Before beginning your fence installation, check with local building codes and homeowner association guidelines to ensure you can legally put up a chain link security fence. You will also want to talk with your neighbors, especially if the fence runs along shared property lines.
Lay out the route of the fence using stakes and twine. Next, call 811. Ask to have all buried utility lines marked before digging any holes.
Preparation
You’ll likely need to consult your local ordinances and homeowners’ association guidelines before chain link fence installation Houston, TX. They may have specific requirements that address where you can place your fence and its height.
Before digging the posts, you’ll want to contact your state’s 811 center to have all buried utility lines marked. This will save you from accidentally damaging pipes or cables as you dig your holes.
Next, mark the locations of your corner, gate, and end posts with spray paint or marking paint. Measure the distance between each to determine how much fencing you need. Unroll the fabric on the ground to determine whether it is long enough to cover your fence line. If not, add an extra roll of fabric.
Planning
First, check with local municipal regulations to ensure a chain link fence is allowed where you want to put it. You may also need to get the consent of a neighbor if your fence is to run along shared property lines.
Next, find your property line and mark the corner, gate, and end post locations with spray paint or flags. This will help you avoid accidentally digging into buried utilities, which could be dangerous and costly to repair.
Then, using stakes or twine, create a string line to mark the locations of intermediate posts along the length of your chain link fence. These should be spaced about every four to ten feet. Also, mark the location of any terminal posts that need to be braced and trussed.
Setting the Posts
You must set all the corner, end, and gate posts during this stage. Before you dig, be sure to call 811 to have all utility lines marked. This ensures that you don’t accidentally hit any while digging and potentially cause damage or injury.
Set your terminal posts in concrete and use a level to check each one is straight. For longer stretches of the fence, you can also sight in the posts by walking along the guide string and adjusting as needed.
You’ll need a come-along puller winch to stretch the chain link fence fabric. Crank the winch until you can squeeze the diamonds between the terminal post and line poles less than 1/4 inch. This will ensure the fabric is tight and won’t sag over time.
Hanging the Mesh
Speaking with your neighbor and asking for permission before starting the project is good etiquette, especially if the fence will run along shared property lines. You also want to ensure that your local laws allow the type and height of the fence you plan to build.
Start by unrolling a length of chain link mesh. It should be loosely woven to prevent sagging during the installation process. Attach a come-along puller winch to the stretcher bar and crank it until the mesh moves less than an inch when you squeeze the diamonds.
Next, add loop caps to the terminal posts and rail end bands to each line post. Fit the first top rail into the rail cup on the terminal posts, then secure it with a bolt.
Finishing
Depending on where you live, local laws and zoning regulations may dictate what kind of fence you can build and at what height. If you’re building a chain link fence between your property and another, it’s always good etiquette to talk with your neighbor first and get their permission before beginning the project.
The next step is locating your property lines and marking them. Your corner, gate, and end posts must be set at least 4″ inside these lines to avoid encroaching on their land.
Before digging any holes, you must call your local “Call Before You Dig” number. This will help you find buried utility lines and avoid causing serious damage when you strike them with your shovel or post-hole digger.