Building A Chicken Wire Fence To Keep Dogs Safe

Chicken wire fencing is a cheap, easy-to-install, and effective way to keep your dog safe and away from harm. It is also a trendy and affordable alternative to chain-link fences. Building a chicken wire fence is a great DIY project that can improve your curb appeal and keep your pup safe. This guide will take you through the steps to build a chicken wire fence, including planning, assembling, and installing the fence.

Planning and marking your fence line

Determine the Fence Location and Size:

Start by deciding where you want to install the fence. Consider the purpose of the fence and how much space your dog will need. Do you want to create a separate section in your backyard for your dog to play and explore? Mark out the area you want to enclose, taking into account any specific features or boundaries you want to include.

Choose Your Materials:

You can opt for a wooden frame or metal stakes to install the chicken wire. A wooden frame is more durable and aesthetically pleasing, but it requires more construction work. Metal stakes are a simpler option that anyone can manage. If you choose wooden posts, you'll need to dig deeper holes for the corner posts as they bear more tension than line posts.

Plan and Mark the Fence Line:

Use spray paint or small stakes to mark the fence line. Snap a mason's line between the stakes and lightly spray along it to ensure a perfectly straight fence line. Measure the length, checking distances and right angles with a carpenter's square or a simple 3-4-5 triangle. Do this twice to ensure accuracy.

Gate Placement:

Consider where you want to place the gate. It should be positioned for easy access, keeping in mind walkways and proximity to water sources or other relevant features. If you're using the metal stake method, you can purchase a gate as part of the fencing kit.

Gather the Necessary Tools and Items:

Ensure you have all the required materials and tools before starting construction. This includes the chicken wire, posts or stakes, spray paint or small stakes for marking, measuring tools, and any additional hardware for assembly.

Remember, proper planning is key to ensuring your chicken wire fence is sturdy and effective in keeping your dog safe and secure within its designated area.

Using wooden stakes or metal posts

To begin, you need to plan the fence and take measurements. Decide where you want to install the fence and mark the area. If you're using wooden stakes, you can snap a mason's line between the stakes and spray along it to ensure a straight fence line. Measure twice to be sure—walk the length, checking distances and right angles with a carpenter's square or a simple 3-4-5 triangle.

If you're using wooden posts, you'll need to dig holes for your corner posts as they bear more tension than line posts. Make sure the holes for the corner posts are deeper. For extra stability, you can pour concrete into the post holes. Once the posts are secured, install a brace wire that runs diagonally from the bottom of the corner post to the top of the brace post. Secure the wire with staples at both ends.

For metal posts, drive them into the ground approximately 15 feet apart with a sledgehammer. Then, unroll the wire mesh along the fence line and secure it to the posts using metal clips. Make sure to pull the mesh taut to prevent sagging. Secure the mesh at regular intervals, and for added strength, install a horizontal wire or rail at midway height.

Both wooden stakes and metal posts offer a sturdy and effective option for building a chicken wire fence to keep your dogs safe and secure.

Attaching the chicken wire

Planning and Preparation:

First, decide on the location of your fence and whether you will use a wooden frame or metal stakes to install the chicken wire. For a sturdier and more aesthetically pleasing fence, a wooden frame is recommended. However, if you prefer a simpler option, metal stakes will do the job just as well. Mark the fence area with spray paint or small stakes, and plan out the location of your gate, ensuring easy access and considering proximity to walkways and water sources.

Building the Gate:

If you opt for a wooden frame, use wood boards to create a rectangle or square frame based on your measurements. Secure the boards together with nails or screws. For the gate, screw hinges onto a fence post and the gate itself, then secure a gate latch on the other side of the gate and the adjacent fence post.

Unroll your chicken wire along the fence line, starting at one end post. Secure the wire to this first post using metal clips, clamps, staples, or zip ties, ensuring you attach it tightly. Pull the wire mesh taut as you move to the next post, using a come-along or an extra pair of hands to maintain even tension and prevent sagging. Secure the mesh at regular intervals, working from top to bottom. For added strength, consider installing a horizontal wire or rail at midway height.

Securing the Fence Posts:

If you're using wooden posts, dig holes for your corner posts, ensuring they are deeper than the holes for line posts due to the greater tension on corner posts. For extra stability, pour concrete into the post holes. Install a brace wire between your corner and brace posts to further stabilize the fence. Start by securing a fence staple at the bottom of the corner post and the top of the brace post, then run the wire through these staples, around the posts, and back down. Drive the staples in tightly and staple any loose wire to the posts.

Final Steps:

Clip the wire onto each post along the fence to ensure it is firmly in place. If using metal posts, drive them into the ground with a sledgehammer, approximately 15 feet apart. Repeat this process for each section of your fence until you have a secure perimeter for your dog.

Building a gate

Next, you'll need to build the gate frame. Using your chosen wood boards, create a rectangle or square frame based on your measurements. Secure the boards together with nails or screws. Then, attach the chicken wire to the frame, bending the sharp edges away from the edge.

Now, it's time to attach the gate to the fence. Screw hinges onto the fence post and the gate, then secure a gate latch on the other side of the gate and the adjacent fence post.

If you'd prefer a simpler method, you can use metal stakes instead of building a wooden frame. Pound the stakes into the ground and run a tension wire between them to keep them in place. Then, attach your chicken wire fencing using cable wires or wire clips.

Remember to plan your gate carefully, taking precise measurements, and ensure that your gate is sturdy and secure to keep your dog safe.

Securing the fence with concrete

Securing a fence with concrete requires specific tools and techniques, but it is a task that can be accomplished by homeowners with some DIY experience. The first step is to prepare the concrete surface by cleaning it thoroughly and removing any debris, dirt, or loose concrete. Check the surface for cracks or other damage and repair them before installing the fence. Use a self-levelling compound to level the surface and ensure the fence is installed straight and level.

If there are large cracks or holes in the concrete, consult a professional to repair them before installing the fence. Metal base plates can be welded to the bottom of each fence post, and holes can be drilled into the concrete with a hammer drill. Secure each base plate to the concrete using concrete anchor bolts. Alternatively, drill through the concrete slab for each fence post and set the posts by pouring concrete around the bottom of the post, finishing flush with the slab.

Another option is to use fence brackets to mount fence posts to the concrete surface. Ensure the concrete is thick enough and use a high-quality fence post anchor designed for mounting posts to concrete. Snap a chalk line on the pad to keep the fence posts straight and in line. If your concrete pad is insufficient or you are installing a privacy fence, rent a core drill to drill holes for the posts and set them with concrete.

For vinyl or wood fences, drill into the concrete and set a galvanized post to support the wood or vinyl fence. Depending on the concrete strength, you can drill all the way through or set the posts with hydraulic cement. Finally, add finishing touches to the fence, such as trimming excess material and painting the fence with outdoor paint to protect it from the elements and give it a polished look.

Frequently asked questions