The 5 Best Chain Link Fence Panels | Plus DIY Tips
Are you concerned about protecting your work site or residence premises? Do you want to maintain safety while safeguarding the site from outside injury?
If your answer is “yes” to these, chain link fence panels should be your best bet.
What Are They?
Heavy duty chain link fence panels have become a staple for both homeowners and business owners to take the security of their property to the next level.
Ideal for outdoor use, these are versatile and affordable solutions for those searching for an easy and quick way to secure and protect their property.
Usually coated with galvanized paint, chain link fence panels ensure years of rust-free wear.
Contents
Comparing The Options
- Cage size: 20'L x 10'W x 6'H (i.e. 3x6 meters)
- Designed to fit 1-3/8" rails and 1-3/8" posts
- 👉 Functional:Privacy Solution for cover chain link fence,It can block surrounding noise and street view, weaken dogs from barking at neighbors and provide shade protection for outdoor pet kennels.It’s not totally opaque with one layer, but doubled up you can’t see a thing through it.Fabric is breathable,allows breeze to go through.
- This high quality chain link mesh fence with PVC coating, with a total length of 49' 2", has a height of 4' 1"
- Durable galvanized steel construction, Rust-Resistant For Outdoor Use
Installation Tips
The Lowe’s Home Improvement YouTube channel provides a budget-friendly fence option- showing you step by step all details need to install the perfect fence for your backyard.
How Do They Work?
Different types of chain link fence panels are available in the market, made of different components like galvanized steel, iron and aluminum. You can also select these based on your preferred mode like heat treated, chemical and nature, (Source) and between powder coated and PVC coated.
You may even opt for temporary chain link fence panels, which are completely handcrafted.
These premium quality panels are generally constructed using traditional techniques (tension bands and tension bars, tied with tie wires) and prime materials.
You can easily set-up and tear-down these chain link fence panels, saving your time and money. You can learn more about chain link fence panels at the Hebei Winner Chain Link Fence website.
There’re a number of applications for chain link fence panels in both residential and commercial sectors. The most common use is defining boundaries as the fence doesn’t block the view, allowing property owners to see through it. Using it to create a smaller kennel is another common use (Source) of chain link fence among pet owners. Other common uses include defining sports fields, creating the first line of defense in high-security areas, keeping trespassers out in factories and industrial buildings, among others.
Video Guide: Explaining The Basics
Selection Factors To Consider
With a wide variety of options to choose from, buying a chain link fence could often appear to be a tough task for many potential buyers. Earlier, the choice was much easier as you had limited varieties of this all galvanized, traditional steel product.
But now, these fence panels are available in various colors and weights, which are crafted to meet the varied needs of industrial, commercial, and residential settings.
By using modern techniques like powder-coating, vinyl coating, and fuse-bonding, chain link fence panels are now available in a wide range of sizes, colors, and strengths.
As a buyer, this is good news for you since you now have more feasible options for setting up chain link fences – be it for style, security, or both.
Before selecting a particular chain link fence panel, the most important step is to consider the purpose you want it to install it for. If you don’t identify the tasks you want your chain link fence to achieve, you may end up choosing the wrong one and feel disappointed when its performance doesn’t match your expectations.
So, the first step of buying chain link fence panels is to ask yourself certain questions like:
- Would it be used to enclose a large pet? Or a smaller one?
- Would it be placed near significant vegetation?
- Would children be playing near it or climbing on it?
- Do you want it for organized sports activities?
- Would the fence be close to a parking lot or vehicle traffic?
Identifying these issues and understanding the purpose of putting the fence would make you ready to consider the four key components of a chain link fence:
- Fabric
- Framework
- Various fittings, and
- Gate
Choosing The Fabric And Framework Of Chain Link Fence Panels
The netting or fabric refers to the diamond-shaped wire that makes up the fence’s ‘field’ while the framework stands for the supports and posts for the fabric.
In galvanized steel chain link fencing, the fabric comes in a wide range of weights or gauges. As compared to the thinner wire or higher gauge, the heavier wire and the lower gauge is usually more expensive.
You may take your pick from common chain link mesh, which is available in 11-gauge (or thin); 10-gauge, which is slightly thicker; and 9-gauge, the heaviest (Source).
There’s variation in the mesh diameter too. The inside diagonal measurement is what’s taken to be the “square” measurement. 2 inches is the most widespread chain link mesh square that you’ll often find on 9- to 11-gauge mesh. However, in heavier construction grade fencing, you may also find a somewhat larger square. Usually, you’ll find chain link mesh in 3- to 12-foot heights available in the market.
When selecting the fabric (or mesh/netting), there are three decisive factors: the wire’s thickness; the size of the openings in it; and how well the wire’s protective coating is. The fence’s strength depends on the wire’s thickness. You’ll often find thinner gauges being used in commercial settings. Make sure to select an adequate gauge of wire for the fabric, or your fence may end up looking worn-out well before it’s time.
When it comes to protective coating, chain link fence panels’ wire is often coated with zinc to avoid the metals getting oxidized, which would have otherwise caused rusting.
Chain link panels with PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and polyester finishes, which are usually more suitable for a residential setting, would be more expensive as the rubberized coating (added atop the zinc finish) bonds to the steel. Thus, it adds an additional protective layer of rust prevention apart from offering a smoother, softer finish.
Depending on your fabric, you have to choose a framework that can ensure it stands at its designated place securely. Factors to consider while choosing a framework include the support pipe’s gauge, diameter, and coating. Based on how high you want your fence to be, you should choose a fitting diameter of the support pipe.
Fitting Issues
Since the fittings hold your fabric to the framework, you should ensure they are adequately protected and of sufficient gauge. If you are putting up the fence to augment the aesthetics of the space, you need to select the fittings and other accessories accordingly.
Gates
Your gate, as well as the gate hardware, needs to be adequately strong to put up with the anticipated use. Usually, fence gates are available in three styles:
- Bent tube single swing gate, where the frame of the gate is a single pipe, which has been bent to make the gate;
- Welded single swing gates, where four pipes are welded at the corners; and
- Assembled gates, where four pipes are mechanically connected to each other.
Apart from these common styles, you may also get welded double swing and slide cantilever gates. You should always consider your site layout and functional requirements before choosing your style of gate.
Remember that “Opening Size” of the gate stands for the distance from inside face to inside face of the gate posts. The distance from outside edge to outside edge of the gate panel is what’s called the gate’s “Outside Measurement”.
Since the difference between the Outside Measurement and Opening Size (Source) is the tolerance necessary for the gate latch and gate hinge dimensions, you should be careful about it while setting up your chain link fence panel gate.
