Chain Link Fence Maintenance

Chain link fences are durable and easy to maintain and best of all, with a little regular maintenance, you can drastically increase the lifespan, durability, and aesthetic appeal of your fence. Here’s how to maintain and repair your fence:

What Should I Look For?

The first step in any maintenance project is understanding what needs to be maintained. Chain link fences are incredibly sturdy; they have relatively few failure points. Here are some of the things you should check on your fence:

• The chain link fence posts: Posts should be standing at a 90° angle; bent posts are a common failure point for chain link fences.
• The top rail: Much like the posts, the top rail is an essential part of your chain link fence—if it’s bent out of shape or damaged, your fence will lose structural integrity.
• The chain link mesh: The chain links of your fence might be bent, broken, or rusted. Fortunately, the mesh can be replaced relatively easily.

You should always be on the lookout for dirt, mould, mildew, animal droppings, and other contaminants on your fence. These can devalue curb appeal and worse yet, they can actually lower the lifespan of your fence by contributing to rust and deterioration. You’ll want to clean your fence regularly and repaint it when necessary. 

Clean Your Chain Link Fence

Chain link fences are relatively low maintenance, and cleaning them is a breeze. While you can use a specialized fence cleaner, water mixed with borax, dish soap, and/or white vinegar is often just as effective. Vinegar is best for mould and mildew, while borax is great for stubborn dirt. You can also use steel wool to rub off rust; we’ll discuss rust repair in greater detail below.

Paint Your Fence

By painting your chain link fence, you can boost curb appeal while making your fence more resistant to corrosion and environmental damage. There are a variety of paints specifically designed for chain link fences, though many exterior, rust-resistant paints designed for use on metal will do the trick. 

Check For And Repair Rust

The best way to deal with rust on your chain link fence is to prevent it in the first place; by regularly cleaning and painting your fence, you can dramatically reduce the risk of rust developing. 

Sadly, preventive maintenance won’t always stop rust from forming. Inspect your fence regularly for rust, and clean off any rust with steel wool or a wire brush. You can then apply a rust inhibitor to prevent rust from forming again. You should also consider repainting the affected section. 

Rust can eat away at the integrity of your chain link mesh; if your mesh is compromised, you will need to replace the affected section with new mesh. 

Rust is a particular concern on any chain link fence in Winnipeg, thanks to our summer storms, snowfall, and the salt used to clear that snow. Check on your fence frequently. 

Replace Damaged Wires, Posts, And Rails

Chain link fence repair is relatively straightforward, but like any repair, it should not be attempted without a level of experience; you could end up damaging your fence even more.

The main failure points of chain link fences are the wires, posts, and rails. 

• To repair the chain link fence fabric, you’ll need to remove the damaged fabric with lineman's pliers, purchase replacement mesh, and then weave the replacement mesh into place.
• To replace a fence post, you’ll need to detach the mesh from the post using lineman’s pliers, use a post-hole digger to remove the old post, pour gravel, place the new post, and pour concrete to secure it. From there, you’ll reattach the chain link fabric.
• To replace a top rail, you’ll need to detach the mesh from the rail using lineman’s pliers, cut out the bent section of the rail, cut a replacement rail, slide the replacement pipe into the undamaged section of the rail, then secure everything into place and reattach the mesh. For some bent rails, you may be able to fix the problem by applying pressure with a pipe wrench.

Conclusion

Chain link fence maintenance and repair are relatively straightforward; with vigilance and a little elbow grease, you’ll be able to keep your chain link fence in pristine condition for years to come. 

The process can, however,  be time-consuming and somewhat challenging if fence repairs aren’t your expertise. That’s where we come in; we’re Peg City Fence Pros Inc. We offer chain link fence repairs and maintenance in Winnipeg and the surrounding area; we can help keep your chain link fence in top shape!