Chain link fencing is woven wire mesh held on posts and tensioned with line wires. It is economical over long runs, lets light and views through, and does the basic job of marking and enclosing an area. We fit chain link for commercial yards, schools, allotments, sports areas and garden boundaries, alongside our weld mesh and palisade security fencing.
Below is how a chain link fence is put together and how it compares with stronger mesh options.
Galvanised or plastic coated
Galvanised chain link is plain zinc-coated wire, the traditional industrial look. Plastic-coated chain link has a layer of coloured plastic, usually green or black, over galvanised wire. The coating adds protection and makes the fence blend in, which is why it is popular for gardens, schools and allotments.
Heights, posts and line wires
Chain link comes in a range of heights, from low garden boundaries to tall sports and yard fences. The mesh is carried on concrete or steel posts, with straining posts at ends, corners and changes in direction, and intermediate posts between. Line wires run along the top, middle and bottom and are tensioned so the mesh stays tight; a slack chain link fence is the most common complaint, and it comes down to tensioning and straining posts.
- Concrete or steel posts
- Straining posts at ends and corners
- Tensioned line wires top, middle and bottom
- Matching mesh gates for access
Where chain link suits
Chain link is a good fit where you need to enclose a large area at reasonable cost and do not need high security: allotments and community gardens, school and sports boundaries, the back of commercial yards and long garden boundaries next to fields. Our allotments and community gardens page and commercial fencing page cover those settings.
Chain link vs weld mesh and palisade
Chain link is the lightest and most economical of the three, but it can be climbed and cut more easily. Weld mesh panels are rigid, with smaller apertures, harder to climb and longer lasting in shape under impact. Palisade, with its steel pales, is the strongest deterrent and suits higher-security sites. If security is the main concern, our weld mesh and palisade pages are the better starting points, and our security fencing page compares the options.
Gates and slopes
Chain link gates are framed in steel and filled with matching mesh, as single pedestrian gates or double vehicle gates. Chain link also follows sloping ground well, because the mesh flexes with the fall; the posts are set plumb and the mesh runs with the ground. Where the ground drops sharply between posts, the bottom of the mesh is kept close to the ground so animals and people cannot slip underneath.
How a chain link job runs
Send us photos and rough measurements, we send a written estimate, then we visit to confirm before work starts. We cover London and Hertfordshire.