A chain-link fence can be a great way to keep your pet or children in your yard, but it can also be unsightly. One way to make your chain link fence more attractive is to add height to it. This can be done by adding panels or using extensions. This article will show you how to add height to a chain link fence using extensions.
Adding height to your chain link fence is a great way to improve the overall appearance of your property. It can also make your home or business more secure by making it harder for people to see what’s going on inside.
Tools and Materials
- Measuring Tape
- Shovel or post hole digger
- Post Hole Digger (if there is concrete footing)
- Long level (at least 4 feet long and at least 1 inch wide)
- Hammer and Nails/Staples
A Step by Step Guide on How to Add Height to a Chain Link Fence
Step 1 : Prepare for the Project
Chain link comes in 10-foot sections. How much you need will depend on how much height you want to add and whether there is concrete footing (the type where the fence is set into the ground). For this project, I am adding 1 foot of height and bringing in my existing section that was previously cut down to only 4 feet high.
If there is concrete footing, you will need to remove the fencing that sets into it. First, dig out the dirt accumulated around the post and then knock out or chip away at the footing until you can pull your fence out of it.
Step 2 : Measure Old Fence
Measure the length of your old fence. How much material you need to bring in will depend on this measurement. If you are only increasing by one foot, like I am doing, you can get away with using an 8-foot section of fencing.
Step 3 : Install Post Fittings
Install post fittings by pounding them into the ground with a hammer. How far you put them in will depend on your fence’s height and what measurements you got from the last step. For every extra 10 inches of height, drive the post fittings in about 2 inches deeper.
Step 4 : Install Top Rail
After I finally got my fence installed and working correctly, I realized that I had measured wrong and needed another foot of fencing to fill up the gap! How you install your top rail is different if you use 4-foot or 8-foot pieces of fencing material.
For 4-foot pieces, cut each piece so that there are about 5 inches on either side of where you want to put them on the section of fence that sticks out. How much longer they need to be than this depends on how high your old fence was and what kind of fence you are installing. If your old fence were 4 feet tall, it would be safe to assume that each of the new pieces needs to be cut about 6 inches longer than they need to be for 4-foot high fencing.
Cut all of the pieces so that there are at least six inches on either side to ensure they don’t go anywhere. How much longer they need depends on what kind of fence you add height to and how far apart your posts are spaced.
Because this section of fence is only 8 feet long, I can make my top rail out of two 16-inch sections instead of one 24-inch length like before. How long each piece has to be will depend on how high you want your fence to be and how long the section you are adding height to is. How much longer they need to be than this depends on what kind of fence you’re using and how far your posts are spaced apart. This is a crucial step in v.
Step 5 : Install Middle Rail
Drive a post into the ground at the end of your fence. How far you need to pound it in will depend on how much height you are increasing and what size your fence is currently set at. For example, if the old fencing was 4 feet high, my post had to be pounded in about 2 inches.
The most important thing is that your measurements don’t vary by more than 1/2 an inch from one end to another; otherwise, your fencing won’t come together correctly, and you’ll have a weak point where they join each other.
Step 6 : Install Tension Wire
To install your tension wire, roll it off the spool and pound it into the ground as close as you can to where you made your measurements. Pound it down so that about 18 inches or so of wire is sticking up from the ground after installing all four pieces. How far you pound it in will depend on how high your fence already is and what height you want to increase it by.
Step 7 : Pound the Tension Wire into the Ground
If all of your measurements were good, then you’ll be able to fill most of the holes with tension wire, leaving only a little bit sticking up from the ground at the top and bottom of every section. Of course, how much gets left out depends on your measurements, but this would be less than an inch if your measurements were good.
After filling all of them up as best as you can, use a hammer and nails to pound down any extra that will stick up above ground. How hard this has to vary on how soft or firm the ground is installing. If you don’t drive it in all the way, the tension wire will pull back up after several weeks of weathering.
Step 8 : Remove Excess Mesh
After adding enough height, snap a line from one end to the other. How far apart they are spaced will depend on how high you want your fence to be and what kind of fence you’re using. Although it might seem like too much effort, try to go all the way down into the ground where possible so that your section doesn’t come loose or fall out after time.
Once that is done, cut off all of the excess mesh you don’t need. How much mesh you can cut off depends on how high your fence was at first and what kind of fencing material you are using.
Step 9 : Cut Top Rail to Size if Needed
If you have made your top rail out of 4-foot sections but only enough to fill up the area horizontally, it will be too short vertically. How much shorter the piece has to vary greatly depending on what kind of fencing materials you are using and how high your old fence was. How much shorter than this they need to rely on how high your old fence was and what kind of fencing materials you are adding height to.
The section that I am adding a second 4-foot height to is 8 feet long, so I will need another 16 inches of fencing materials if I have it. How much you’ll need depends on what kind of fence you use and how far the posts are spaced apart.
Step 10 : Finish Adding Height
Once you have your 4-foot height of fencing, snap a line across the section to make sure that you placed it straight. How long each piece has to be will depend on what kind of fence you are using and how far apart the posts are spaced. How much shorter than this they need to rely on how high your old fence was and also on what kind of fencing materials you are adding height to.
This is where having a friend comes in very handy. How far each piece has to be placed apart will depend on most of the same factors as how much shorter they need to be. How long each piece has to vary greatly depending on what kind of fencing materials you are using and how high your old fence was. How much taller than 4 feet your new fence can be found by adding up all of these factors together.
Step 11 : Secure Top Rail to Fence Posts
Once I have my sections cut, I use wire snips or pliers to remove any little nubs that stick out from the posts so that my top rail fits flush with them. How many inches back you’ll need to make sure your line is from the top of your fence material will depend on how high you want to make your fence and what kind of fencing materials you are using.
How much shorter than this can vary greatly depending on what type of fencing materials you are using and how far apart the posts are spaced. How long each piece has to vary greatly depending on what kind of fencing materials you are using and how high your old fence was. These steps will help in how to add height to a chain link fence.
You can check it to Fix the Bottom of a Chain Link Fence
Conclusion
We hope you have gone through the article on how to add height to a chain link fence. Putting up a chain-link fence can be an option for homeowners who want to keep their property safe and secure.
However, adding height to the fence is often required to deter potential intruders from entering your yard or home. We have all of the information you need on how you can add height to a chain-link fence so that it will do its job effectively!
Check it out also – How to Keep Fence Gate Open
