Subtleties of arranging a mesh fence. A chain-link fence without welding: detailed step-by-step instructions for craftsmen and photo examples of finished work How to make a beautiful chain-link fence
For many years, owners of private houses, summer residents, builders and manufacturers have been using woven mesh as a material for installing fencing. This is easily explained by its availability, low cost and ease of installation. With a minimum set of tools, any site owner can install a chain-link fence with their own hands.
As a minimum possible set, you must purchase:
- mesh;
- material for load-bearing supports;
- metal rod with a diameter of 6-8 mm;
- knitting wire;
- cement, crushed stone, sand.
Depending on the type of fence design chosen, other materials may be required. Yes, for making sectional fence you will need a corner 15x15 or 20x20 mm and a metal strip 20-40 mm. Performance welding work provides for the presence of electrodes.
Grid selection
Chain-link mesh is a transparent cellular fabric woven from wire spirals of a special shape. The cell size can range from 20 to 100 mm. The width of the canvas is from 1000 to 2000 mm. The material is supplied rolled in rolls of 8-16 meters.
Depending on the wire material and availability protective coating, On the market building materials You can purchase 4 types of chain-link mesh:
- made of plain steel wire without protective coating, “black”;
- galvanized;
- from of stainless steel;
- with a protective polymer coating.
"Black" designed for reinforcement during plastering and concrete works. It is not recommended to use it for fencing due to its fragility due to its strong susceptibility to corrosion.
Galvanized sheet is The most common material for installing a chain-link fence is due to its affordable cost and durability. Such a mesh will last at least 15 years even in the most unfavorable operating conditions.
Fence stainless wire will be practically eternal. However, the main disadvantage of this material is its high cost. In addition, it is necessary to take into account that when using stainless mesh, you will have to install poles from appropriate materials and most likely abandon welding joints. This will increase the final cost of the fence and complicate installation.
Chainlink with polymer protective coating Produced in a wide range of colors, it looks beautiful and is durable. The main problem is that at the intersection of individual wires, the polymer coating eventually wears down to the metal and an active corrosion process begins.
To install fences around a site, weaving with a wire thickness of 3-4 mm, a mesh size of 30-50 mm and a web width of 1200-1500 mm is most often used.
These dimensions of the chain-link fence for the fence will ensure the achievement of the most optimal price option. Cells less than 30 mm are used when constructing fences for poultry and small domestic animals, more than 50 mm are used mainly for industrial facilities, at airports, on farmland and other large areas.
Choosing material for pillars
There are a few possible options from various materials. Among the most common are supports made from:
- wood;
- metal;
- concrete.
Wooden pillars - the cheapest, simplest, but very short-lived solution. In order to increase the service life of wooden poles, their lower part must be treated with a special impregnation and covered with a layer bitumen mastic. The rest of the surface must be impregnated with drying oil and painted.
Metal racks can be made from steel pipes square, rectangular or round section, as well as from an equal-angle corner. Other types of shaped metal products are more expensive, their use will no longer be economically justified.
Concrete supports They are durable and reliable, but they complicate the process of securing the mesh, and installing such poles is quite difficult.
The best and most common option today is the installation metal poles from rectangular profile pipe cross section 25x40 mm with a wall thickness of 2.5 mm. They perfectly hold a lightweight, wind-permeable fence and, with a protective coating against corrosion, can last for decades.
Calculation of the quantity of materials
Determination of quantity necessary materials To build a chain-link fence, you should start by drawing a diagram of the future fence on the plan of the fenced area. The recommended distance between pillars is 2.5-3.5 meters.
Reducing the pitch will increase the number of pillars and increase costs. Large distances between the supports will not allow for high-quality tension of the mesh and will greatly complicate the installation process.
On the drawn diagram, mark all the installation locations of the pillars and, based on this, determine their total number. By multiplying the number of supports by their height, taking into account the underground part, you will get the total length of the pipe to be used as pillars.
The length of the chain-link mesh will be equal to the length of the fence on the plan. Compound individual paintings during installation, it is not carried out overlapping, but by inserting connecting twisted wires, which will be discussed below.
An exception is the option of installing a sectional fence. In this case, the total length of the mesh can be reduced by 5-7%.
Calculation of the amount of cement, sand and crushed stone should be carried out depending on the total number of pillars and the consumption of concrete mixture for concreting one support. The usual pit depth is 400-500 mm, average diameter 300-350 mm. Accordingly, it turns out that installation of one pillar will require 0.05 m 3 of concrete. The ratio of cement, sand and crushed stone is defined as 1:3:4. Therefore, it is possible to determine the amount of building materials for concreting the pillars.
When installing a chain-link fence on heaving and weakly stable soils, the posts must be buried at least 800 mm. This will entail a doubling of the consumption of building materials and will add 400 mm to the height of all pillars.
The procedure for installing the fence
Like most construction work, installation of the fence is carried out in several successive stages:
Territory preparation and marking
Before you stretch the chain-link mesh onto the fence, you should clear the strip along which it will be mounted. In addition, on preparatory stage The required materials and tools are supplied.
To mark the installation locations of the posts on each straight section of the fence, drive pegs at the mounting points of the two outer supports. After this, pull the cord between them and, measuring the required distance, mark with pegs the installation locations of the remaining pillars.
Digging holes, installing and concreting pillars
Digging holes for installing poles can be done using conventional bayonet shovel, but it is much more convenient to use a special hole drill. It can be manual or mechanically driven. This will be especially relevant if there are a large number of pillars being installed.
The diameter of the hole must be no less than the cross-sectional dimensions of the pipe with an addition of 100-150 mm in each direction. The depth of the excavated holes is 400-500 mm for ordinary stable soils or 800-1000 mm for heaving, heavily moistened and other unstable soils.
The procedure for installing the pillars is similar to marking. On each straight section of the fence, the two outer supports are first installed. After the concrete has hardened, you need to pull a cord between them and install all the other pillars along it, be sure to check the verticality using building level. Concrete mix for filling pits with installed supports, it is prepared from cement, sand and crushed stone in a ratio of 1: 3: 4.
General procedure for installing a fence. Mesh installation
As mentioned above, the design of a chain-link fence can be different. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages, usually associated with the level of reliability of the fence and ease of installation.
Tension method
The easiest way involves attaching the mesh along installed supports without use additional elements and fasteners. To do this, roll out the mesh on the ground to a distance of about one and a half spans between the posts. Bend the edges of the wire spirals with pliers if this has not been done by the material manufacturer. This will prevent possible injuries during work and improve appearance fencing.
The mesh laid out on the ground must be lifted and secured to the posts using wire or clamps. You will need an assistant or two to complete the job. It is almost impossible to ensure the tension of the mesh while working alone.
Strengthening the structure with lags
To more securely fasten the mesh and prevent possible sagging over time, you can weld horizontal logs from a thin profile pipe or even a metal rod with a diameter of 6-8 mm to the installed racks.
If you use a rod, before welding it can be passed through the cells of the mesh, which then does not need to be tied. If a profile pipe is used, the fence is fixed using plastic self-clamping clamps.
The presence of logs will not only strengthen the structure, but also place various decorations on the surface of the mesh for the final design of the fence. In addition, the logs will pull the entire system into a single whole, i.e. you do not need to install special slopes to stabilize the corner posts.
Fence from sections
This design is a fence in which rectangular sections welded from a corner are fixed between installed posts, inside which a chain-link mesh is stretched.
It is somewhat more difficult to make, but it has whole line advantages over simple tension systems. To install a sectional chain-link fence:
- on a flat, hard surface, draw a rectangle corresponding to the section configuration;
- place a corner on the line and weld the frame;
- inside the corner shelves, in increments of 150-200 mm, weld small pins made of wire or rod with a diameter of 6-8 mm;
- lay the mesh inside the section and pass its edges through the pins;
- bend the pins with a hammer, fixing the position of the mesh;
- the sections are secured to the supports by welding lengths of steel strip to the post and frame.
After installation is completed, all unpainted surfaces must be covered with a layer of paint.
Fence decoration options
A mesh fence can serve not only as a fence for a site, but also as its decoration. For this purpose the most various ways and materials. One of the most simple options- plant climbing plants along the entire fence line. As the bindweed grows, it will fill the entire area, creating a beautiful hedge.
As special materials for decoration, you can use colored twine or polymer ribbons, using them to create a variety of colored patterns. A simple, although not very effective, option is to use a camouflage net. But here it should be taken into account that its elements fade over time in the sun and become covered with a persistent coating of dust.
Video on the topic
You and I should thank Karl Rabitz for his amazing invention - a sectional chain-link fence. For more than a hundred years, it has been actively used by summer residents and gardeners, engineers, builders and architects. Some urgently needed to fence their chicken coop, others needed to fence their plot of land. Chain-link mesh is found almost everywhere. By the way, when delimiting certain areas of land, a fence made of opaque material cannot be installed. So there is not and cannot be any serious alternative to a chain-link fence. At minimum set tools and smooth hands Absolutely any man can install such a fence.
The main criteria for choosing a chain-link mesh
Anyone can distinguish a chain-link fence from any other fence just by looking at a photo. Indeed, this is the name of the canvas, which is made of many wire spirals. They are securely woven together. Design features allow you to quickly form sections. The cell size can vary between 20-100 mm. The most popular size is considered to be 30-50 mm. The height of the roll is also different, it can be either 1 or 2 meters.
First of all, when choosing a chain link for a fence, pay attention to the wire. Its diameter varies from 1.2 to 5 mm, the type of coating also differs:
- There is no coverage. The so-called “black” chain-link. We do not recommend buying such a mesh for solid fences. She's not long lasting, oh her high-quality painting out of the question.
- Zinc coating. This option is considered the most common. After some time, a DIY chain-link fence will lose its color, but will not become covered with rust. Therefore, it can serve you for more than a dozen years.
- Stainless steel coating. Believe it or not, a fence made of such material is considered almost eternal. Its main drawback is the price. If you need to fence a decent area, a stainless steel mesh can “hit” the family budget.
- Polymer coating. Such products appeared on sale relatively recently, but have already managed to find their customers. Judge for yourself: the service life is decent, a wide range of colors allows you to realize almost any fantasy.
Stage 1. Installation of supports
Whatever installation option you choose, you will definitely need to mark the area and install poles. This is what you and I will do.
Installation of a chain-link fence involves precise measurement fence boundaries. You also need to decide in advance on the location of the gate and wicket. The construction site is cleared of all kinds of debris and unnecessary vegetation in advance. After this, you need to drive metal or wooden stakes where you plan to install the corner posts and supports.
How to determine the location for installing intermediate posts? It’s very simple - take a strong cord and pull it neatly between the stakes. After this, measure the distance. We recommend placing racks at a distance of 2 or 2.5 meters from each other. The resulting distance is divided by 2.5 and rounded up.
This procedure during the installation of a fence from any chain-link will allow you to determine exact amount corner posts. Since the thickness of the posts, the appearance of the fence and the underlying soil can be different, there are several types of installation. Wooden poles? Immediately “no”, since they are short-lived. Concrete? Not the best either the best option, because when attaching the mesh you will definitely have difficulties.
The most convenient way to install a chain-link fence is by using metal racks from the profile or square pipe. Its diameter is from 6 cm in diameter. In the future, we will consider this particular option, which allows us to install the chain link efficiently and reliably.
During installation you can use the following methods:
- Drive the posts into the ground.
- Place in a deep hole, cover with crushed stone and compact well.
- Concrete completely or partially.
All these examples are clearly demonstrated by the photo:
When placing posts for a future chain-link fence, it is extremely important to correctly calculate their length and depth, find out the level of groundwater, the degree of freezing of the ground, etc. use a simple rule - at least 40% of the height of the post should be in the ground.
In practice, this process looks like this:
- Install the corner posts. Make sure that they are strictly vertical - use a level to do this.
- Prepare holes to install intermediate posts. We advise you to stock up on a good drill. It will be much easier for you to install a chain-link fence with your own hands, especially if the soil on the site is not the softest.
- When the concrete hardens, we begin to pull the cord, but already along the top of the racks. This will allow us to control the height intermediate supports. It will not be superfluous to tension the cord below. This way you can check if the pillars are on the same line.
- Regular sand will help make the task of leveling the supports easier. It is poured to the bottom first, and as work progresses you just change the height of the improvised “pillow”. By the way, you can build a fence using gravel or small crushed stone, which you use to replace sand.
- All racks that have been adjusted in height are finally poured with concrete, after which they are primed and painted. You will have to wait at least a week for the concrete to harden properly. In the photo below you can see how to use the cord when installing intermediate supports.
Stage 2. Construction of the fence
Fences for dachas are different, and their purpose is also significantly different. Some people need a very powerful fence for grazing animals, while others will need the lightest one possible, simple design on the border with a neighbor's land plot. Each task has its own version.
The simplest do-it-yourself chain-link fence involves simply attaching it to supports that we have already installed. Take one, or better yet two assistants - this will simplify the installation task.
- Roll out the chain link on the ground to a distance only slightly larger than the span. For example, if it is 2 meters, you roll out to 2.5 meters and so on.
- The edges of the spirals are bent with pliers. Firstly, this will save you from unwanted injuries, and secondly, it will prevent the mesh from unwinding during the installation process.
- During the fastening process, the mesh gradually unwinds further.
Its diameter should be from 6 to 10 mm. With the help of another such pin, the assistant will tension the fabric.
The rod installed in the support is attached as follows:
- You can secure it with soft wire. The method, although fast, is not very beautiful.
- Instead of wire, fixation is carried out using special clamps. Visual photo demonstrates what it looks like in real life:
- You put the pin on the hooks that were prepared in advance, and then bend them. Hooks can be made from pieces of thick wire: diameter 0.4-0.6 cm, length 5-8 cm. They are welded to the stand at a distance of about 40-50 cm.
Improved version using lags
How to make a chain-link fence not only beautiful, but also as reliable as possible? It's simple - weld the joists to the racks. It is desirable that they be made of profile pipe. This method fastening is good because you do not need to install additional braces for the racks. However, the photo speaks for itself:
A fence with logs is good because in the future you can easily decorate the fence even more and hang additional material on it.
The chain-link can be easily changed to slate or corrugated sheet. This will make the fence more powerful and solid.
A fence made of sections is the most practical solution
Surely, you have heard about such a thing as a sectional fence made of ordinary chain-link. It is a fence consisting of sections (corner plus mesh). Despite certain difficulties in manufacturing, the design of sections does have many advantages:
- From an aesthetic point of view, a sectional fence can be considered one of the most beautiful.
- Since each section has its own structural element, there will definitely not be any issues with the chain-link sagging or loss of its properties.
- The sections are easily dismantled, and previously used posts can serve as support for the construction of a new fence.
- Like a combined corrugated fence, this type of fencing can be installed even on an area with a large slope. An ordinary chain-link tensions when the level increases by no more than 6 degrees, which fully corresponds to a slope of 1:10. Any excess of these values is already a reason to install a sectional fence, as shown in the photo:
We will not dwell in detail on this type of installation, since it does not differ significantly from previous methods. Unless you have to use a grinder or a mounting saw to cut the pieces to the required size.
Decorating a chain-link mesh: the most unusual solutions
Those who would like to move away from the classical canons will be interested in our next section. He clearly describes how making a seemingly traditional chain-link fence can be turned into a fun activity.
The first and, perhaps, one of the most beautiful ways is to make patterns from wire. Despite the fact that it is quite labor-intensive, the result will please you for a long time.
As an option, you can weave bright cords and ribbons from polymer. It is catchy, lively, but not durable at all.
The installation of a chain-link fence and subsequent planting of living plants should not be discounted. The main thing is to remove dry branches and leaves in a timely manner. This is especially true in the autumn-winter period.
Interesting, to some extent even unusual solution there will be a light-shading grid. It can have a wide variety of color shades. It greatly affects the weight, so they are not suitable for a regular tension fence - unlike fencing made of corrugated sheets and chain-link mesh.
IN Lately The so-called photo fence is extremely popular. It is made of decorative photo mesh or PVC. The material is not only beautiful, but also expensive, so it all depends on the state of your wallet.
So, we have smoothly approached the logical conclusion of the article. Now you know how to install a fence made of mesh. We wish you success in construction, may your new fence please you for many years to come!
Installing a chain-link fence is considered the most popular option for arranging a metal fence around a private house, country house and many other objects. Its cost is low, and the installation of such a fence can be done with your own hands.
1 Types of chain-link mesh for fences
The grid we are interested in is currently presented on construction market in three variations:
The designated types of mesh can have cells of different shapes (diamond-shaped and rectangular are popular), which are described by various geometric parameters ( standard size cells vary between 2.5–6 centimeters). For fencing land and summer cottages It is recommended to install a mesh with cells of 4–5 centimeters.
2 Installing a chain-link fence – what materials will be required?
DIY installation of fencing similar type does not cause difficulties even for those people who rarely do anything on their own. The main thing is to calculate and purchase everything correctly required quantity grids and additional materials. The latter include:
- concrete (usually inexpensive material M200 is used);
- special fastenings;
- support pillars made of metal, wood or concrete.
In most cases, the installation of chain-link fences is done using metal posts. Such poles are rightfully considered the most reliable and truly durable. Experts advise purchasing pillars with a square or round profile with a cross-section of 6–12 centimeters.
When doing work with their own hands, resourceful citizens use old ones as supports, which significantly reduces the cost of installing the fence. But it’s better, of course, to buy ready-made posts made specifically for arranging fences. Special hooks are initially welded to such supports (usually sold in painted form).
It makes sense to use wooden posts only in cases where it is planned to install temporary fencing or if there is a free (very cheap) wooden material. Please note that the bark must be removed from the support beams and poles, and the part of the tree that will be buried in the ground must be thoroughly coated with mastic with high waterproofing properties.
Concrete pillars are in no way inferior to metal pillars in many respects (they do not rust, are very durable, so they can literally stand for centuries), but their cost is quite high. In addition, it is not easy to attach a mesh to such supports - it requires braiding concrete structure steel cable, use clamps. This makes installation much more difficult.
There are two ways to build a chain-link fence with your own hands:
- secure the wire in sections (frames) made of metal corner;
- stretch the mesh between the supports.
Installation of a sectional fence, as you understand, requires additional costs. But from an aesthetic point of view, it looks more preferable. But the second option of arranging a fence with your own hands can be implemented much faster, without investing excessive funds in the fence. This is what we will look at in more detail.
3 How is tension fences made from chain-link mesh installed?
At the first stage of execution installation work you need to mark the territory. For these purposes, you should place small pegs in the corners of the site, take a cord or construction thread and pull them between the stakes. The resulting length of the thread will tell us how many meters of chain-link mesh we will need to purchase (we recommend adding a couple more meters of wire, just in case).
After this, we will decide on the places where we will drive in the supports. It is recommended to install the pillars at a distance of 2.5 meters from each other (a greater distance cannot be taken, since the mesh we use is a bendable material). To calculate the quantity necessary supports, measure the length of each side of the future fence and divide the resulting number by 2.5. If your fence has a total length of 50 meters, you will need exactly 20 support posts, if 60 meters - 30, and so on.
The pillars are installed in prepared holes in the ground (they can be made with either a regular shovel or a drill). The optimal depth of the pits is 120–150 centimeters. Please note that you must first install supports at the corners of the site, and only then install other pillars. Crushed stone is poured into the bottom of the recesses for pipes (in an even layer), compacted, and then a layer of ordinary sand is added and compaction is also performed.
We begin to place pillars in properly prepared holes. This must be done strictly vertically (it is best to use a plumb line). After this, the recesses with pipes are filled with a solution made of cement (two parts), sand (one part), crushed stone (one part) and water. First, sand and cement are mixed, then crushed stone and water are added. The mixture must be thoroughly mixed to obtain a solution that is not very liquid, but not “steep”.
After the installation of all the pillars is completed, the first stage of work on arranging the fence with your own hands can be considered completed. The concrete will take 6-8 days to harden.
In principle, you can fill the support pipes not with concrete mortar, but use a mixture of soil and rubble stone. Then you won't have to wait a week for the concrete to harden. But in this case, the pillars may not hold so securely, so it is better to use a solution of concrete, crushed stone and sand.
4 Features of the process of stretching the mesh and attaching it to the supports
After the concrete solution has dried, we proceed to the second stage of arranging a reliable fence on our site. First, using manual arc welding, we weld the hooks onto the supports. Hooks can be made from any metal material that you have (pieces of steel rods, thick wire, regular nails, and so on).
When the hooks are welded on, we straighten the roll of mesh and begin to tension it. The operation should begin from the corner support. We hang the mesh on the welded fasteners. In this case, it is advisable to thread a reinforcing bar or thick one (diameter about 4 millimeters) into the very first row. To prevent the fence from bending down and sagging, a wire or rod is welded to the post.
Then we unwind the required length of the mesh, thread the rod (wire) vertically into it at some distance from the area where the support and the mesh connect, and begin to tension our fence. Two people need to carry out this operation.
After tensioning, you will need to install a thick wire (or rod) horizontally at a distance slightly above the bottom edge of the fence and below the top. Now you can weld the rod to the support. By analogy, we perform tensioning and fastening of all subsequent sections of the mesh. Congratulations, you have built a fence with your own hands!
Fence - required element any private property. If country houses experts recommend fencing with more reliable protective structures, then summer cottages - their practical and inexpensive options. The most suitable material for a country fence is chain-link mesh. With its help, you can not only make a durable fence, but also increase the productivity of the beds, since the structure does not interfere natural ventilation on the land plot, and also does not block the access of the sun to it. To build a chain-link fence with your own hands, you don’t need to be a professional. This article will reveal all the secrets of craftsmen in installing a practical fence without welding, and will also tell you what tools and materials you need to have to perform such work.
Features of chain-link mesh, its advantages
Rabitz - universal material, which is indispensable in summer cottages. He has big amount advantages that make it even more popular among buyers. These include:
- affordable price. Rabitz - a budget option material for the construction of a fence, because not every homeowner is able to allocate a decent amount of money to install a more expensive structure in the country;
- long service life. High-quality galvanized mesh can retain its properties for several decades. original appearance(up to 40-50 years old). It does not rust when correct operation not deformed.
- the need to use a minimum number of tools and fastening materials during the installation of the fence;
Important! You can install a chain-link fence with or without welding. Installation without welding is ideal for people who do not know how to work with such equipment.
- ease of care of the material;
- the mesh does not interfere natural circulation air, does not shade the area.
Important! A chain-link fence serves as an ideal fencing not only for beds, flower beds or vegetable gardens, it is also indispensable in the process of arranging children's rooms. playgrounds, enclosures for pets, etc.
Material classification
Depending on the material of manufacture, chain-link mesh comes in three types:
- Non-galvanized.
- Galvanized.
- Plasticized.
Non-galvanized mesh is enough cheap material. Of course, it is more affordable, but its long service life can be doubted, since under the influence of moisture the surface very quickly becomes covered with rust.
Galvanized mesh is the most popular among customers. It is a little more expensive than its non-galvanized counterpart and does not rust, which is really very valuable.
Plasticized material – modern version, but more expensive. During its manufacturing process, polymers are used that properly protect metal mesh from the action of moisture. Plasticized mesh has different color scheme. Each homeowner is able to choose a material that will ideally suit the interior of the house, as well as complement it.
Instructions for craftsmen: how to make a simple chain-link fence without welding with your own hands
Making a durable and reliable fence from a chain-link mesh is a fairly simple and interesting task. Its implementation does not require a large amount of professional knowledge and skills. To work, you only need tools and materials, as well as the desire of the master.
There are two ways to make a galvanized fence from chain-link mesh:
- Using a welding machine.
- No welding.
Since not every homeowner has a welding machine at his disposal (or does not know how to use it), we will consider the option of installing a fence without using it.
Important! Installing a fence without welding will allow you to build a structure that will be less practical than its welded counterpart.
Tools and materials
To ensure that the construction of the fence does not cause difficulties, you must first stock up on all necessary tools and materials. During the work you will need:
- chain-link mesh (non-galvanized, galvanized or plasticized);
- support pillars (wooden, metal or reinforced concrete);
- special fastening hooks;
- sand, screenings, crushed stone and cement;
- shovel;
- building level;
- mounting tape;
- hammer or drill;
- bolts, nails or screws.
Step-by-step instructions for installing a galvanized mesh fence
The simplest option for a mesh fence for a summer house is a tension fence. Its installation will not take as much time as it might seem at first glance. To perform the work correctly, it is necessary to know and follow a clear sequence of the entire technological process.
Advice! To install a tension fence made of chain-link mesh, it is best to hire an assistant who will help you get the job done faster.
A chain-link fence is the best budget option for a summer cottage. Install such a fence with your own hands; you will appreciate its advantages not only personal experience, but you will also see by the increased amount of harvest received from the beds.
Video instruction: how to build a chain-link fence without welding with your own hands
Chain-link fence: photo
In order to fence off their property in a summer cottage or in the private sector, they use a fence. The construction of such a structure requires additional investment of money and time. To save money, you can make your own fencing. A chain-link fence is perfect for this.
What is a chain-link mesh
This grid was invented in the 19th century by the German mason Karl Rabitz. Initially it was used to facilitate plastering of walls. Over time, it has found application in many industries, ranging from the construction of barriers or cages for animals and birds, and ending with the construction of supports for mining openings in mines.
In production, low-carbon steel wire and other types are used: stainless, aluminum, galvanized or coated with polymers. To obtain a chain-link mesh, a special simple machine is used that screws the wire spiral into each other, and the finished product is wound into rolls.
Advantages and disadvantages of chain-link mesh for building a fence
Advantages:
- Lets air through and sunlight, therefore does not interfere with the cultivation of cultivated plants.
- Quick and uncomplicated installation, accessible to every person who is more or less familiar with hand-held construction tools.
- Since the fence structure is lightweight, a reinforced foundation is not required.
- A chain-link fence does not require special care.
- Strong, reliable, inexpensive and durable material.
Flaws:
- A chain-link fence will not hide your site or house from prying eyes, but this problem can also be solved by decorating the fence with plants.
- Does not provide sound insulation.
- Fencing made of non-galvanized mesh quickly rusts.
Types of fence mesh
Non-galvanized
This mesh is made from “black” wire that is not protected from corrosion. It is the cheapest option among all other types and requires additional processing to ensure the durability of the structure.
It is used as a temporary barrier and needs painting to increase its service life. The service life of unpainted fabric is 2–3 years, but if the ungalvanized mesh is coated with paint, this will increase the service life to 10 years.
Galvanized This type of mesh is also made of low-carbon steel, but has protective layer as zinc coating
. Thanks to this, galvanized mesh is protected from rust and will last for many years without additional treatment or maintenance.
Plasticized If a polymer is used as a protective layer, then such a mesh is called plasticized. Since dyes are used in its production, it exists in different color shades and looks much more attractive than its relatives. This type of material does not need additional processing and it is not afraid of various weather conditions, and a wide color spectrum will provide design solutions
when building a fence.
Preparing for the construction of a fence, calculating the area
In order to calculate the area for the fence, you first need to know the perimeter of the site. For example, let’s take a square-shaped plot of 10 acres. Since the length of the square is equal to the width (a) and has right angles, we calculate the perimeter using the formula P = 4 x a. Since the area of the site is known (1000 m2), and the formula for the area of a square is S = a2, then a = 31.63 m, so the perimeter P = 126.52 m. Now you can easily calculate how much materials will be needed. For example, chain-link mesh is sold in rolls of 10 m, so you will need 12 whole rolls plus a 6.5 m section. Chain-link mesh also differs in the size and shape of the cells, which can be in the form of a rectangle, rhombus, square or other geometric shape. When building a fence, the shape of the cells does not affect the result of the work in any way, and its dimensions have some meaning. It is important to remember that the smaller the cell size, the stronger the fabric, but such a mesh does not transmit light well. Big size segment also has disadvantages, since it will not provide the necessary protection from small animals and. poultry This version of the canvas will protect the area from unwanted penetration and let in enough light for plants.
Also of considerable importance is the height of the canvas and the thickness of the wire from which it is made. As for the height, it starts from 1.5 m and reaches 3 m. Optimal height the fence fabric is 1.5 m, and a mesh with a wire thickness of 2–2.5 mm is best suited.
If the thickness is greater, this will lead to some difficulties. Firstly, the canvas will cost more, and secondly, this will affect the choice of material for support pillars, since the weight of the mesh will increase and installation will become more difficult.
Calculation of the required quantity
Chain-link mesh is sold in rolls, standard length of which - 10 m. To prevent it from sagging, supports are installed along the fence line every 2–2.5 m. Therefore, for one roll you will need 5 posts. The part of the support that is above the ground after installation should be 10 cm higher than the width of the mesh. The posts themselves need to be buried in the ground to one third of their height.
Based on this, we can calculate how many pillars and how long the mesh we will need. For example, we are building a fence 30 m long, the height of which should be 1.5 m. This will require 3 rolls of mesh and 16 supports, the length of which will be in the range of 2.3–2.5 m. In addition, each support is equipped with three hooks for fastening (top, bottom and middle) 48 pcs. You will also need a steel rod or reinforcement 5 mm thick in order to tension the mesh. Since it will pass above and below the grid, a total of 60 m will be required.
To calculate required amount concrete to fill one hole with a support column, you need to find out its volume and subtract the volume of that part of the column that is buried in the ground. Since the holes and columns have the shape of a cylinder, we make calculations using the formula:
- Number ∏ = 3.14.
- R is the radius of the cylinder (hole) in meters.
- H is the height of the cylinder (depth of the hole) in meters.
The diameter of the hole is 12 cm (0.12 m), and the radius is 0.12 /2 = 0.06 m. Depth (H) is 80 cm or 0.8 m.
Substitute the data into the formula:
V = 3.14*0.06*2*0.8 = 0.30144 m3 (hole volume)
For columns we will use metal pipes with a diameter of 80 mm. The radius (R) of such a column is 40 mm or 0.04 m. The height (H) is the same as the depth of the hole - 0.8 m.
We use the same formula:
V = 3.14*0.04*2*0.8 = 0.20096 m3 (volume of the poured part of the support)
Now let’s find out how much solution is needed to install one column in the hole:
0.30144–0.20096 = 0.10048 m3
Accordingly, for 16 holes you will need: 0.10048*16 = 1.60768 m 3 of concrete.
We prepare the batch based on the proportions: 1 part cement (M 400), 2 parts sand, 4 parts crushed stone. Water is added until the mixture reaches the state of sour cream.
To get 1.6 m 3 of concrete you will need:
- Cement (M 400) – 480 kg.
- Crushed stone - 1920 kg.
- Sand - 960 kg.
Calculation of materials for fencing from sections
If the fence is built in sections, then you also need to calculate the number of metal corners for each frame in which the mesh is attached. It is better to use a metal corner 40 by 40 mm, with a wall thickness of 5 mm. We calculate its quantity per section: the height of the frame is the same as the height of the mesh (1.5 m), and the distance between the posts is 2–2.5 m.
Having made simple calculations, we see that each section will require 8 m of metal corner. There are 16 sections in total, so the total length of the corner is 128 m. The mesh is attached to a frame of corners using 5–7 mm reinforcement; for such a fence you will need 128 m. To install the finished sections, use metal plates measuring 5 x 15 cm and a thickness of 5 mm, 4 pcs. for internal pillars and 2 pcs. for the extreme ones, total - 60 pcs.
Tools and materials for work
- hand drill or shovel;
- tape measure, building level;
- primer for metal;
- dye;
- metal hooks;
- Rabitz;
- metal pipe with a diameter of 60 to 80 mm;
- sandpaper;
- Bulgarian;
- welding machine;
- metal corner 40×40 mm;
- sand, crushed stone and cement for mortar;
- metal plates (5×15 cm, thickness - 5 mm).
Step-by-step instructions for making a fence with your own hands
Marking the area
We clear the area for erecting the fence from debris, plants and other possible obstacles. We determine the points where the pillars will be located and begin marking the territory. To do this, you need to hammer pegs into the extreme places of the fence and stretch a nylon cord between them.
You need to tighten the cord so that it does not sag or dangle from the wind. Make sure that the tensioned thread does not catch on any obstacles. Take into account the cross-section of the support pillars, taking into account the fact that they will be located inside the site, and the grid will be located on the side of the street or neighboring territory.
A stretched nylon cord acts as a beacon not only during marking of the area, but throughout the entire construction site. It will ensure linearity and control of the height of the fence along the entire perimeter. After this, we mark the places for the intermediate posts; the distance between them should be within 2.5–3 m.
Installation of posts
After all the materials, tools have been prepared and the area has been marked, they begin to install the pillars. Using pre-made marks, holes with a depth of 80 to 120 cm are made using a shovel or drill. The softer the soil, the deeper the holes should be and vice versa.
Since we will use metal pipes as pillars, before installation they need to be cleaned of rust and oil deposits, and then sanded with sandpaper. Using a welding machine, weld the hooks for attaching the mesh, clean the welded areas with a grinder and prime the entire surface of the post with an anti-corrosion primer.
Next, we install the supports in the holes, level them and secure them in this position with spacers. Make sure all posts are at the same height and in a straight line. If this is not the case, then by adjusting the depth and width of the holes, achieve the desired result. After this you can safely pour it into the pits concrete mortar. It is recommended to start installing the mesh no earlier than 48 hours after the concrete mixture has completely hardened.
Mesh installation
For installation, do not unwind the mesh completely; it will be much more convenient to place a whole roll in a vertical position on the corner post and hook the edges of the mesh onto the prepared hooks.
When attaching the canvas, lift it above the ground by 10–15 cm. This is necessary in order to avoid grass, branches and other debris getting tangled in the mesh in the future.
Next, we unwind the roll, stretch the mesh well and fasten it in the same way to the adjacent post. The work is best done with a partner: one can stretch the fabric, and the other can fasten it with hooks. Carry out this procedure along the entire perimeter of the fence. To prevent the mesh from sagging over time, insert a steel rod or reinforcement into the upper cells at a distance of 5–7 cm from the edge along the entire length of the fence and weld it to each post.
From below, do the same, only step back 20 cm from the bottom edge of the mesh.
Mark the area and install the pillars in the same way as in the previous case, only instead of hooks, metal plates are welded onto the pillars, departing 20 cm from the upper and lower edges. To make a section, you need to measure the distance between adjacent supports and subtract 15–20 from it cm, so we find out the width of the frame. The height will be the same as the width of the mesh minus 20 cm. Next, cut the blanks from the corner of the required length and weld them into a rectangle. Using a grinder, clean the welding areas and grind the internal and outside frames with sandpaper.
After this, the roll is unwound and the required length of the mesh is cut off with a grinder (the distance between the supports is minus 15 cm). Next, along the entire perimeter of the cut fabric, reinforcement 5–7 mm thick is threaded into the outer cells.
The welded frame is placed on a flat surface inside up and place the prepared mesh with reinforcement in it, then weld the upper rod to the upper corner of the frame. Next, tighten the lower side and attach the reinforcement to the corner using welding. The sides are installed in the same way.
After this, the finished section is placed between the supports and attached to pre-prepared metal plates by welding.
At further installation of the remaining sections, pay attention to the edges of adjacent frames, they should be on the same level.
For convenience, use a level or a tight cord. After installation is complete, all frames must be primed and painted.
Finishing and decoration
- In most cases, a chain-link fence is not decorated, but left as is. If you decide to build an original structure, then there is no limit to your imagination in this matter. Here are some options on how you can decorate your fence.
- You can use CDs for decoration. First they are painted, and then attached to the mesh with thin wire.
- If the cells are small, then bottle caps are used for decoration. The mounting method remains the same as in the previous version.
- What is not a decorative material: masking tape.
- If you decorate the fence with colored squares made of glass or plastic, it will look very beautiful and original.
- You can also decorate your fence with embroidery on the mesh cells using colored threads. Colored patches or bags for cross stitch will help add originality. To do this, find a suitable picture in a magazine or on the Internet with ready-made circuit
work, place it in front of you and repeat the pattern in the cells in accordance with the original.
The disadvantage of a chain-link fence is that it does not protect the area from prying eyes. In order to correct these omissions, some more effort needs to be made.
One way to cover a fence is with a hedge. Climbing plants are most often used, but it may take several years for them to fill all sections. The way out may be to drop off annual plants, for example, morning glory. Over the course of a season, it will cover not only the fence mesh, but also nearby standing trees and bushes. The disadvantage of such a barrier is that it will only serve until autumn.
Another way to make your fence opaque is to use artificial pine needles. Since it is sold in the form of coils of wire, it will be enough to simply thread it between the cells.
Very original method closing the fence - reeds. Just like in the previous case, it must be threaded vertically through the meshes of the chain-link.
To make the fence closed and look more modern, polycarbonate is often used. It comes in different transparency and many color shades. Attaches directly to fence posts using self-tapping screws.
If the distances between the supports are greater than the width of the polycarbonate sheet, then you need to install additional metal profiles between them and attach the sheet to them, otherwise the sheets may crack under gusts of wind.
Video: Installing a chain-link mesh on a summer cottage
As you can see, making a chain-link fence is not so difficult. Like other similar structures, it has advantages and disadvantages. It is important to remember that this is a budget option, which is often erected as a temporary fencing option. Although, as practice shows, if the installation is done correctly, it will last for many years. In addition, if you show imagination and creativity, such a fence will delight its owner not only with its practicality, but also with its aesthetic, original appearance.
