I've got a friend who wants some quotes to install either a 4 foot chain link fence or a 6 foot privacy fence in his backyard. I've done several privacy fences, and I can do a chain link fence. I'm just wondering if anyone has an idea of how much chain link fencing costs in materials over wood? I've heard that it is easier to install and I know it is low maintenance, but that the initial cost is a bit higher. Anyone know?

 

70' of 5' chain link was going to cost me $700 in materials at home depot or lowes. Not including concrete. That included 2 gates as well. Would have ended up with a bit of left over fencing cause they came in 50' rolls.....

 

I was going to suggest checking pricing at Lowe's website . They sell all types of fencing and you didn't specify which type fencing you were considering . We replaced wood with chain link because the wood was rotting . Even vinyl uses wood post and vinyl is easily damaged with a weedeater .

 

I was looking at the black chain link, powdercoated I think? It seemed awful pricey. I think each 50 foot roll was 90 bucks, and each 42" gate was 90 bucks, plus terminal posts and line posts at 20 a piece. With 170 feet of fence that's nearly 1000 bucks before I even get the smaller stuff to connect it all!

I know I can do 170 feet of 6' privacy for about 1100 in materials, since I did one that size earlier this year and that's how much it cost.

 

In my opinion....chain link is just ugly. Sure it's less maintenance but I'd say the wood would be more appealing to a potential buyer if you were to ever sell the place. Not to mention the minimal cost difference between the two, approximately $100?

You could check some of the fence supply places if your near a big city, not lowes or home depot, the supply house may be cheaper and usually who contractors use that are running fence companys. I have a friend in the fence business and he don't buy the chain link at lowes or HD. I'm not in fencing but would'nt buy chain link from those two. Actually saw some handrail in home depot the other day and was surprised(my business) and laughed at the quality of that stuff. Prefab, screw/bolt together...nice.

 

Im a fence contractor and around this area Id quote you approx. $2700 for 170' of installed 5' fence.
Ad extra $5.00 per foot for powdercoating black.
Thats the posts and everything black.

 

I'm with you, I can't stand the look of chain link. It's just vomit.
That's about what I quoted him. I told him 3800 for the black. I marked it up just a bit to kind of entice him to go for the wood, lol. That's just what he did to!

 

Wood may look better at first but when it starts rotting and falling apart in a few years it's an eyesore .

 

Wood looks better...But is a real PITA!

Also a cheaper initial cost, but will cost more in the long run with the time and money fixing it.

I buy the prefab cheapo's at Lowes when I need to replace a section.

If you are going to live there for awhile...go PVC!

 

I vote steel

At some point gonna have iron handrails, posts on my porch with stringers and steps to boot. Only wood I'll allow as my toprail will be Brazilian redwood. I'd like to see the boring bees chew holes in that!

 

I think it is a combination of wood selection and lack of care. A lot of people don't seem to go to the stores and actually hand pick every board. They often grab whatever is on the shelf, or allow the store to pick it themselves and drop it off in a big pack. I worked at Lowe's in the lumber department for a while in high school and that's what we did. We just didn't have time to be super selective. I built two privacy fences earlier this season and it took a few trips and about half a day to pick it all out, but here after about 6 months of the fences being up everything is straight and narrow still. I've seen some fences that were only a few months old that were all jacked up.

As for the prefab stuff, man what junk that stuff is. Just absolute rubbish!! The house we're renting right now has that up. I might try to buy it when our lease is up and the fence will be the first thing to be replaced.

 

My chainlink fence still looks great after the hurricane blew through here a month ago. Cant say the same for the privacy fences. Mine is green vinyl coated with the powdered coated posts and accessories. $5 a foot extra is robbery. The difference in material costs between the standard galvanized and color was negligible. And it doesnt cost more to install a colored fence vs. standard.

 

I dont have a source for anyone to powdercoat my materials for FREE so i dont consider it robbery!
We have to buy galvinized pipe and fittings and have them powdercoated.
Its costs $5.00 or more to have it done.

In fact if you dont mind could you please show me where powdercoated materials are the same price as galvinized?

 

Seeing how you couldnt or wouldnt back up your robbery statement I did some research for you.
This is from Master Halcro a Texas company and a big supplier of chainlink fencing all over North Americia!

Its intresting there coloured fences arent FREE either!

How expensive are chain link fence systems?

Although prices vary from one area to another, some typical system price ranges are as follows:

4’ high residential galvanized fence system-$3.50 to $5.00 per lineal foot
6’ high commercial galvanized fence systems-$10.00 to $12.00 per lineal foot
4’ high residential color systems-$6.50 to $8.00 per lineal foot
6’ high commercial color systems-$13.00 to $15.00 per lineal foot

 

Sorry I did not get back with you immediately. I dont live on the net. I see a $3 per foot differrence using your research. Not $5. I had ~440 linear feet installed between $3500 and $3800 (its been six years). With a walk through and taking down and disposing of the old fence (550'). Now the 104 linear feet of vinyl that finished up this fence was almost as much as the chainlink. But it also included two 7' gates and one 4'.