. This will provide stability and keep the soil from shifting around the post.
Once the holes are dug, use a concrete mix to set the posts in place. The concrete mix should consist of one part cement, two parts sand, and four parts gravel. You can purchase pre-mixed concrete or a bagged concrete mix that is specifically designed for setting fence posts.
If you’re installing a gate, you’ll also need to set up the gate frame and hang it from the gate posts. Then, you can add the gate rails and swedge end top rails to complete the project.
When all of the posts are set, you’ll need to sight in your posts. This is a process that requires careful attention. Sighting in posts is easiest when done with the help of another person. The other person can stand at the end of a length of fence and look across the posts to see if they are all plumb. If not, they should be adjusted accordingly.
Rails
A chain link fence can be constructed to any height from 3 feet to 12 feet or more, depending on your needs. A taller fence may require a permit and comply with municipal setbacks and location restrictions. Check with your local building department to determine what is required for your area. You will also need to comply with any private Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&R) or Homeowner Association (HOA) requirements that may apply to your home or community.
Before you reach for your post-hole digger, call your local utility company to have underground utilities marked. You will want to know if any cables, pipes or lines are near your fence site so that you do not accidentally dig into them during construction. Once the marks have been made, dig the terminal holes, which are approx. eight inches in diameter for corner and end posts and 1-5/8 inch in diameter for line posts.
Once the terminal holes have been dug, use a level to make sure that they are plumb. If the hole is too shallow, use a spud bar or other tool to hollow out the bottom of the hole to the appropriate depth, which will better anchor the concrete footer that will support the post and fence.
After the holes are dug, place a terminal post cap on each post to improve appearance and prevent debris from settling in the tops of the posts. You will also need to install a rail cup over the top of each terminal post to secure the top rail. Finally, slide a brace band and three tension bands onto each post. You will need to add more tension bands for a higher-height fence, and you may need to add more brace bands if the fence is going to be built over a large distance.
Begin at the first terminal post and work your way down the fence line, hooking up a row of chain link fabric to each terminal post. You will need to add aluminum tie wires, which are also known as fence ties, between each connection to add rigidity and strength to the fabric. Then, twist wire ties around each tension bar at every 12 inches along the bottom of the fabric and every two feet on the top rail.
Mesh
Before starting to dig holes for your fence, check with the local utility company and mark where gas, water and power lines are buried on your property. This step is important to ensure that you don't damage underground utilities and is a good time to inform your neighbors of your installation plans as well.
Dig a hole for each corner, gate and end post location using a spade. Generally, the hole should be three times bigger than the posts and at least two feet deep. When digging, never pound the posts into the ground as this can bend their tops.
Use a chain link fence grid layout template to map out the location of your fence. Next, use landscape stakes or spray paint to mark the distance between your fence posts. Once you've marked the locations of your corner, gate and end posts, begin setting them using a chain link fence post digger.
If you're planning to install your chain link fence without concrete, a post-hole digger will save you the cost and time of pouring concrete around each pole. However, a minimum footing depth of 24 inches for a 4ft post is recommended by the Fence Manufacturers Institute, and it's especially critical to follow this recommendation in rocky or clay soil conditions.
Start with one of the end posts and unroll your mesh along the length of the fence. Place a tension bar through the end post's bottom tension band and hook it up to the end tension bar with wire fence ties. Pull the mesh tight, removing any slack, but do not attach it to the line posts or terminal rails at this point.
Once you've set all of your terminal posts and rails, stretch a bottom tension wire between each to minimize the in and out movement of the mesh at the bottom of the fence. If you're building a fence taller than 10 feet, you may also want to add intermediate horizontal rails between terminal posts to maintain the proper structural integrity of the fence.
To accurately'sight in' your posts, stand at the end of your fence length and look across the posts to see how steep or gradual the slope is. Adjust the heights of your posts as necessary to smooth out this gradient and avoid sharp changes in elevation between posts. This step is easiest if done by two people; one person sights in the posts and the other adjusts them as needed.
Post-Hole Digger
To ensure that your fence is stable, it is important to bury the posts deep enough. Otherwise, the posts may uproot or even fall over, which is a safety hazard and will weaken the overall structure. You can use a post-hole digger to dig holes that are at least as deep as the height of your fence. Once the holes are dug, you can install your fence posts.
Before you begin digging, it is a good idea to call your local 811 center to learn about any buried utilities in the area. Identifying these lines will prevent you from accidentally digging into them and damaging your chain link fence. Once you’ve called the number, it is also helpful to mark your layout strings on batter boards with spray paint or flags so that you can refer to them when excavating.
The size of the hole you need to dig depends on a number of factors, including your location and the height of your fence. In general, it is best to dig holes that are three times the diameter of the post and at least 30 inches deep (or below the frost line in your area). This depth will allow you to set the fence posts properly so that they can withstand the forces of wind and other weather conditions.
After you’ve dug the holes, you should insert the fence posts and secure them with concrete or metal anchors. If you’re installing your fence without concrete, you should at least fill the holes with gravel or crushed stone to provide stability for your posts.
Once the posts are installed, you can start installing the mesh. You can either do this by hand or using a come-along and stretch tool. Whether you choose to do it by hand or with a tool, it is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for each product.
Once the mesh is in place, you can attach it to the posts using specialized brackets. These brackets typically have pre-drilled holes for connecting the metal fence panels to the wooden posts.
Also called wire netting or hurricane fence, chain link is a sturdy, secure fencing option. Depending on your needs, you can choose from a variety of heights for your new fence. Experts recommend burying posts at least 30 inches deep. If you don’t, your fence could become unstable and uproot itself. Posts Chain Link Fence…