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Julieboo
Member
02-05-2002
| Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 2:03 pm
Who knew there was a shortage of chain link fences? I didn't. So anyone know of a cheap but nice fence? Anything I should look out for (ie hidden costs) when I am "fence shopping?"
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Weinermr
Member
08-18-2001
| Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 3:25 pm
Make sure there's a gate, or you won't get out. 
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Jagger
Member
08-07-2002
| Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 8:22 am
Chain link fencing is still by far the cheapest. What type of fencing are you looking for. If you want maintaince free go with the chain link or the newer plastic fencing. The plastic fencing is probably the most expensive but it is basically maintaince free and will probably last a life time. The down side is that you can't change colors on it. Wood fencing is nice, but that does require maintaince. If you are getting bids from people make sure they are all using the same type of materials, there are differant thicknesses in chain link, along with heights and the various fittings used in attaching them. Materials in chain link fencing isn't too expensive, it's the labor that will kill you, so make sure to shop around and get numerous bids. As far as the comment about the gate, I love it, but that is a good point, there are different sizes of gates, make sure you get a large enough gate so you can get in and out of it with something like a wheel barrow or such if you do any kind of gardening or landscaping.
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Julieboo
Member
02-05-2002
| Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 8:32 am
Thanks Jagger, great tips! But 2 different places told me that chain link is 3X what it used to be. One place said a split rail with mesh is the current cheapest. Guess I will just have to call around. Good tip about the width of the gate. Didn't even think about that! And we probably want one on each side of the house... Maybe even one in the back.
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Draheid
Moderator
09-09-2001
| Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 8:59 am
Julieboo, to add to thinking about gates: Depending on the size of the area to be fenced in, you might think about if you'll need to get other equipment into the area such as a lawn tractor or other machine that most walk-in gates aren't large enough to handle. Other things to consider are the purpose for the fence (ie. privacy vs security vs aesthetics vs safety, etc)? What do others in the neighborhood have now that you may want to consider 'matching'? We constructed a 25 x 50 foot fenced in area to comply with requirements for having a 12' swimming pool setup in our yard. It now gives our dog a place to run and play safely while keeping her from running around the neighborhood too. For this, we used 'T-poles' and a wire mesh type fencing material that is 4 feet tall - sufficient for the legal safety of the pool. It was very inexpensive and easy to put up. Hope this helps. ETA: I should mention that we rent vs owning - if we owned the house and property, we most likely would have constructed a wooden privacy fence around the back half of the lot instead. This one we can fairly easily pull up at anytime.
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Jagger
Member
08-07-2002
| Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 12:01 pm
I guess I have never heard of the mesh fencing, that does sound like it would be cheaper than chain link. I agree the chain link has gone up in price drastically. About 10 years ago I fenced in part of my yard, last year I was looking into fencing in the remaining part of my yard, which is much smaller of an area, the cost was about twice what I paid the first time around. I decided I could manage to do the fencing myself this coming year, all I need to do is find someone with a comealong or build something to stretch the fence for tightening it. Luckily I think my brother has something he rigged up for that purpose. I agree with Dra, decide if you will ever need to get back there with a vehicle or anything, such as hauling in black dirt or sod, you may want to go with a double gate so you have access to that area. I know I made that mistake and have hauled many a wheel barrows full of dirt back there versus just having the truck haul it into my yard.
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