How to Draw Construction Plans for a Chain Link Fence

Full View

• 1

  Use a tape measure to figure out the actual area in which you want your fence to be placed. Write these measurements down on a piece of paper.

• 2

  Determine where you are going to build your chain-link fence. This should be at least four inches in from the property line. Draw the overall layout of the fence on your construction plan sheet (a large sheet of paper from your local office supply or art store will do), including placement of gates. Add major structures to this drawing, such as buildings, trees and walkways, to use as reference points. This is a preliminary draft drawing, so it doesn't have to be perfect at this point.

• 3

  Decide where you want corner, gate and end posts. These main posts are called terminal posts and are four inches taller than the "line" posts that hold the fence up. Draw and label these on your drawing.

• 4

  Determine the actual width for each gate. This measurement will include the width of the gate, the hinges and latches. Typical walk gates have 3¾-inch hinges and latches. Double-drive gates usually use 5½-inch latches and hinges. Each gate is held in place by two terminal posts. Draw these sections and note the dimensions on the construction plan.

• 5

  Figure out how many line posts you need. These should be evenly spaced between two terminal posts, no more than 10 feet apart. For example, if there are 30 feet between terminal posts, space the line posts 10 feet apart. If there are 36 feet between terminal posts, space them every 9 feet. Sketch these on your drawing and label them.

• 6

  Decide whether your want a tension wire and brace rail on the fencing next to your gates. Draw those in as well. A brace rail runs from the terminal rail to the closest line post about a foot down from the top of the fencing. The brace rail is connected to the two posts with brace bands and acts as a supporting structure.

• 7

  Sketch the top rail poles. These poles run the length of the fencing between terminal poles, excluding the gate areas. Loop caps are on the top of line poles and are used to keep the top rail posts in place.

• 8

  Draw a tension bar at each end of the fencing near terminal posts. These run vertically at the end of the fencing and attach the fencing to the terminal posts with a tension band and a carriage bolt.

• 9

  Draw the end caps and loop caps on your gate. End caps go on the ends of the top rail poles. The fencing is also secured in place with small sections of loose wire tying the fencing to the top rail. You don't have to draw those in, just keep that in mind.

Side View

• 10

  Draw a side view of the fence, as if you were looking directly at the side but also can see how deep the posts are in the ground. You need to sketch only a portion of the fence, just enough to include a terminal post, a line post, a stretch of fencing and a gate, so you have a reference of how it should look from the side. Note the dimensions of each reference point, such as the depth of the dig hole and the distance between the fence posts.

• 11

  Sketch the chain-link fence with a crisscross design. Draw the terminal posts two inches higher than the fencing and the line posts two inches lower than the fencing.

• 12

  Add the dig holes for the posts with dimensions. Draw the terminal-post holes so that the bottom of the hole is 12 inches wide and 10 inches wide at the top. Line-post holes are 10 inches at the bottom and 8 inches at the top.

Finishing

• 13

  Redraw your full- and side-view construction plans in a neat, legible manner on a separate piece of paper. This will ensure that your drawing is understandable and dimensionally correct.

• 14

  Add any other specific instructions or considerations to the construction plans under the heading "Notes." This can be placed in any available space on the paper as long as it is clearly visible.

• 15

  Write on the back of the plans or on a separate sheet all of the items you will need for this project. This includes everything from the number of line posts to the carriage bolts. This will make it easier to obtain and organize all the items needed to complete your fencing project.