Chain Link Fence Instructions

Mark the fence location on your lawn with stakes, a hammer and string. Measure and mark the post locations every 96 inches on-center. Gently tap stakes into the ground where you will be installing the fence corners.

Tie string from stake to stake, and spray paint this line on your lawn. Remove the stake and string and continue installing the fence.

Dig the postholes using a posthole digger. Dig terminal posts---end, corner and gate posts---8 inches wide. Dig line posts 6 inches wide.

Mix concrete according to the manufacturer's directions and pour in terminal postholes. Place terminal posts in postholes. Terminal posts should be 2 inches above the fence height.

Plumb each post and brace them. Place a scrap 2-by-4 board on both sides of the post, and gently secure by tapping stakes against the 2-by-4 board.

Measure 4 inches down from the top of each terminal post and mark the measurement using chalk. Run a mason's string between the posts at the chalk marks.

Fill all line posts with concrete by pouring into the postholes. Plumb each post and brace it with scrap 2-by-4 boards and stakes. Allow the concrete to cure for approximately two days before working any further.

Attach the fittings by placing three tension bands by placing three tension bands on every gate and end post. Place the first band 8 inches from the top, the second band 24 inches from the top and the third band 8 inches off the ground. Verify the flat sides of the tension bands face the outside of the fence and point into the fence bay.

Place 6 tension bands---two bands at each location---for corner posts. Verify the flat sides of the bands are in opposite directions.

Place a brace band 3 inches below the top of each terminal post. Connect a stringer end to the brace band with bolt and nut included. Make sure the head of the bolt faces the outside.

Place to bands on top of one another for corners.

Top each terminal post with a post cap and each line post with a loop cap. Verify the loop cap openings are perpendicular to the fence line and the offset side is facing the outside of the fence line.

Attach the top stringer by starting at one section, between two terminal posts, and feeding the non-tapered end of the stringer piece through the loop caps, towards the terminal post. Insert the non-tapered end into the cup of the stringer end.

Continue feeding pieces of the top stringer through the loop caps, making sure to fit the non-tapered ends over the tapered ends. If necessary, adjoin the two non-tapered ends with the sleeve provided in the kit.

Measure from where the taper begins on the previous piece to the inside back wall of the stringer end up to fit the last piece of the top stringer on the section. Cut the top piece of stringer to size using a hacksaw.

Connect the non-tapered end to the tapered end of the previous stringer. Loosen the brace band bolt and insert the cut end to the stringer assembly.

Unroll the chain link mesh on the ground and stretch it along the fence line. Stretch the chain link mesh from terminal post to terminal post.

Weave a tension bar through the end row of the chain link mesh. Secure the tension bar to the tension bands on the terminal posts with the bolts and nuts provided. Make sure the bolt head faces the outside of the fence.

Pull the chain link mesh taught along the fence line using your hands, moving toward the terminal post at the other end. Set the mesh on end and lean it against the posts as you go.

Weave the spread bar with the come-along through the mesh until it reaches approximately 48 inches from the final terminal post. Hook the spread bar with the come-along to the tension bar. Attach the other end of the come-along to the terminal post. Repeat for each section.

Tighten the come-along slowly according to the manufacturer's directions until the mesh is taut. Make sure to keep the top of the mesh lined up, so the peaks of it rise about 1 inch above the stringer. Repeat.

Pull the remaining mesh tight to the terminal post using your hands. Insert a tension bar where the mesh meets the tension braces. Repeat.

Remove excess mesh by bending back both knuckle ends of one zig-zag strand. Spin the strand counter-clockwise to unwind it from the links. Separate the mesh into two. Repeat.

Secure the tension bar to the tension bands using the bolts and nuts provided. Repeat.

Attach the mesh to the top of the stringer and line posts with tie wire according to the manufacturer's directions. Repeat.