According to www.askthebuilder.com, the first step is finding the right gauge of fence. The gauge is the thickness of the fence. Go to a city playground and take a look at the fence there. That is around the same thickness you will need for a quality fence.
Then, you want to have a survey of your yard done. Installing the fence right against the property line is a big mistake, because you don't want to dig in your neighbor's yard. Keep the fence at least 4 inches away from your neighbor's property line.
From there, you can start planning how your fence will be installed. Our fencing expert, Mark Williams from Viking Fence, gives us some tips on how to get started.
"Find your corners. Set your corner poles, and then you want to pull a string in between them," Williams says.
You will want to set all terminal posts first. These posts are the ones that turn corners. Once these are set, you can then calculate even distances between terminals for your regular line posts.
Now you are ready to install line posts. If your lot is level or slopes evenly in the same direction, then you have to string a line between terminal posts. If the ground between the terminal posts rises and falls slightly, then the line posts must stick up the same distance from the top of the ground. This will allow the top of the fence to be parallel with the ground. This will make your fence look professionally done.
Make sure the concrete around the posts is not too wet and that the concrete is humped with the highest point being at the posts. You want rain water to flow off the concrete and not accumulate there.
You will then want to install all of the fittings on the posts, the top rails, and the fabric. If you don't do it right the first time, Williams has some advice.
"When you want to redo your chain-link, you always want to bend one side in. Then you lay them all on the ground and unroll it. Pull it tight and cut your weave out. Then, when you cut your weave out, you can stand a chain-link up and pull it like a temporary tie to hold the chain-link up. Put in your stretching bar and find something to pull the chain-link tight. Once it comes along, find out what length you need to cut it. Cut your link; unweave it; and then bend the rest of it," Williams says.
Installing a chain-link fence will take time and patience. Williams says if you have never built a fence before, consider leaving it to the professionals the first time around. You can always watch what they do as they build your fence and learn from there. Also, talk to all the industry experts about your ideas and see if they are realistic. Remember, you are building a chain-link fence for your protection, so take the time and care to research what it is all about.
