The Mrs. and I are looking at doing some chain link fence around the house. before we just wing it I figured I'd do some research, turns out there is a lot online when it comes to chain link fencing and how to go about it. I've come across some that say screw the big box lumber yard types like menards and lowes and direct supply it if possible. and others that say that's the best because you can get it "local" so if you need this or that it's easy and yada yada. our yard is about 1/2 acre so it's not a tiny job but it'll add up quick so I don't want to waste any time or money. we've got 2 kids 12 and 8 that'll help and a couple friends so we'll be doing it ourselves, just wondering where the best place is to get supplies for it and any tips when it comes to saving time or money on it.

Thanks

Best advice I can give.....make sure to give yourself about 3-4 inches at the bottom or else you’ll eat up weedeater string. I didn’t have the fence guys do this. I spray my fence line with Round-Up so I can keep the mower deck out of it.

Also one other thing I did was remove the wire tie at each fence post on the bottom. I seen a dog that had choked itself to death trying to get under the fence to go with it’s owner. Collar got caught in it. We have no collars on our dogs.

ETA: I paid $3200 to get my 1/4 acre done in 2005.

talk to a good fencing company and see if they will give you a deal on supplying all needed accessories

Grade changes can make a easy job a hassle.

Flat land? Rolling? All on one slope?

Bruce

same here, all flat. Hoping to get it this year.

Knuckled selvage

we're on a flat lot, grade change might be 12" max across the whole thing but you couldn't tell by looking at it. I'd be surprised if it's even close to that

I went with welded wire and tpost its a lot cheaper than chain link, I had 5 acres i fenced in and a half acre dog enclosure

I'm curious, you mean like woven wire?

I want our fence to be chicken tight (meaning they can't get out you pervs)

Ryan call 811 and get a free utility locate before you pound posts or dig holes. That way it's on their buck not yours. Allways good to know where your underground utilities are exactly. It's also the law
MB

I fenced my 5ac place with 5' chain link. Corner posts should be level or slightly preloaded. Get a fence stretcher and a winch for long runs. Learn how to weave or hem in the cloth. Buy good pliers. String and cut the posts for same reveal.

It's not hard, but it's work.

That's no problem, it's the simple to grade out 6 and 8 inch rapid inclines and drops that are best fixed before ya start.

30 years ago I installed chain link for 10 bucks a post, hard to believe I made money doing it for that rate.
Went up grades so steep you had to dig in foot holds to climb up for a couple hundred feet at times.
It looks great when installed right, lasts a good long while too.

Advice From Experience:
Dont run a rototiller too close to it....if it gets started into the fence it'll climb it and make a big f..ing mess before you can stop it.

I know...funny mental picture.

2 2x4's some screws and a 4wheler to pull her tight,

I built a 15' x 35' dog kennel with 5ft chain link a few years back.
Made up some form boards and poured a 12" wide concrete beam around the perimeter and set my posts in the concrete, thinking that the dog couldn't dig out that way.
My male lab pissed on the posts and they started rusting at the base where they meet the concrete.

I bought my chain link and posts at Lowe's, didn't really look around at other suppliers.
Lowe's may be a lower cost than a lot of places, but I think their material is a lower quality.

Shop around and take a good look at the quality of material.

Be careful when stretching it, you can over do it and the diamond pattern will look "off".

A couple of houses ago I did my backyard with drill stem posts, and top rail and Welded wire (hog panels), I concreted every post. Spent what felt like all summer chipping out the holes and torching and welding it together. That thing will be there for 100 years lol.

Home center posts are thinner than most fencing places.You don't really tighten in you just snug it up.You pull it really hard you won't even have a diamond pattern.

Sorry I meant welded wire 370’ roll was 250 bucks and it turned out pretty good, it was the cheapest fastest way to keep the [bleep] neighbors dogs off my property. Living in town my options are limited. Once I started decided to keep going and fence in the entire property still have more fencing to do.

The picture is part of the half acre dog enclosure