Planning to install a chain link fence? If you’re looking to put a fence around your home or property, this fence idea may just be the thing for you. Get ready to add this to your homesteading skills.

How to Install a Chain Link Fence

There are a lot of fence ideas out there but if you want something that would last for a long time, a chain link fence would be a good choice. I wanted to replace our old fence and decided to install a chain link fence instead. So if you’re planning on building a new fence for your home, check out this tutorial so you can start making your DIY fence.

Remember: Before you start digging, be sure to check for any underground utilities.

Fencing Materials You’ll Need:

measuring tape
posthole digger
wheelbarrow
shovel
hoe
carpenter’s level
1/2″ and 9/16″ wrench
hacksaw
fence stretcher
pliers
tension wire clip
chalk line
stakes
fence fabric
posts
gravel
concrete
batter board
mason string

How to Install a Chain Link Fence From Start To Finish

Thank you LOWE’s Youtube for the awesome tutorial! You can watch the full tutorial at the bottom of this post.

Step 1

Measure the area you’re going to build your fence in using your measuring tape. Mark the corners using a batter board and mason string.

Step 2

Start making a lay out of where the posts will go. The spacing is normally indicated by the manufacturer but it should never exceed 10 feet on center. Once you’ve done the measurements, start marking the spots with a wooden stake.

Step 3

Now that you’ve marked and spaced out where the posts should go, you can start digging.

Step 4

Start prepping your posts. Mark where the ground level should be to make sure they’re set at the correct height. Normally it should be the height of your chain link minus two inches and height of the chain link plus two inches for the end or terminal posts.

Step 5

Time to set your posts in the hole. Start with a terminal post by adding some gravel first to ensure that the mark you made earlier is level with the ground. Use some braces and clamps to hold it in place then add the concrete and water. Once that’s done, work it out a bit so it will be two inches below ground level. Repeat this process with all your other posts.

Step 6

Now that the concrete has hardened, you can start attaching the fence hardware. Add the tension bands and bolts. Make sure that the flat side of the band is in the fabric side of the fence. For the corner post, you’ll need to add another tension band for the adjacent side of the fence.

TIP: Want to know how many tension bands you need? Measure the height of your post in feet minus one.

Step 7

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Add your top rail bands and cups by screwing them in place. When working with the corner post, be sure that the offset cups alternate.

Step 8

Add the post cap for the corner post and for the line posts, add the cap with the ring offset towards the fabric side of the fence.

Step 9

You can now slide the top rail to the line post top and into the rail end cup then tighten the bolts.

Step 10

Keep adding top rails along; sliding them inside the rings on your line posts. When you reach the other end of the terminal post, cut the top post so it can fit the rail end cup.

TIP: To add extra support you can also add an additional tension wire at the bottom of the posts.

Step 11

Now that you have the posts all set, next thing to do is attach the fabric. Take the end of the chain link and insert a tension bar in the end of the fabric and the tension bands on the terminal post.

Step 12

Unroll the fabric out on the ground and stand it up against the fence. Try to stretch it out as best as you can.

As you lay it out, attach some wire ties to hold the fabric in place.

Step 13

Once you’ve reached the end, it’s time to tighten the fabric. Remove the any excess first by opening the loop at the top and bottom. After that, just twist the strand out.

Step 14

To tighten the chain link, insert a tension bar about 3 feet to the end and hook the stretcher bar there. Then put a temporary tension band where you can hook the come-along and hook the other end to the stretcher bar. Now that you have this set-up, slowly crank it tight, up to the point where there’s still enough tension that you can’t squeeze the fence with your fingers.

Step 15

Now that the fabric is tight, insert a tension bar in the fabric and the tension bands of the terminal post like what we did earlier in step 11. After tightening the bolt, you can now remove the stretching contraption you made to tighten the fabric.

You’re now done with one side of the fence! Yay! Just repeat the process for the other sides to complete your DIY fence.

Step 16

Now that you’ve completed the fence, time to install the gate. Start with the post side of the hinges. Install the top and bottom hinges about 8 inches from the top and bottom of your post.

REMEMBER: The top hinge pin faces downward and the bottom hinge pin faces upward. You do not want confusing these two.

Step 17

Attach the frame hinges loosely to the gate and set it about 2″ off the ground, use blocks if you have to. You can now adjust the bottom frame hinge to attach to the bottom post hinge and tighten the bolts. Repeat with the top hinges.

Step 18

Lastly attach the latch. Decide what height is comfortable and attach it with a bolt.

And that’s it. Just don’t forget to check if your gate swings freely. In case it doesn’t, don’t worry, all you have to do is adjust the hinges. To maintain your new chain link fence, just put oil on the hinges once a year and clean any dirt with a hose.

Congratulations on your new accomplishment!

If you’d like to see how it’s done, watch this two part video from Lowe’s Home Improvement:

What do you think about this tutorial on how to install a chain link fence? Do you think it’s the kind of fence you’d be installing around your home or property? Give us a shout out in the comments section below.

Have any homesteading projects you’d like to share? Share it with us an we’ll give it a try. We’d love to know what you think!

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How to Install a Chain Link Fence