may not be the most beautiful fences in the world, but they are a cost-effective way to fence large areas of land. From the fields and backstops of baseball games to the boundaries of parks and playgrounds, images of chain link are woven into the fabric of the collective American memory.
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Fences may not be the most beautiful fences in the world, but they are a cost-effective way to fence large areas of land. From the fields and backstops of baseball games to the boundaries of parks and playgrounds, images of chain link are woven into the fabric of the collective American memory.
Speaking of fabric, did you know that the idea for chain link fences originated in with a fabric manufacturer in Norwich, England? Charles Barnard, of textile manufacturer Barnard, Bishop & Barnard, had the idea to use his company&#;s fabric weaving machines for metal. Thus, the chain link was born. It didn&#;t take long for chain link to be used for fencing, and just a year later, Anchor Post Fence Co. brought the first chain link weaving machine to America.
Chain link became a perfect fit for a still growing USA: it was a durable, cost-effective fence material that proved to be ideal for agriculture, industry, and cities. Chain link fences have survived the test of time, and are still the perfect fences for commercial applications when price and durability are the main objectives. Texas Fence Buyers Guide.
While chain link has become less popular amongst homeowners, it is still one of the most popular fences used for commercial applications because they are cost effective they are and how quick to install.
Chain link fences are especially useful for educational and municipal applications where spending budgets come from tax dollars. In these cases, decision makers are accountable to their communities for how they spend their money. Chain link is often the number one choice for these decision makers because they allow schools and cities to keep children, citizens, and property safe at a price point all parties can agree on.
Chain link also benefits privately owned businesses that need a lot of fence, yet don&#;t want to compromise durability with in favor of a lower price. For instance, oil and gas companies generally have multiple facilities they need protected like drilling sites, pipeline sites, plant sites, and even valve sites that follow their pipelines. With miles and miles of assets to protect and account for, chain link is the most economical solution for these companies. Much in the same vein, warehouses tend to require a lot of fencing and benefit from the cost/durability ratio chain link provides.
In short, our Texas Fence Buyers Guide says, if you need to build a lot of fence fast and on a budget, chain link is the way to go.
A quick side note: although chain link is a fantastic value for your budget (we&#;ll dive more deeply into its durability later), one thing to consider is that chain link, while secure and a great deterrent to trespassers, is not the most secure fence on the market. It stands to reason that a fence built from a thicker metal, such as iron, would be harder to break through and therefore more secure. Chain link is fantastic for keeping curious parties away from pipeline valves, high city overpasses, and electrical equipment, but if security is a top concern, consider an iron fence.
Like most fences, chain link fences are constructed around posts. There are two types of posts used for chain link fences, terminal posts (also known as corner posts) and line posts. Corner posts are the load-bearers of the fence and make sure the chain link is taut between the posts. Line posts are smaller and spaced in between the corner posts to provide extra stability for the fence and hold the chain link straight.
As far as material is concerned, chain link is made out of steel. But the steel used for chain link fences has become thinner as steel prices have increased over the years. A chain link fence built decades ago may last 50 or 60 years. Today, a chain link fence will likely last you around 25 years. Read on for more of our Texas Fence Buyers Guide.
If you want to limit access with a durable fence at a low price, chain link may be the best fit. But which type of chain link is best for your application?
Chain link is manufactured in many different ways to fit many different scenarios, but one thing all good chain link has in common is that it&#;s galvanized. Steel is the name of the game when it comes to chain link fence, but untreated steel is susceptible to rust and corrosion. The galvanization process coats the steel wire used in chain link with zinc. The zinc coating acts as a guard against rust and corrosion and is integral for any chain link fence to reach its maximum lifespan with good looks intact.
While galvanization is the best solution to prevent rust and corrosion in most areas, it is not strong enough to prevent rust close to the sea. Large bodies of salty water, such as the Gulf Coast, produce salt spray and salt spray is notorious for corroding steel&#; galvanized or not. If your planned fence is near the shore, an aluminized galvanized chain link fence is the best option to increase the lifetime of your investment.
Aluminized steel is regular steel that has been coated with an aluminum-silicon alloy. The silicon helps the aluminum adhere to the steel, and the result is a signature sleek, shiny sheen of aluminized chain link that will protect your fence from salt spray over the long haul.
Vinyl coated chain link is best for situations where chain link is the right fit, but it may be a bit rough around the edges. If your fence is going to have a lot of children coming into contact with it- like a fence around a school playground or a minor-league baseball field- a vinyl-coated chain link fence may be the best solution to prevent scrapes and torn clothes.
Just as the type of material makes a difference in your fence, so does the size of the material. Chain link wire comes in different gauges ranging from delicate to heavy duty. The lower the gauge number, the thicker the wire. 9 gauge chain link is the standard for commercial grade fences, and it is robust enough for normal wear and tear. If your fence is going to take a beating, 6 gauge is a much better choice. For example, 6 gauge wire would be used for a baseball backstop fence because it&#;s strong enough to take the impact of baseballs flying at high speeds.
Make sure your fence gauge can stand up against whatever your application throws at it.
Need even more options for your fence? Because chain link has a lot of gaps, chain link fences aren&#;t typically thought of as a privacy fence. But there are options to make your chain link fence more private like windscreens and privacy slats. Windscreens help deter gusts of wind, but they also come in different visibility levels. At the highest levels, no light is let through so that your privacy is kept intact. For a more colorful privacy solution, special slats in a range of colors can be placed between the chain link to block views. For added security, barbed and razor wire can be used at the top or bottom of the fence.
If you need to replace a chain link fence or are interested in having a new chain link fence constructed around your school or business, call 281-807- or fill out our contact form for a free estimate. We hope the Texas Fence Buyers Guide has been helpful.
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Galvanised Chain Wire Fencing.
How To Choose Chain Wire Fencing Products
Chain Wire or Chain link fencing is one of the most versatile types of fencing meshes, used for a wide variety of applications in domestic, rural, commercial and industrial fencing. There are a lot of different options when choosing chain wire mesh, and this guide aims to clarify the most common questions people have to the various specifics available when choosing the right products to make their chain wire fence. The applicable Australian Standard for chain wire mesh products is AS.
Chain wire mesh comes in wide different heights from 600mm high all the way up to mm high rolls. Some of the taller rolls might not be in stock at your local fencing supply store, but can be able to be ordered in.
The height to choose obviously depends on the application. mm, mm and mm are the most common for domestic fencing, while security fencing normally requires mm to mm. Tennis court fencing is normally mm or mm high.
What should the chain wire mesh look like on the top and bottom? There are three different varieties as you can see in the images below, but not many applications call for having the barb selvedge on both ends. Most suppliers mainly stock knuckle / barb and knuckle / knuckle selvedge - the barb / barb selvedge is usually made to order. The knuckle / barb selvedge is mainly used in commercial and security fencing to make it unpleasant and more difficult to climb over the fence. For domestic fences where children and animals play, it is recommended to use a knuckle / knuckle selvedge.
Chain wire mesh is available in galvanised, PVC covered mesh and stainless steel. Galvanised mesh is the more affordable option, with PVC covered mesh often costing 30% &#; 50% more than the galvanised option. Stainless steel is more rare, and the most expensive option.
PVC coated chain wire mesh is designed for superior longevity as the coating provides extra protection against rust and corrosion. If your fence will be exposed to sea air, it is highly recommended to invest in PVC coated mesh, as the salt in the air will speed up the process of breaking down the zinc coating in galvanised wire.
PVC coated mesh has also been a popular choice of people concerned with design and aesthetics, and the black mesh usually looks better and is easier to see through than galvanised. The PVC will also prolong the life of the chain wire as it acts as a protective barrier over the galvanised wire.
Most chain wire mesh uses a 2.5mm diam standard weight hot dip galvanised wire. The 50mm diamond mesh is also available in a 3.15mm heavy galvanised wire for commercial applications and where climate conditions require a heavier duty, longer life wire. E.g. near coastal locations.
You can staple chain wire onto timber posts, but the standard for chain wire fencing is to use galvanised steel pipe posts where 1.57mm galvanised or PVC tie wire is used to lace the chain wire to the steel posts. These posts come in various diameters and thicknesses from 20NB (27mm OD) to 100NB (114mm OD). NB stands for nominal bore size, indicating internal diameter. The posts can come in up to mm lengths, they are commonly available in ready to use lengths &#; most posts are placed 600mm deep into the ground &#; deeper for corner and gate posts.
Corner, end and gate posts need to be larger diameter and thicker wall than the intermediate posts, with 50NB the most commonly used and 80NB used for larger security type gate openings.
Intermediate posts should be spaced equally at no more than mm spacing. 32NB &#; 40NB (48mm OD) piping is usually used for intermediate posts.
Steel tubes of 25NB to 32NB (43mm OD) can also be used for horizontal rails and braces.
The posts also come in different colours, such as black, galvanised and green, and should be matched up to the colour of the chain wire mesh. Coloured powder coated products are more expensive (30-40%) and are often made to order.
The horizontal top rails will help in bracing the fence posts, while a bottom rail will prevent people and dogs lifting the mesh up to pass under the fence.
Where top and bottom rails are not used and for all commercial applications, 3.15mm galvanised fencing wire is used top, bottom and middle (for fences over mm high) along the length of the fence to provide a framework to attach the mesh. If the fencing wire is not used, the mesh can be a little &#;loose&#; and maybe floppy. Commercial fences often use a &#;helical&#; horizontal wire &#; a specialised form of fencing wire which can flex and absorb impacts.
Most fences need a gate or an opening. Most fencing supply companies will be able to provide a gate meshed with chain wire. Chain wire gates come in a variety of widths to suit openings from 1 to 6 metres. The heights normally vary between mm to mm high, although you can get custom designed gates made to order. Depending upon the application, 25mm, 500 and 60mm diamond chain wire mesh is used in both plain galvanised and PVC coated wire finishes. The gate frames can be powder coated various colours. Hinge and latch sets for both timber and steel posts are available. Security gates use barb wire along the top.
Another attribute to consider when choosing your chain wire mesh is the diamond size. The most common sizes are 60mm and 50mm, although you can get diamond sizes from as small as 25mm up to 100mm. 60mm diamond is most frequently used in domestic applications &#; maximum roll width for 60mm diamond is mm.
Security fences are often fitted with several strands of barb wire above the chain wire mesh to discourage anyone to climb over the fence. The barb wire can either be attached by using taller posts than the chain wire mesh, or attach an extending clamp from the posts.
There are a range of different fittings to help you fit all the pieces of the chain wire puzzle together. The different pipe fittings serve different purposes, and should help you construct just the right fence for you. In the table below, you will see a few of the most common chain wire post fittings and how they are used.
The chain wire mesh is usually attached to the posts and rails by tie wire. There are numerous techniques in doing this, from tying off every 4th diamond to weaving the tie wire through each diamond and around the steel pipe. Match the colour of the tie wire to the colour of the mesh and posts to make the tie wire blend in.
For more information, please visit Wrought Iron Fence Nets Wholesale.