What Are the Disadvantages of Chain Link Fence?
Chain link is one of the most popular fence types in many parts of the world. It’s cost-effective, the materials are readily available, and it’s relatively fast and easy to install.
But every type of fence – even the most popular ones – has some disadvantages, too. So, let’s take a closer look at the disadvantages of chain link fence.
1. Not Always Easy to Tell Quality
If you’re not a fence professional, it can be very hard to tell what kind of quality the fence you’re getting is. Fence posts, for instance, might look the same from the outside, but there might be big differences in the wall thickness of the fence post material.
Chain link mesh and wire can also be tricky because there are several different gauges and even different grades of galvanizing, so while two products might look similar, one might be significantly higher quality than the other.
2. Relatively Easy to Cut
The next big disadvantage of chain link fence is that, unlike some other kinds of fencing, it’s relatively easy to cut. Chain link wires can also be “spiraled” out of the mesh, creating an opening from the top to the bottom of the fence.
There are options to make chain link fences more secure, but most “off the shelf” options aren’t as secure as some other kinds of fences.
3. No Privacy
Chain link fence is a mesh fence, which means it’s made from woven wire, and there are large spaces between those wires. This means that on its own, a chain link fence does not offer any privacy.
That’s great if you want to be able to enjoy a beautiful view unobstructed, but not so great if you want to create a private backyard space.
There are options to add privacy to chain link fence, including privacy slats, fabric screens, and faux foliage, but you will need to add those to a basic chain link fence if you want them.
4. Not As Aesthetically Pleasing
A basic chain link fence doesn’t look as good as some other fence options.
You can improve the appearance of a chain link fence by choosing a color-coated chain link fence instead of a plain galvanized chain link, but that will add to the cost of your fence.
5. They’re Conductive
This is probably not a problem for the vast majority of chain link fences, but chain link fences are made of metal, so they can and do conduct electricity.
This can be a safety issue in some situations, so if you are installing a chain link fence where conductivity might be an issue, you will need to ensure that the fence is properly grounded.
6. Rust
All metal fences can and do eventually rust, and when they do, they don’t look as good.
If you live far from the salty air on the coast, your chain link fence will probably last decades before it starts to rust, but if you do live close to the ocean, you might see rust a lot sooner than that.
Some chain link fences, like white PVC-coated chain link fences, will show orange stains when the fence starts to rust, which can make it look even worse.
7. Easier to Climb
Most chain link fences (at least, those that don’t have smaller aperture mesh) have built-in hand and footholds in the holes in the mesh.
This does make them a little easier to climb than some other types of fence. So, if you’re looking for a fence that is harder to climb, you might want to consider other fence options.
Still a Great Choice for Most Projects
Chain link fence does have some disadvantages, as you can see, just like every other kind of fence.
However, that doesn’t change the fact that for many fence projects, it is a great choice that is affordable, low maintenance, durable, and quick to install.
So if you’re looking for a fence that checks most of the boxes, chain link should still be on your list of options.
