Chain Link Fence Privacy Slats: A Guide

Chain Link Fence Privacy Slats: A Guide

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Chain link fence is many things, but private is not one of them. If you want to have a private space that is fenced with chain link; you need to add some kind of privacy measures to your fence.

In this article, we’re going to take a closer look at chain link privacy slats. What they are, how they work, what you can expect to pay, and how to get them installed, among other things.

 

What Are Chain Link Fence Privacy Slats?

Chain link privacy slats come in a variety of designs. Some are wider than others, some are made of rigid plastic, while some are more flexible. However, they all have one thing in common.

Chain link fence privacy slats are pieces of plastic that are designed to be woven into the openings in chain link fences to add privacy and change the appearance of the fence.

How Much Privacy Do Chain Link Fence Privacy Slats Offer?

The first thing you should probably know about chain link fence privacy slats is that they offer different levels of privacy – meaning, they cover more or less of your fence.

Some chain link fence privacy slats only cover 60% of the fence, meaning there is still 40% of the fence that is not covered, and that means bigger gaps between the privacy slats.

Other chain link privacy slats are designed to offer as much as 95% privacy or coverage, which means only 5% of the fence is not covered.

Obviously, the higher the percentage of coverage offered, the more privacy you will have. However, higher coverage privacy fence slats are also usually more expensive, so you will also pay more for them.

What Colors Do Chain Link Fence Privacy Slats Come In?

Most chain link fence privacy slat manufacturers offer black, white, brown, and green slats because those are common chain link fence colors, and that means your slats will match your fence.

However, most chain link fence privacy slat manufacturers also offer a rainbow of other colors, ranging from dark red to pale blue and pretty much everything in between.

This means you can usually match chain link fence privacy slats to the décor of your home or property or even your company colors if you’re fencing a commercial property. You can also alternate slat colors to create patterns and visual appeal.

How Do Privacy Slats Work?

The next question most people have about privacy slats for chain link fences is how they work, and this depends a lot on the type of slat you’re buying.

Soft, flexible privacy slats are often woven through the fence diagonally, while some have a bottom rail or strip that the slats lock into. Others are wider and are held in place by pressure on the sides of each chain link mesh aperture when installed.

Before you buy any chain link fence slats, read the installation instructions so you can be sure you understand how they will be installed and if they will work for your fence.

Can You DIY Chain Link Fence Slat Installation?

Yes – chain link fence slats take some time to install, but they’re not difficult to put into your fence, so this is perfect as a DIY fence project. In fact, even children and teens can do this, provided they can reach the top of the fence with a ladder, so it’s a perfect family project too.

Do Chain Link Fence Slats Change Wind Resistance?

Yes. This is one of the lesser considered factors in installing chain link fence slats, but they do affect the wind resistance of the fence they’re installed in, so if you live in a very windy area, this could be a problem.

Often, when chain link fences are installed knowing they will have slats installed, thicker steel and larger concrete footings are used as a precaution for increased wind load.

How Long Do Privacy Fence Slats Last?

This depends a lot on the product you’re using again, but most quality chain link fence privacy slats these days are made from UV-stabilized, fade-resistant plastic, so they will usually last for many years or even decades.

How Much Do Chain Link Fence Privacy Slats Cost?

Chain link fence privacy slats are very affordable, and most types will cost you anything from about $3 to $10 a foot, depending on the type and the fence height.

If you have them installed by someone else, you can usually double that figure, but since this is a very DIY-friendly product, most people don’t need to hire a fencing pro to do the job for them.

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