Chain link questions?

[Superjfly]

Ok, I have been pursuaded to go with a chain link fence vs a invisible fence. Now I need assistance with installing it. Is there a good resource for directions on how to install it?

1) My whole backyard is surrounded with Lilac trees/shrubs. I am not sure if it would be smarter to put the fence behind them and dealing with the roots and property line or in front of them.

2) I have a major drop from the front of my backyard to the rear of my backyard. How do you install a chain link fence up a hill?

Thanks for any that have experience in this!
Neil

[GreenleafGreyhound]

Ummm....hire somebody from Home Depot?

Maybe this can help you...
http://www.hooverfence.com/manual/ch...k/install1.htm

[Novel]

I just finished putting up 250 ft of fencing this wonderful holiday weekend! Experience, I got it. This is the second time we've put up fencing, and it was much easier this time even though the project was much much larger.

I bought all my fencing at Menards. It's a hardware type store here in the midwest. A Lowe's or Home Depot or the like would probably be your best bet, but shop around. There can be a major price difference between retailers.

You'll need to decide on the height you want also, we went with 5', but have large dogs, and the 6' was considerably more expensive. In our reasoning, if the dogs are inclined to jump a 5' fence, they'll probably jump a 6' 'fence too, and we've never had a problem in that area.

As far as where to place it. You'll have to debate the look of it, vs. the roots and labor involved. You will have to pound the line posts in about a foot and the terminal or corner posts will need to go in about 10", but will need to be anchored with a metal anchor or with concrete. We use the metal anchors, but they leave a little bit to be desired as far as stability. If everything in the structure is installed tight and accurately, it holds itself together quite well. With so much of the structure being pounded into the soil, you may want to avoid an area with roots. We hit rocks, and it was a big pain!!

You can install chain link 2 different ways on a grade, level each area between posts out, and attach post to post, like a terraced lawn, or just run it along the grade. That's what we do. I just keep all the posts pounded in to the same depth and let the fence follow the lay of the land. It's easier and looks normal. There were directions with our fencing for both methods. There were really good directions at the display in Menard's. I picked up one of those first, figured it all out and made up my shopping list and then made a return trip for all the materials.

[Superjfly]

Well that does help a lot... Thanks. I live in Sheboygan, WI so I know what Menards is, besides the fact I used to work there for a couple years. LOL. Do you want to come help install mine? J/K.
I am fully capable of physically installing it, I just don't want to screw something up in the planning stage and then have to redo anything.

The grade of the hill is too large for me to do a terrace type install, at least in my opinion. I'll have to follow the grade of the hill. I guess my question is how do I make the turn from the level part of the yard to up the grade of the hill? Do you have to cut part of the fence?

Neil

[Novel]

Cool, I've been to Shoboygan a few times over the years. Planning on going the weekend of the 24th for a show, and through the area on my way to Manitowoc the weekend of the 17th.

As far as following the grade on the hill. What I would do, and check with the guys at Menards, they can be helpful, is put a terminal post at the beginning of your grade, and one at the bottom of your grade, and stretch that part of the fence independently of the rest. The diagram that is in the pamphlet next to the display, it's red, will tell you how to go about it exactly.

As far as Menards, I bought all my stuff through them at a savings of about $150, for my $1000 project over the nearest competitor, and I could have saved a little more if I would have bought the poles and fence through them and all the fittings through Farm & Fleet. They were very expensive on the poles but cheaper on the fittings.

Have fun!!! I actually would help, it's nice to have an extra pair of hands. I put up all the structure, and then called my husband out when it was time to stretch the fence. The first project, a 20 x 30 area took about 8 hours, the 2nd project, a 100 x 50 area, took about 6. Amazing what a little planning will do!

[fireworksinjuly]

We recently installed a chainlink fence also. We used Concrete to keep all the posts in (line and corner). Due to our flood plane and water table effecting how the ground freezes we had to have at least 3 feet in the ground with concrete.
We borrowed a transit (you can rent them too) to get it level all around. I soend hours digging the ground and building other parts up so it was level with the bottom of the fence (rather then have the fence go parallel to the ground and have it be super wavy)

Big tree roots are killer to get through. Smaller bushes like lilac and stuff wont be so bad. We had a motorized post hole digger, as well as a manual, but when we got to the tree roots we actually had to use a saz-all to get through them.
some of the yard

[Novel]

That looks super nice fireworks! We have zero grass between lack of water and the sand. You really went all out and I love the result!

[fireworksinjuly]

Originally Posted by Novel

That looks super nice fireworks! We have zero grass between lack of water and the sand. You really went all out and I love the result!

Thank you!
It took me a while to get used to using the transit.

The fenced in yard is about 100x100 minus the angle we have in the back, we put that in because otherwise wed touch the garage behind us and we wanted to be nice. I forgot how much actual fence we used.

-Corner posts dont only go on the corners. They go every 50 feet, wether you have a corner there or not. At the end of a roll of fence you need a corner post.

[Novel]

Actually with cyclone fence you just weave the two pieces of fence together. But, yes, every 50 feet a terminal post, on either end of a gate and at the corners.

[Superjfly]

"fireworksinjuly" - That looks really nice. Unfortunatly no I can't level out all of my yard. I have a walk out basement which means from where the fence would start up by the garage to the back of the yard is a 8 to 10 foot drop.

I priced out a chain link fence at Menards I would need about 200 feet and a mother load of posts because of all my corners. $850. I am going to go to Fleet Farm and price that out now. I am also considering just using wood posts and fence staples to secure the fence. It works but then I'd need to bury part of the fence.