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Transform your yard into a private oasis or protect your garden from pests with these low-maintenance chain link fence panels and kits. Green Garden Wire

When you’re considering different fencing options for your property, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the plethora of choices on the market. However, one type of fencing stands above the rest when it comes to affordability, versatility, and longevity: chain link fence panels. Whether you want to add a layer of security or privacy around your property, make a dog kennel, or create a barrier around your garden beds, chain link fence panels can be quickly and easily installed and will last for decades with virtually zero maintenance.

To help you select the best chain link fence panels for your property, we consulted fencing expert Justin Noss about what to look for when shopping for chain link fence panels, and he offered his insights on how to install and maintain them. From there, we scoured the market to find the best chain link fencing in a variety of different categories so you can find the type that best suits your specific needs.

Before purchasing chain link fence panels for your property, it’s important to keep in mind what purpose the fence will serve. Chain link fence panels come in a range of heights, typically between 3 to 12 feet. Taller panels are usually best for adding privacy and security to your property, whereas shorter panels are typically used for things like demarcating barriers and borders around front yards and garden beds. Depending on its material, height, and any included extras (like gates or privacy barriers), chain link fences can range in price from $5 to $50 per linear foot.

Chain link fencing can either be purchased in a complete kit or in rolls of bare fencing. A complete kit includes:

Although kits are usually the most convenient option, they’re more expensive than bare rolls. If you can find the additional installation components and hardware more affordably elsewhere or already have them on hand, buying a bare roll can considerably reduce your initial expense.

Along with the fencing, you might also have to install a gate to either walk or drive through. In either case, gates are available in the same standard heights as chain link fencing, so you should be able to find one that matches the height of the fencing you plan to install.

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Regardless of the type of chain link fencing you purchase, the base material will be galvanized steel. Galvanized steel is coated with zinc to prevent rust and corrosion, and some chain link fence panels have an additional vinyl coating to provide an extra layer of protection while also making the fence more visually appealing. As opposed to the grayish silver color of plain galvanized steel, vinyl-coated fences are available in multiple colors to let you customize the look of your fence.

Finally, if you want to add more privacy to your chain link fence, you will need to install a privacy screen or privacy slats. Privacy screens consist of fabric rolls that are hung across the length of the fence, whereas privacy slats are thin and narrow strips of plastic or metal that are slid vertically through the chain link fence’s diamond mesh. Both are usually made out of a durable HDPE plastic and sometimes coated with a UV barrier to prevent color fading and prolong their longevity. In addition to privacy, they offer protection from the wind, create shade, and can improve the overall appearance of the fence. Screens are easier and quicker to install but offer less privacy and wind protection than slats, which are a more permanent solution that take much longer to install and are generally more expensive.

When evaluating the chain link fence panels on the market today, we considered a wide range of applications to accommodate practically any need and budget. Below you will find complete kits, tall and short fence panels, fences made out of plain galvanized steel and vinyl-coated varieties, and more. For each product category, we took into account user reviews from many of the major retail distributors of chain link fence panels, including Amazon, Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Walmart. Among our recommendations, you should be able to find the best chain link fencing for your needs.

The Maboto chain link fence kit comes with everything you need to erect your fence as quickly and easily as possible. It features 82 feet of chain link fence along with all the additional components required for installation. Just over 4 feet, the height serves as an excellent all-purpose solution for a variety of applications. Made of green vinyl-coated 11.5-gauge steel wire, it’s one of the thickness and most durable on the list.

Costing just over $100, Adoby’s fencing roll allows you to affordably install 82 feet of vinyl-coated chain link fence that will last for decades. You can use it anywhere you want to create a small enclosure or barrier, such as around the perimeter of your front yard or around your garden beds. As a bare fencing roll without any of the additional installation components, it’s best suited for people who already have the posts, wire ties, and other hardware required to complete the installation.

Mixfeer’s chain link fence kit comes with all the posts, stakes, binding wire, and wire tensioners you need to create a 49-foot-long fencing barrier anywhere around your property. Whether it forms barriers around your garden or front yard, this 2-foot-7-inch-tall fence offers an affordable way to get some fencing up quickly and easily, and the vinyl-coated wire is built to last.

If adding privacy and security is your primary concern, Range Master’s 6-foot-tall fencing roll grants you 50 feet of galvanized chain link fencing. It’s tall enough to add a layer of security around your property and can create seclusion with the addition of a privacy screen or slats. The main downsides are that it’s made out of fairly thin 13-gauge wire, and it doesn’t include the required components, like posts and wiring, to erect a fence.

The K9 Kennel from MidWest Homes uses durable galvanized steel held together by interlocking steel tubes for added stability. Just like some true fence kits, it comes with everything you need to easily assemble the kennel and only requires a pair of pliers to finish the job. At only 76 pounds, it can be easily repositioned anywhere in your yard, though its spacious dimensions of 6-by-4-feet will likely require at least two people. If you think your pups will need more space, MidWest Homes also offers the kennel in three larger sizes, all the way up to 10-by-10-by-6-feet. To top it all off, it comes with a fabric sunscreen roof that provides an 80 percent sunblock for keeping your dog cool in the hot summer months.

If you need to get your vehicle or other equipment through your chain link fence, this 10-foot-wide gate from Merchant Metals offers a quick way to create the opening you’ll need. The durable galvanized steel build features rounded corners around the frame to minimize the possibility of damaging your vehicle. Several reviewers were impressed with the quality of the construction for the price, which is more affordable than comparable models. Many reviewers also found the gate to be surprisingly easy to install.

Everbilt’s walk-through chain link gate is as versatile as they come. With a telescoping frame that allows you to adjust the width between 2.5 and 6 feet, it can accommodate a range of opening sizes and can even be turned into a drive-through gate if you install two gates on either side of your fence. It’s also available in 5- and 6-foot-tall versions so you can install it onto the most common sizes of chain link fences. To make the installation process as easy as possible, it comes with almost everything you’ll need to connect it to your fence. The only thing you need to purchase separately is the posts.

If you want to easily add privacy and change the aesthetic of your chain link fence, Sunnyglade’s privacy screen is an excellent choice. It’s made out of durable HDPE fabric with rugged copper grommets for securely anchoring the screen to your fence. Choose from five colors to customize the look of your fence. A sun-resistant coating prevents the color from fading over time. In addition to installing it across your chain link fence, you can hang it over your garden, porch, backyard, or anywhere else you would like some shade.

For one of the most permanent and robust privacy solutions, FenceSource’s Wave Slats can transform your ordinary chain link fence into an attractive privacy barrier. With five heights and nine colors to choose from, there’s a lot of flexibility in selecting how you want your fence to look. To keep them looking their best for as long as possible, FenceSource applies a UV protection coating to minimize color fading and degradation from sun exposure.

PM: What advice do you have for someone who is installing their own chain link fence panels? J.N: First, make sure to call 811—the national call-before-you-dig phone number—a few days before you do any digging, and request for any buried utilities to be marked to ensure that you are not going to dig on top of any underground utilities.

Getting the posts at the correct height and in line with each other, as well as making sure the posts are level, are all key requirements.

PM: How can someone ensure their chain link fence panels are safely secured? J.N: To ensure that chain link fence panels are safely secured, set all your posts in concrete. A good rule of thumb is to dig the post hole three times the diameter of the post and to a depth of 18 to 24 inches for a standard residential chain link fence.

PM: What’s the typical lifespan of chain link fence panels? J.N: All chain link fence material should be galvanized, and it can last anywhere from 10 to 40 years, depending on the moisture of your area.

PM: How can readers extend the life of their chain link fence panels? J.N: Without getting into a lot of chemistry, even though water has a neutral pH, it contributes to the corrosion of iron-based metals. You can extend the life of your chain link fence panels by ensuring that they aren’t constantly getting hit with water sprinklers or sitting in moist areas.

Pvc Coated Cyclone Wire Mesh Roll PM: What type of maintenance or repairs are typically required? J.N: Chain link fence is basically maintenance-free, which is why it’s such a great fence. If you have chain link gates, they may need adjustment from time to time depending on how much use or abuse the gate takes.