Achain link fence is one of the most popular types of residential fences. Chain link fences can be used for a variety of reasons in many different places. They are much more versatile than the popular wooden fences available because they can be placed in the smallest of areas or the largest of areas. If a wooden fence is not in your budget or simply not practical for the area you need to fence, a chain link fence may be a better choice. Be sure to see how to build a wood fence.

While a wire fence can be as short or as long as you need, this article will explain how to construct a 4 ft chain link fence.    

Materials and Tools:

• 2 3/8" Corner Posts 
• 1 5/8" Line Posts 
• 1 3/8" Top Rail 
• Chain Link Wire 
• Tension Wire 
• Tie Wire 
• Hog Rings 
• 2 3/8" One Way Caps 
• 2 3/8" Two Way Caps 
• 1 5/8" Line Tops 
• Tension Bars 
• 2 3/8" Tension Bands 
• 3' x 4' gate 
• Gate Hardware 
• Bolts and Nuts 
• Post Hole Diggers 
• Gasoline Auger 
• Stretcher Bar 
• Cable Jack 
• Ratchet - Socket 
• Level 
• Tape Measure

IMPORTANT!  As mentioned in our article:  “Building a Wooden Fence - Choose a Fence that Fits your Needs”, before you take on the task of fence building, you must call your utility company and have them mark your property for underground wires.

Instructions for Building a Chain Link Fence:

1. Set the corner posts and mark where the line posts and your gates posts will go.  Set your corner posts to a height of 4 foot and approximately 18 inches to 2 feet deep.  
2. Pull a string line about six inches off the ground from corner post to corner post.
3. Measure the fence line from corner to corner.  Divide the distance into equal sections.  When you are dividing a fence line to allow for enough space for the gate, count the gate posts as corner posts and divide the sections equally between the gate post and the corner.  Generally, a chain link gate is about three feet wide; therefore, you will set the gate posts 36 inches apart.
4. Line posts should be at minimum 8 feet and maximum 10 feet apart.  Using a pair of post hole diggers, mark your holes in line with the string line and dig the post holes.
5. Pull another string line 1 ½ inches below the top of the corner post.  This will pull the string at 3 feet 10 ½ inches down from the top of the post.  This is the proper height of the line posts. 
6. Level the line posts where they just barely touch the string.  Set the top of the post so it is just touching under the string.  
7. Cement the line posts and allow cement to dry for a minimum of 24 hours.
8. Set up the framework.  Put all caps on the line posts.  Lay the top rail and cut it to fit the corners.  
9. Stretch a twisted cable or tension wire at the bottom of the fence line.  Stretch the tension wire tight so it will keep the fence from being pulled out at the bottom.
10. Stretch the chain link fence by pulling the wire out and standing it up against the frame.  Go to the corner and hook up the wire by sliding a tension bar through the first diamond of the wire.  Place four tension bands evenly spaced on the corner post.  Bolt the bands around the tension bar.  
11. At the opposite corner, pull the slack in the wire down to that end of the fence line.  Place a tension bar in the wire fence about 6 feet from the end.   Hook the stretcher bar onto the tension bar.  Start to stretch the wire fence with a cable jack between the stretcher bar and the corner. 
12. When the wire fence is tight, pull the slack to the corner.  Place the bands on the post and cut the wire even with the end of the bands.  Slide a tension bar through the end diamond of the wire fence.  Place the bands on the tension bar.  Let pressure off of the cable jack.  Your wire is stretched.
13. Grade and tie the fence.  To do this, go to each line post and raise the wire fence to where a half of a diamond is above the top rail.  Tie it off on each side of the line post.  This will make the top of the fence straight.  If it is not straight, you will need to add a tie in the middle of the section.  
14. Place a tie about every fifth diamond, as you work your way down the wire fence.  Place a tie at the top and bottom of each post.  Tie the tension wire to each post as you tie the bottom with two ties spaced evenly between.  
15. Hog ring the tension wire to the bottom of the fence every 6 inches.  
16. Attach the gate hardware and hang your gate.

You have just installed a chain link fence, while saving yourself a lot of money!  

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