How to Put Up 5 Foot High Chain Link Fence
How to Put Up 5 Foot High Chain Link Fence
At the most basic level a fence is a way to either keep things out, or keep things in. A 5-foot high chain link fence may not be the most aesthetically pleasing fence, but it can get the job done at a fraction of the cost of a decorative wall. Most companies that sell chain link fences will put together all of the materials that you might need, as long as you can describe how the fenced area will be used.
Instructions
1 Mark the location for the terminal posts, which are corner posts, end posts and gate posts, with stakes. When locating the gate posts, remember to leave space for the gate plus around 3 inches for the hinges. Double gates require around 5.5 inches for the hinges.
2 Dig the holes for the terminal posts, making the holes three times as wide as the diameter of the fence posts. The holes for terminal posts should be 24 to 30 inches deep.
3 Mix the pre-mixed concrete with water until it has the consistency of mud and will stack on a shovel. Then pour the concrete into the holes up to 3 inches short of the top. Don't fill too many holes at once, since you need time to place the terminal posts into the concrete before it cures.
4 Place the terminal posts into the concrete-filed holes. Make sure that the posts are centered in the hole. For a 5-foot fence, the tops of the terminal posts need to be 62 inches above the ground. Check the fence post to make sure it is level before leaving it to set. Continue until all of the terminal posts are in the ground. Let the concrete harden before continuing.
5 Attach a taut string between the terminal posts. Have the string sit 4 inches beneath the top of the terminal posts.
6 Dig holes for the line posts between the terminal posts and directly under the taut string. Make the line post holes evenly spaced and no further than 10 feet apart. Holes for the line posts should be three times the width of the post and about 18 inches deep.
7 Pour wet concrete into the line post holes and place the line posts into the concrete. Adjust the height of the line posts until the tops are even with the string. Remove the string and wait for all of the concrete to set before continuing.
8 Slip the tension bands onto the terminal post and then slip the brace band on as well. Place the post cap on top of the terminal post and the loop caps on top of the line posts.
9 Slide a piece of top rail through the loops close to a terminal post. Slip the non-swaged end into a rail end cup and use a carriage bolt to attach the cup to the brace band on the terminal post. Connect the top rail pieces together until you get to another terminal post. Use the hacksaw to cut the last piece of top rail so that it will fit into the end cup attached to the brace band. Continue to place the top rail pieces for every stretch of fence.
10 Unroll the 5-foot high chain link fabric and lay it on the ground between two terminal posts. Slide a tension bar into the last link of the fabric. Stand the fabric up and fasten the tension bar to the terminal post with the tension bands. A five-foot high fence will use four tension bands, spread a foot apart.
11 Insert a tension bar about 3 feet inside the unattached end of the fabric. Fasten one end of the fence stretcher to the tension bar and the other to the terminal post. Use the fence stretcher to stretch the fabric until it just has a little give when you squeeze it. Remove extra fence fabric by using a pair of pliers to untie the top and bottom ends of a single stretch of wire. Unscrew the wire to separate the fabric into two pieces. Slide a tension bar into the new end of the fabric. Remove the fence stretcher and attach the end of the fence to the terminal post with tension bands.
12 Use wire ties to attach the fabric to the top rails and line posts. Wire ties should be around 12 inches apart.
