DIY chain-link fence. How to install a chain-link fence. Closing ourselves from our neighbors' eyes

DIY chain-link fence. How to install a chain-link fence. Closing ourselves from our neighbors' eyes

A fence is an essential element of any private property. If experts recommend fencing country houses with more reliable protective structures, then summer cottages are their practical and inexpensive options. The most suitable material for a country fence is chain-link mesh. With its help, you can not only make a durable one, but also increase the productivity of the beds, since the design does not interfere with natural ventilation on the land plot, and also does not block the sun’s access to it. To build a chain-link fence with your own hands, you don’t need to be a professional. This article will reveal all the secrets of craftsmen in installing a practical fence without welding, and will also tell you what tools and materials you need to have to perform such work.

Features of chain-link mesh, its advantages

Chain-link mesh is a universal material that is indispensable in summer cottages. It has many advantages that make it even more popular among buyers. These include:

  • affordable price. Chain-link mesh is a budget option for building a fence, because not every homeowner is able to allocate a decent amount of money to install a more expensive structure at their dacha;
  • long service life. High-quality galvanized mesh is capable of maintaining its original appearance for several decades (up to 40-50 years). It does not rust and does not deform if used correctly.
  • the need to use a minimum number of tools and fastening materials during the installation of the fence;

Important! You can install a chain-link fence with or without welding. Installation without welding is ideal for people who do not know how to work with such equipment.

  • ease of care of the material;
  • The mesh does not interfere with natural air circulation and does not shade the area.

Important! A chain-link fence serves as an ideal fencing not only for beds, flower beds or vegetable gardens, it is also indispensable in the process of arranging children's playgrounds, enclosures for pets, etc.

Material classification

Depending on the material of manufacture, chain-link mesh comes in three types:

  1. Non-galvanized.
  2. Galvanized.
  3. Plasticized.

Non-galvanized mesh is a fairly cheap material. Of course, it is more affordable, but its long service life can be doubted, since under the influence of moisture the surface very quickly becomes covered with rust.

Galvanized mesh is the most popular among customers. It is a little more expensive than its non-galvanized counterpart and does not rust, which is really very valuable.

Plasticized material is a modern option, but more expensive. In the manufacturing process, polymers are used that properly protect the metal mesh from moisture. Plasticized mesh has different colors. Each homeowner is able to choose a material that will ideally suit the interior of the house, as well as complement it.

Instructions for craftsmen: how to make a simple chain-link fence without welding with your own hands

Making a durable and reliable fence from a chain-link mesh is a fairly simple and interesting task. Its implementation does not require a large amount of professional knowledge and skills. To work, you only need tools and materials, as well as the desire of the master.

There are two ways to make a galvanized fence from chain-link mesh:

  1. Using a welding machine.
  2. No welding.

Since not every homeowner has a welding machine at his disposal (or does not know how to use it), we will consider the option of installing a fence without using it.

Important! Installing a fence without welding will allow you to build a structure that will be less practical than its welded counterpart.

Tools and materials

To ensure that the construction of the fence does not cause difficulties, you must first stock up on all the necessary tools and materials. During the work you will need:

  • chain-link mesh (non-galvanized, galvanized or plasticized);
  • support pillars (wooden, metal or reinforced concrete);
  • special fastening hooks;
  • sand, screenings, crushed stone and cement;
  • shovel;
  • building level;
  • mounting tape;
  • hammer or drill;
  • bolts, nails or screws.

Step-by-step instructions for installing a galvanized mesh fence

The simplest option for a mesh fence for a summer house is a tension fence. Its installation will not take as much time as it might seem at first glance. To perform the work correctly, it is necessary to know and follow a clear sequence of the entire technological process.


Advice! To install a tension fence made of chain-link mesh, it is best to hire an assistant who will help you get the job done faster.

A chain-link fence is the best budget option for a summer cottage. Install such a fence with your own hands, you will appreciate its advantages not only from personal experience, but also see it by the increased amount of harvest received from the beds.

Video instruction: how to build a chain-link fence without welding with your own hands

Chain-link fence: photo


Wire mesh is an ideal material for lightweight fencing. It does not obscure the light, and therefore is widely used for fencing beds, gardens, and marking the boundaries of neighboring areas. To install a chain-link fence with your own hands, you don’t need to be an experienced craftsman; you just need to familiarize yourself with and choose the right materials.

Fence materials

The appearance, durability and cost of a chain-link fence directly depend on the quality of the mesh. Metal mesh is available in three versions:

  • non-galvanized;
  • galvanized;
  • plasticized.

The cheapest of all. It is not suitable for permanent fencing because it begins to rust after the first rain. Typically, untreated black mesh lasts no more than 3-4 years. To extend its service life, non-galvanized chain-link should be coated either with paint or with special compounds, which, after application, form a water-repellent coating on the mesh. This treatment must be repeated periodically, which ultimately costs more than purchasing galvanized mesh.


It is not afraid of moisture and does not require protective treatment. Its appearance is much more attractive; such a mesh looks especially good in sectional fences. The cost of galvanized mesh is higher than regular black mesh, but since it lasts longer and does not need to be painted every 2-3 years, this option is more practical.


Plasticized mesh has a special polymer coating that is resistant to corrosion. The coating is not only durable, but also comes in a variety of colors, so you can choose a mesh to match the main fence or roof of the house. The most popular are blue and green chain-link fences; it is less common to see a white, red or yellow mesh fence.



Special attention should be paid to the supporting posts of the fence. Chain-link mesh can be attached to metal pipes, steel profiles, concrete posts and even wooden posts.

The most convenient and practical supports are square metal pipes. Manufacturers offer pipes with already welded hooks, especially for installing mesh fences. To reduce the cost of installing the fence, they also use used pipes, and weld the hooks themselves. In addition, fastening with hooks is not the only option; you can fix the mesh using steel wire.


How to calculate the amount of materials

The most popular for making fences is a chain-link mesh with a width of 1.5 m and cell sizes of 40-50 mm. A standard roll of mesh has a length of 10 m. To prevent the mesh from sagging, support posts must be installed in increments of 2-2.5 m. This means that no more than 5 posts will be required per roll. The above-ground part of the supports should be 10 cm greater than the width of the mesh, and the posts should be dug into the ground at 1/3 of their height.

So, if you need to install a chain-link fence 30 m long and 1.5 m high, the work will require 3 rolls of mesh and 16 posts 2.3-2.5 m long. Each post should have 3 hooks attached - at the top, bottom and in the middle . By multiplying the number of supports by 3, you will find out how many hooks you will need. If the fence is sectional, additionally calculate the number of metal corners for the frame. The height of each section is equal to the width of the mesh, and the length of the run is 2-2.5 m. The most convenient corner for a frame is 40x40 mm, 5 mm thick.

Prices for mesh netting

Rabitz

Manufacturing of tension fence


Chain-link tension fencing is faster to complete than sectional fencing and is less expensive. The installation process includes marking, preparing holes for posts, installing posts and fence fabric.

To work you will need:


Step 1. Marking the area

Take wooden pegs and long twine and start marking. First you need to determine the location of the outer pillars. In these places, pegs are driven in and a string is pulled between them at a height of 10 cm above the ground. If the fence line has breaks, a beacon is also placed on each of them and a rope is secured. Further along the marking line, you need to drive in pegs where the intermediate supports will stand. The distance between the pegs must be the same and correspond to the width of the run.

Step 2. Preparing holes for pillars


In places marked with pegs, using a garden drill, make holes with a depth of 80 to 120 cm. The denser the soil, the shallower the depth. The diameter of the holes should be slightly larger than the diameter of the posts. A sand cushion 10 cm thick is placed at the bottom of each pit.

Step 3. Installation of load-bearing pillars



Prepare the pipes: clean their surface from oil stains and rust, grind it, weld the hooks. The welding areas are cleaned, scale is removed, and then the pipes are primed and painted. After this, the posts are lowered into the holes, leveled, and reinforced with spacers. If all the supports have the same height and are located strictly along the same line, you can fill. During the pouring process, the solution is pierced several times with a steel rod to remove air bubbles from the concrete.


Step 4. Attaching the chain-link mesh


There is no need to unwind the roll to secure the mesh to the poles. It is lifted vertically, placed against the first support and hooked. If there are no hooks, the mesh is screwed with steel wire in three or four places. It is recommended to leave 10-15 cm between the surface of the ground and the lower edge of the mesh. You can attach it close to the soil, but then the cells will quickly become entangled in grass, and debris, branches, and fallen leaves will accumulate under the fence.


Having secured the chain-link to the first post, move on to the second. The roll is unwound 2-2.5 m, placed against a support and the mesh is pulled. To ensure uniform tension, a 1.5 m long steel rod is threaded into the cells along the height of the roll. This process is best done with an assistant: one person pulls the mesh, the other screws it with wire or hooks it.

Even a tightly stretched chain-link sags over time, especially in the upper part. Reinforcing wire or long steel rods threaded into cells along the perimeter of the fence at a distance of 5-7 cm from the top and welded to the posts will help to avoid this. Sometimes the wire is threaded both from above and along the bottom edge, 20 cm away from the ground. Finally, the ends of the wire and hooks are bent inward, and plugs are put on all support posts.


Manufacturing a sectional fence


Marking and installation of support posts for a sectional fence is carried out using the technology described above. The only difference is that the posts should not have hooks, but rather welded metal plates. These plates have dimensions of 15x5 cm and a thickness of 5 mm; Weld them on top and bottom to the racks, departing 20 cm from the edges.

To assemble the sections you will need:

  • Rabitz;
  • steel corners 40x40 mm;
  • Bulgarian;
  • roulette;
  • reinforcement bars.

Step 1. Assembling the frame

Measure the distance between the supporting posts and subtract 15-20 cm from it - this will be the width of the frame from the corners. The height of the section is equal to the width of the mesh or the height of the post minus 20 cm. The steel corners are cut to the size of the section and into a rectangle. Then the scale is removed, the inner and outer surfaces of the frame are ground.


Step 2: Preparing the mesh

The roll of chain-link is laid on the ground, unrolled 2-2.5 m and carefully cut to width with a grinder. Now reinforcing bars are threaded into the outer rows of cells on each side. There is no need to connect the rods together.

Step 3. Section installation

The mesh is laid on the frame and the upper reinforcement is welded to the inside of the corner. Next, pull the mesh well down and weld the bottom rod, after which the sides are secured. The finished section is lifted vertically to the posts and welded to metal plates. You can also secure the section with bolts by drilling a hole of the required diameter in the protruding part of the plate.

When installing the next section, you must ensure that the edges of adjacent frames are on the same line. Even a difference of 1-2 cm will be noticeable and will give the fence a sloppy look. Finally, the sections are primed and painted. This way you can make a fence of any size without much hassle.




Video - DIY chain-link fence

A fence is an essential element of any private property. If experts recommend fencing country houses with more reliable protective structures, then summer cottages are their practical and inexpensive options. The most suitable material for a country fence is chain-link mesh. With its help, you can not only make a durable fence, but also increase the productivity of the beds, since the design does not interfere with natural ventilation on the land plot, and also does not block the access of the sun to it. To build a chain-link fence with your own hands, you don’t need to be a professional. This article will reveal all the secrets of craftsmen in installing a practical fence without welding, and will also tell you what tools and materials you need to have to perform such work.

Features of chain-link mesh, its advantages

Chain-link mesh is a universal material that is indispensable in summer cottages. It has many advantages that make it even more popular among buyers. These include:

  • affordable price. Chain-link mesh is a budget option for building a fence, because not every homeowner is able to allocate a decent amount of money to install a more expensive structure at their dacha;
  • long service life. High-quality galvanized mesh is capable of maintaining its original appearance for several decades (up to 40-50 years). It does not rust and does not deform if used correctly.
  • the need to use a minimum number of tools and fastening materials during the installation of the fence;

Important! You can install a chain-link fence with or without welding. Installation without welding is ideal for people who do not know how to work with such equipment.

  • ease of care of the material;
  • The mesh does not interfere with natural air circulation and does not shade the area.

Important! A chain-link fence serves as an ideal fencing not only for beds, flower beds or vegetable gardens, it is also indispensable in the process of arranging children's playgrounds, enclosures for pets, etc.

Material classification

Depending on the material of manufacture, chain-link mesh comes in three types:

  1. Non-galvanized.
  2. Galvanized.
  3. Plasticized.

Non-galvanized mesh is a fairly cheap material. Of course, it is more affordable, but its long service life can be doubted, since under the influence of moisture the surface very quickly becomes covered with rust.

Galvanized mesh is the most popular among customers. It is a little more expensive than its non-galvanized counterpart and does not rust, which is really very valuable.

Plasticized material is a modern option, but more expensive. In the manufacturing process, polymers are used that properly protect the metal mesh from moisture. Plasticized mesh has different colors. Each homeowner is able to choose a material that will ideally suit the interior of the house, as well as complement it.

Instructions for craftsmen: how to make a simple chain-link fence without welding with your own hands

Making a durable and reliable fence from a chain-link mesh is a fairly simple and interesting task. Its implementation does not require a large amount of professional knowledge and skills. To work, you only need tools and materials, as well as the desire of the master.

There are two ways to make a galvanized fence from chain-link mesh:

  1. Using a welding machine.
  2. No welding.

Since not every homeowner has a welding machine at his disposal (or does not know how to use it), we will consider the option of installing a fence without using it.

Important! Installing a fence without welding will allow you to build a structure that will be less practical than its welded counterpart.

Tools and materials

To ensure that the construction of the fence does not cause difficulties, you must first stock up on all the necessary tools and materials. During the work you will need:

  • chain-link mesh (non-galvanized, galvanized or plasticized);
  • support pillars (wooden, metal or reinforced concrete);
  • special fastening hooks;
  • sand, screenings, crushed stone and cement;
  • shovel;
  • building level;
  • mounting tape;
  • hammer or drill;
  • bolts, nails or screws.

Step-by-step instructions for installing a galvanized mesh fence

The simplest option for a mesh fence for a summer house is a tension fence. Its installation will not take as much time as it might seem at first glance. To perform the work correctly, it is necessary to know and follow a clear sequence of the entire technological process.


Advice! To install a tension fence made of chain-link mesh, it is best to hire an assistant who will help you get the job done faster.

A chain-link fence is the best budget option for a summer cottage. Install such a fence with your own hands, you will appreciate its advantages not only from personal experience, but also see it by the increased amount of harvest received from the beds.

Video instruction: how to build a chain-link fence without welding with your own hands

Chain-link fence: photo


You and I should thank Karl Rabitz for his amazing invention - a sectional chain-link fence. For more than a hundred years, it has been actively used by summer residents and gardeners, engineers, builders and architects. Some urgently needed to fence a chicken coop, others needed to fence their plot of land. Chain-link mesh is found almost everywhere. By the way, when delimiting certain areas of land, a fence made of opaque material cannot be installed. So there is not and cannot be any serious alternative to a chain-link fence. With a minimal set of tools and steady hands, absolutely any man can install such a fence.

The main criteria for choosing a chain-link mesh

Anyone can distinguish a chain-link fence from any other fence just by looking at a photo. Indeed, this is the name of the canvas, which is made of many wire spirals. They are securely woven together. Design features allow you to quickly form sections. The cell size can vary between 20-100 mm. The most popular size is considered to be 30-50 mm. The height of the roll is also different, it can be either 1 or 2 meters.

First of all, when choosing a chain link for a fence, pay attention to the wire. Its diameter varies from 1.2 to 5 mm, the type of coating also differs:

  • There is no coverage. The so-called “black” chain-link. We do not recommend buying such a mesh for solid fences. It is not durable, and its high-quality painting is out of the question.
  • Zinc coating. This option is considered the most common. After some time, a DIY chain-link fence will lose its color, but will not become covered with rust. Therefore, it can serve you for more than a dozen years.
  • Stainless steel coating. Believe it or not, a fence made of such material is considered almost eternal. Its main drawback is the price. If you need to fence a decent area, a stainless steel mesh can “hit” the family budget.
  • Polymer coating. Such products appeared on sale relatively recently, but have already managed to find their customers. Judge for yourself: the service life is decent, a wide range of colors allows you to realize almost any fantasy.

Stage 1. Installation of supports

Whatever installation option you choose, you will definitely need to mark the area and install poles. This is what you and I will do.

Installing a chain-link fence involves accurately measuring the boundaries of the fence. You also need to decide in advance on the location of the gate and wicket. The construction site is cleared of all kinds of debris and unnecessary vegetation in advance. After this, you need to drive metal or wooden stakes where you plan to install the corner posts and supports.

How to determine the location for installing intermediate posts? It’s very simple - take a strong cord and pull it neatly between the stakes. After this, measure the distance. We recommend placing racks at a distance of 2 or 2.5 meters from each other. The resulting distance is divided by 2.5 and rounded up.

This procedure during the installation of a fence from any chain-link will allow you to determine the exact number of corner posts. Since the thickness of the posts, the appearance of the fence and the underlying soil can be different, there are several types of installation. Wooden poles? Immediately “no”, since they are short-lived. Concrete? This is also not the best option, because you will definitely have difficulties when attaching the mesh.

It is most convenient to install a chain-link fence using metal posts made of a profile or square pipe. Its diameter is from 6 cm in diameter. In the future, we will consider this particular option, which allows us to install the chain link efficiently and reliably.

During installation you can use the following methods:

  • Drive the posts into the ground.
  • Place in a deep hole, cover with crushed stone and compact well.
  • Concrete completely or partially.

All these examples are clearly demonstrated by the photo:

When placing posts for a future chain-link fence, it is extremely important to correctly calculate their length and depth, find out the level of groundwater, the degree of freezing of the ground, etc. use a simple rule - at least 40% of the height of the post should be in the ground.

In practice, this process looks like this:

  • Install the corner posts. Make sure that they are strictly vertical - use a level to do this.
  • Prepare holes to install intermediate posts. We advise you to stock up on a good drill. It will be much easier for you to install a chain-link fence with your own hands, especially if the soil on the site is not the softest.
  • When the concrete hardens, we begin to pull the cord, but already along the top of the racks. This will allow us to control the height of the intermediate supports. It will not be superfluous to tension the cord below. This way you can check if the pillars are on the same line.
  • Regular sand will help make the task of leveling the supports easier. It is poured to the bottom first, and as work progresses you just change the height of the improvised “pillow”. By the way, you can build a fence using gravel or small crushed stone, which you use to replace sand.
  • All racks that have been adjusted in height are finally poured with concrete, after which they are primed and painted. You will have to wait at least a week for the concrete to harden properly. In the photo below you can see how to use the cord when installing intermediate supports.

Stage 2. Construction of the fence

Fences for dachas are different, and their purpose is also significantly different. Some people need a very powerful fence for grazing animals, while others will be happy with the lightest, simplest structure on the border with a neighbor’s land plot. Each task has its own version.

The simplest do-it-yourself chain-link fence involves simply attaching it to supports that we have already installed. Take one, or better yet two assistants - this will simplify the installation task.

  1. Roll out the chain link on the ground to a distance only slightly larger than the span. For example, if it is 2 meters, you roll out to 2.5 meters and so on.
  2. The edges of the spirals are bent with pliers. Firstly, this will save you from unwanted injuries, and secondly, it will prevent the mesh from unwinding during the installation process.
  3. During the fastening process, the mesh gradually unwinds further.

Its diameter should be from 6 to 10 mm. With the help of another such pin, the assistant will tension the fabric.

The rod installed in the support is attached as follows:

  • You can secure it with soft wire. The method, although fast, is not very beautiful.
  • Instead of wire, fixation is carried out using special clamps. A visual photo shows what it looks like in real life:
  • You put the pin on the hooks that were prepared in advance, and then bend them. Hooks can be made from pieces of thick wire: diameter 0.4-0.6 cm, length 5-8 cm. They are welded to the stand at a distance of about 40-50 cm.

Improved version using lags

How to make a chain-link fence not only beautiful, but also as reliable as possible? It's simple - weld the joists to the racks. It is desirable that they be made of profile pipe. This method of fastening is good because you do not need to install additional braces for the racks. However, the photo speaks for itself:

A fence with logs is good because in the future you can easily decorate the fence even more and hang additional material on it.

The chain-link can be easily changed to slate or corrugated sheet. This will make the fence more powerful and solid.

A fence made of sections is the most practical solution

Surely, you have heard about such a thing as a sectional fence made of ordinary chain-link. It is a fence consisting of sections (corner plus mesh). Despite certain difficulties in manufacturing, the sectional design does have many advantages:

  • From an aesthetic point of view, a sectional fence can be considered one of the most beautiful.
  • Since each section has its own structural element, there will definitely not be any issues with the chain-link sagging or loss of its properties.
  • The sections are easily dismantled, and previously used posts can serve as support for the construction of a new fence.
  • Like a combined fence made of corrugated sheets, this type of fencing can be installed even on an area with a large slope. An ordinary chain-link tensions when the level increases by no more than 6 degrees, which fully corresponds to a slope of 1:10. Any excess of these values ​​is already a reason to install a sectional fence, as shown in the photo:

We will not dwell in detail on this type of installation, since it does not differ significantly from previous methods. Unless you have to use a grinder or a mounting saw to cut the pieces to the required size.

Decorating a chain-link mesh: the most unusual solutions

Those who would like to move away from the classical canons will be interested in our next section. He clearly describes how making a seemingly traditional chain-link fence can be turned into a fun activity.

The first and, perhaps, one of the most beautiful ways is to make patterns from wire. Despite the fact that it is quite labor-intensive, the result will please you for a long time.

As an option, you can weave bright cords and ribbons from polymer. It is catchy, lively, but not durable at all.

The installation of a chain-link fence and subsequent planting of living plants should not be discounted. The main thing is to remove dry branches and leaves in a timely manner. This is especially true in the autumn-winter period.

An interesting, and to some extent even unusual, solution would be a light-shading mesh. It can have a wide variety of color shades. It greatly affects the weight, so they are not suitable for a regular tension fence - unlike fencing made of corrugated sheets and chain-link mesh.

Recently, the so-called photo fence has become very popular. It is made of decorative photo mesh or PVC. The material is not only beautiful, but also expensive, so it all depends on the state of your wallet.

So, we have smoothly approached the logical conclusion of the article. Now you know how to install a fence made of mesh. We wish you success in construction, may your new fence please you for many years to come!