How To Add Height To A Chain Link Fence

How To Raise A Chain Link Fence

There are quite a few not bad ways to raise a chain link fence. Extending the height of your existing debate is much easier and cheaper than replacing the entire thing. Specially if all y'all need is another pes or two. Most methods install right on top of your existing debate and posts which saves time and money. However you volition most probable have to raise your existing fence posts to requite the fence it's strength. Fence post height extenders are strong, durable and like shooting fish in a barrel to install. Most make a great DIY projection but I recommend raising the height of a fence with a partner. Especially if the argue is high. Working with a ladder can be unsafe. Once the fence posts are raised it'due south easy to install a new fence section.

The first step in raising a concatenation link contend is nigh always raising the posts beginning. They're what gives a debate it's strength and back up. Take your time with this step because it's crucial. One time the posts are at the correct height information technology's easy to install a new fence section correct on top of the old ane.

Another method involves raising all the posts but replacing the onetime chain link. This costs a little more coin but give the contend a more cohesive wait because at that place's no seam.

We'll hash out every method nosotros use to raise a concatenation link fences height beneath.

How Chain Link Fences Work

The standard height for a chain link fence is approximately 4 – vi feet high. But nosotros do build them much higher in sure situations. For example, the protective areas behind the hitter in baseball are mostly made of chain link fencing as loftier equally 20 feet. This is because chain link is strong, durable and piece of cake to run into through. High chain link fences are too used in areas that contain wildlife such as zoos or preserves.

If y'all've got the standard 4 pes high argue only want to extend the summit to keep a big domestic dog in, or some deer out, information technology'south easy to do.

The posts are generally set up in concrete which makes information technology hard and expensive to remove and supplant them with longer posts. Fifty-fifty when posts are gear up in gravel or soil, they're not that like shooting fish in a barrel to remove and replace. Instead, you tin can simply extend the existing posts with longer posts in order to raise the fence top.

Taking Autonomously A Argue

In some cases you may have to take your fence apart in order to heighten information technology'due south elevation.

Remove all the fence material first. This could include cloth, rails and the concatenation link itself. When your all washed, all yous want are posts.

The fencing is typically attached to the posts and pinnacle track with wire ties. These ties are easy to remove. Simply untwist them with a set of pliers.

A tension rod and tension bands are used to attach chain link fencing to the corner finish posts. This what'due south used when a chain link fence is stretched. Without these bands the fence would be loose and pretty useless. Removing the bolt from the tension ring releases the tension rod and chain link fencing.

To remove the argue rails, loosen the brace bands from the line post caps, slide the rail out of the bands, and remove the rail caps from the sides of the end posts. Remove all the terminate post caps and line post caps.

At that place are 3 types of posts you'll be working with.

End. End posts sit at the end of the debate.
Corner. Corner posts are at the corners.
Line. Line posts are in the center sections.

Measure the within and outside diameter of the posts. Often times, posts will have different sizes based on where they are. For example, line posts usually take inside diameters of ane 5/8 inches, while corner and terminate posts have inside diameters of 2 3/8 inches.This is considering end and corner posts acquit more weight.

Count the number of line posts, corner posts and stop posts in your fence.

Extending The Height Of Debate Posts

Raising the top of a chain link fence by using longer poles is piece of cake to do. Once the fence is apart and all your poles are exposed, y'all can slide new posts correct over the old ones.

Brand certain the new posts are slightly larger in diameter than the existing posts.If you go a post that's too minor it won't fit over the quondam one. Also brand sure the new posts are the right top. The within diameter of the new mail service should be large enough to fit around the outside diameter of the old post.The fit probably won't be perfect, then use some shims to make upwards the remaining small gap. I like the new posts to be super tight which prevents any movement.Use a level as you go.

Attempt not to become too high with this method. An old four human foot post can easily back up a new 6 foot one. But a 10 human foot section of argue should get a new post freshly anchored in concrete.

Slide the longer, larger diameter fence posts over the shorter existing posts. The new posts should fit over the existing posts like a sleeve.

Push the longer fence posts all the way down to the ground. Use a rubber mallet if they don't slide on hands.

Install the postal service caps, brace bands and debate runway onto the new posts. Yous'll need to purchase new caps and brace bands because of the larger posts.

Attach new concatenation link fencing and fabric to the new posts and top rails.

Install new tension bands to the corner and terminate posts that are cutting to the new fence elevation.

Lay the fencing on the ground and slide a tension bar through the links at the stop of the sections. Slide the tension bar into the tension bands and secure them with the bolts. Everything you lot nee should come included with the tension bands.

Adhere the contend to the tiptop track and line posts with aluminum necktie wires spaced about 12 inches apart. Utilise a good ready if pliers for this.

Tips

In one case you secure the tension bar to the tension bands at the first corner or end post, use a hand crank fence puller to increase the tension in the chain link fencing. Without the proper amount of tension the concatenation link fence won't piece of work properly.

Once the fence section is stretched, adhere it to the corner or stop post on the opposite end of where y'all started.

Add tie wires to the elevation rails and line posts after attaching the fencing to the corner or stop posts. Utilize a skillful set of pliers for this. They go along just like a twist tie you lot'd wrap effectually a plastic handbag.

Run a tension wire through the chain links at the bottom of the fence from finish to end. Tighten the wire and wrap it tightly around the end posts. This secures the bottom portion of the argue.

Extend The Height Of Your Contend With Welded Wire

A great mode to add together additional elevation to a concatenation link fence is with welded wire. This is one of the simplest and virtually affordable methods to extend the height of your fence considering you lot don't have to alter the existing fence. The welded wire bolts on.

Welded wire fencing is fabricated past welding the intersections of the wire together. This helps create a strong, rigid construction that makes a great barrier. Welded wire is best used in brusk runs considering it's non piece of cake to stretch tight like chain link is. This makes it a great solution if all you need is another few feet of fence summit.

Because welded wire is made from solid wiring and welded together, information technology'south very strong. It'southward sold in a gyre and with different approximate wire. I recommend buying the thickest gauge. It's stiffer and easier to work with.

Generally welded wire is used to build animal cages simply it's too great for extending the height of a chain link fence because it's strong and weather resistant.

Welded wire as well looks sort of like chain link because both are made from thin, round cloth. This makes information technology blend right in with the existing fence.

I recommend using galvanized wire because it's conditions resistant.

How To Install Welded Wire To A Chain Link Fence

Welded wire comes in a large roll, typically 50′ – 100′, so you'll take to cut it to size. This ways you'll demand a tape measure and some good wire cutters. Once you cutting a department of wire to the correct size, you'll need to secure it to the fence. For this I use more wire and some pliers. I twist the connecting wire tight only similar how you install a concatenation link fence.

I recommend also raising the posts along with adding welded wire to increase the fences height. Extending the acme of your debate posts gives some more areas to secure the welded wire as well which adds a ton of additional strength. Without higher posts the welded wire won't be very strong.

T posts are some other great way to add elevation to the contend while supporting the welded wire.

U-channel is a great way to build a frame effectually the welded wire sections. It looks nice and provides even more strength. Only cut the u-channel to size and place it around the wire. Secure sections of channel together with stainless steel or galvanized screws.

If your worried nearly animals getting out of your k then you can bend the top of the welded wire in. I recommend a 45 degree bending. This makes the debate very hard to jump over and typically discourages animals from even trying. Although the flatter surface area becomes a not bad place for birds to rest.

Mesh Cloth

Mesh cloth is some other great fashion to extend the pinnacle of your chain link debate. It works in much the same style as welded wire only it's not as strong.

Mesh cloth, a.k.a. hardware cloth, is wire mesh that consists of either woven or welded wires in a foursquare or rectangular filigree. Hardware wire cloth mesh is bachelor in galvanized steel, stainless steel, plastic and blank steel. What makes information technology different from welded wire is the gauge. Mesh fabric is much thinner than welded wire. This makes it cheaper and easier to work with for some projects. Although it'due south flimsy then it needs a lot of support. Welded wire is strong and so it tin can generally back up itself. Especially if the wire is a thick gauge.

I've had the best results with mesh material when using forth with a strong frame. I don't recommend using the cloth all by itself to add together pinnacle to your fence. It'll be flimsy and fall right over. It'll also look really bad. In order for metal fencing like chain link, welded wire or mesh to look it's best, the cloth has to be stretched tight. This means you demand strong back up.

How To Raise A Chain Link Contend's Elevation With Mesh Material

The outset thing I recommend you practice is build a frame. For this I like to use lengths or round steel or rebar. For example, if your raising a 6 foot section of concatenation link fence a pes, you'll need four sections of tubing. two cutting at 6 foot and 2 at one foot. Secure them together at the corners. The method you use to secure the corners will vary based on the frame cloth yous use.

Once the frame is built, stretch the mesh cloth over the frame and secure it with wire. Alternate side to keep the mesh tight. This is sort of similar installing a gyre screen. The cloth mesh itself makes the frame much stronger.

After the frame is congenital and the mesh is installed. secure the section to the top of your chain link fence. To practise this you'll need vertical support. I recommend either extending the height of your posts with more tubing, using T posts or both. Vertical support is crucial. This is what requite the new sections of fencing it'due south forcefulness.

Working with mesh cloth is like shooting fish in a barrel. Information technology comes in a curlicue, so the first thing you'll demand to practise is unroll information technology. Only unroll about as much as you lot'll need at whatever ane time. Then cut the wire to size with some metallic clipper. Yous'll also need a tape measure and some pliers.

Balling wire is what I use to secure the mesh cloth to the frame and fence. This is what the pliers are for.

Just like adding welded wire, mesh material is a uncomplicated and affordable way to add additional top to your concatenation link fence. And it looks great if yous take your time with the frames.

Wood

Some other great material to extend the superlative of a chain link fence is forest. I like the look of a mixed material fence. Cold metal chain link on the bottom with some warm, natural woods on tiptop looks really good. And because you're working with wood, only about whatever creative design can work.

Generally I build frames out of wood just like I do with metal. 2x4s or 1x3s are great for this. You lot can even use scrap wood if yous have some left over from another project. Cut the frames to size and screw them together with stainless steel or galvanized screws.

Once the frames are built, yous can apply just most any cloth to make full the void. Lattice works groovy.

Securing wood to a metallic fence is actually pretty like shooting fish in a barrel. Forest is potent so all you accept to do is secure each end of the panel to the post. I recommend raising the posts to the desired height just as you lot would with other materials. Then screw the wood panels to the posts. Since your working with wood now you tin can raise the elevation of the contend posts with woods also. This way the top of all your fencing will match.

Trellis

One of my favorite ways to raise the height of a chain link contend is with a trellis. I love the looks of vine plants growing on a fence. They tin exist beautiful to look at and provide some more privacy where you want it. In some areas you lot're not immune to have a solid fence but plants are more often than not OK.

I like to build my trellis out of woods but you lot tin use forest, metallic, plastic or a combination of materials. Lattice makes a great trellis if you build a strong frame to support it.

One time your trellis panels are built, secure it to the superlative of the contend simply equally you would with other debate raising methods.

An additional benefit to building a trellis is that vine plants need nearly no maintenance. They're a wild plant that generally takes care of itself. As long every bit they're able to survive in the environment you plant them in there'due south zip for you to do once they start growing. I do like to guide the vine up to where I want it though just after it takes concord they don't need maintenance.

Vines can get heavy as they grow so brand sure you build those trellis panels strong and secure them tightly.

Tenax Fencing

Another keen fabric for adding height to a concatenation link fence is called Tenax. It's pretty much the same bones cloth every bit welded wire or mesh textile just it'due south made from plastic.Although because it'due south plastic and kind of flimsy I but use it short term. In my opinion it's not a bang-up permanent way to raise the superlative of a fence.

Plastic roll fences are made from polypropylene. They undergo a special process called molecular orientation where their threads are run in ii directions. This procedure increases tensile strength which makes it groovy as a fence material. Tenax is easy to work with, durable, weather resistant and cheaper than metal roll fencing.

One of the advantages to using a plastic material is that it's softer than metal. There are no sharp edges or protruding wire that can stick or cut y'all. On the other mitt information technology's softness makes it flimsy which means you need to build support.

Just every bit with fabric mesh, I recommend building a frame to support the Tenax as well as raising the fence posts. It pretty much installs exactly the same as mesh cloth so I'one thousand not going to become over the unabridged process again.

Tenax comes in a variety of colors.

I don't like using Tenax as a permanent way to raise the height of a chain link debate. Information technology doesn't look every bit good equally metal ringlet fencing and won't final every bit long. Although for the short term it'south a great solution that'southward cheap. I employ it a lot every bit a temporary barrier when building or renovation homes.

How To Extend The Acme Of Hollow Argue Posts

Near every method we use to extend the height of a chain link fence involves raising the fence posts. Raising the height of your posts gives strength and stability to the new section of fence that sits on meridian of the existing contend. Without higher posts, it'due south hard to support the new height section. Luckily information technology'south pretty piece of cake to do and doesn't involve replacing the sometime posts.

What I similar to do is utilize new PVC or steel tubing. I install the tubing within the one-time post and to the desired height.

For example, lets say yous have a iv foot loftier chain link fence just want to heighten the height to 6 foot. I would cut 6 foot PVC or steel tubing and insert them into the old posts. This means 4 foot is inside the existing mail service and two foot is exposed on top. Then I cover the exposed 2 foot with metallic post to lucifer the old fence posts. I you lot do it advisedly the seam is most unnoticeable. The iv foot that runs down into the old mail provides a lot of forcefulness and back up to the new 2 human foot section on superlative.

Install the cap onto the new six foot high post.

I too similar to run some silicone at the seam. This proceed h2o from penetrating into the argue postal service.

Keep in mind that this method merely works if your posts are hollow. To extend the pinnacle of solid posts I have a technique we'll discuss next.

Below are some step past step instructions detailing how I raise concatenation link fence posts.

Mensurate & Count The Posts

The starting time step in any construction project is planning. Measure the tiptop of your existing posts and and then determine how high you ultimately want them to be. This measurement volition aid when yous're buying material.

Also count how many contend posts you'll be extended. Make a list of everything you need.

Take your time when planning out your materials. If information technology involves special ordering this could save you a lot of fourth dimension, money and stress.

Buy Materials

This is why careful planning and counting is important. When it comes time to do the task you don't desire to be running out to Home Depot every hour to buy something. And if your project involves ordering parts online, not having what you need could set you back weeks.

Also make sure you accept all the tools you lot'll need. This could also cost you a lot of time and money. One of the reasons why pros ever seem to make projects look easier is considering they have all the tools they'll need.

Remove The Old Fence Caps

First, you volition demand to remove the old debate cap to expose the hollow center of the post. Be careful when removing the caps considering they may be glued on.

If the post caps won't come off, a grinder will come in handy. By and large fence post caps are fabricated from thin metal that's piece of cake to grind off. The grinder is also proficient at cleaning off quondam glue.

Install Heart Piping

Once the hollow center of the contend post is exposed, cut PVC or steel piping to the desired summit and slide information technology into the old post.

Make certain your new tube is just slightly small enough to fit into the old post.

Once the new tub is inserted into the post I utilize some shims to proceed it tight.

Install New Pinnacle Post

Afterward the new center tube is installed I slide the new fence post section on tiptop.

This method creates a seam then use some silicone to seal information technology. Silicone will prevent water from slipping into the post.

Use shims to keep the new post tight confronting the inner tube. Without shims the new post could have some wiggle room.

Add the Cap

In one case the pinnacle mail service is in place, install the cap.

Add the New Fencing

After your contend caps are on, it's fourth dimension to install the new sections of fence.

Tools

If your planning on raising the height of your chain link fence, yous'll need some tools. Hither's a list of tools and supplies we ordinarily use.

Pliers
Wrench
Wire Cutter
Tape Measure
Level
Hollow Metal Line Posts
Hollow Metal Line Posts
Rubber Mallet
End Post Caps
Line Post Caps
Track Caps
Concatenation Link Fence Cloth
Tension Bars
Tension Bands
Argue Puller
Aluminum Necktie Wires

Summary: How To Heighten A Chain Link Argue

In that location are quite a few great ways to raise a chain link argue. Extending the height of your existing debate is much easier and cheaper than replacing the unabridged matter. Specially if all y'all demand is another foot or ii. Nigh methods install right on acme of your existing fence and posts which saves time and money. Nevertheless y'all will most likely accept to enhance your existing fence posts to give the fence it's strength. Fence mail service height extenders are potent, durable and easy to install. Most make a dandy DIY project but I recommend raising the elevation of a fence with a partner. Especially if the fence is high. Working with a ladder can be unsafe. One time the fence posts are raised information technology'southward easy to install a new fence section.

The first footstep in raising a chain link fence is almost e'er raising the posts commencement. They're what gives a fence it's forcefulness and support. Accept your time with this footstep because it's crucial. In one case the posts are at the correct elevation it's easy to install a new fence section right on top of the old one.

Another method involves raising all the posts but replacing the onetime concatenation link. This costs a little more money merely give the argue a more cohesive wait because at that place'southward no seam.

If you have any questions or comments virtually how to raise a chain link fence Email whatsoever fourth dimension.