Chain Link Fences in Boerne, TX for Dogs, Backyards and Acreage

What Is a Chain Link Fence Made Of?

A chain link fence is woven steel mesh stretched between posts. It looks simple, but the parts you don't notice are the ones that keep it tight.

• Terminal posts at the ends, corners and gates carry the pull of the whole run. They're heavier than the others and get the deepest footing.
• Line posts hold the fabric up between the terminals.
• The top rail runs along the top and keeps the fence from bowing.
• A bottom tension wire runs along the bottom so the mesh doesn't curl up or leave gaps.
• Tension bars and brace bands clamp the fabric to the terminal posts once it's stretched.

The wire itself comes in different thicknesses. Heavier wire costs a little more and holds its shape better where a big dog leans on it or equipment bumps it. We'll talk through which makes sense for your yard.

Galvanized or Black Vinyl-Coated?

Galvanized chain link is the silver fence most people picture. It costs the least, handles the weather well, and suits utility yards, acreage and work areas.

Black vinyl-coated chain link has a black coating over the steel, with black posts and rails to match. It costs a bit more, and it fades into a green yard instead of standing out. If the fence is somewhere you'll look at every day, it's usually the one people are glad they picked. The coating also gives the steel underneath another layer of protection from rust.

What Chain Link Is Good For

You can see right through chain link, and the wind passes through it, so it works anywhere you need a boundary but not a wall.

• Backyards where you want to keep kids and pets in but don't need privacy.
• Dog runs beside the house or garage, with a latching gate.
• Utility and security fencing around equipment, storage and work areas.
• Acreage where you need a lot of fence for the money. For keeping deer out or livestock in, though, deer and game fencing or pipe and ranch fencing usually does the job better.

If your dog likes to dig or push at the bottom of the fence, tell us. We can add extra ties along the bottom edge to close up the spots they'd try.

Chain Link vs Wood

Chain link costs about half as much as a 6 ft wood privacy fence. What you give up is privacy and looks. It won't hide the neighbor's yard, and some HOAs limit it. Privacy slats help, but if screening is the main goal, wood is the better fence.

A lot of owners use both: wood privacy along the sides they share with neighbors, and chain link for a dog run or the back of a deep lot. Chain link also needs very little upkeep, while a wood fence needs staining now and then to keep it looking good.

Fixing Old Chain Link

Sagging chain link usually means a terminal post has moved or the top rail has come apart. Often you don't need a whole new fence. We can reset the posts, replace bent rail and stretch the fabric tight again. Our fence repair page has prices for most repair jobs.

Keeping Chain Link Tight in Rocky Ground

Chain link only works when the fabric is stretched tight, and all that tension pulls on the terminal posts at the ends, corners and gates. If those posts move, the whole run sags. Around Boerne they often land in limestone, so we drill them and set them in concrete deep enough to hold the pull.

On uneven, stony ground, gaps open up under the mesh. A bottom tension wire keeps the bottom edge tight to the ground, which matters for dogs that dig or squeeze. On slopes, we follow the grade so the fence doesn't leave a triangle of open space at every dip.