Chain link fencing was originally designed as a commercial and even an industrial option. This is to try and help to secure the various properties that are often involved in a commercial setting, not to mention that it has also been adopted in residential areas as well. The earliest chain link fence was made with a wire bound mesh that wasn't coated at all. The manufacturers who made the fence developed various coatings that included PVC and even vinyl and this was without a doubt easier to maintain and even clean.Of course, it is important to understand that you need to check your chain link fence regularly and if you do see any form of damage then you will want to do everything you can to take action right away. Here are a few things to keep a look out for to extend the life of your chain link fence.Shifting PostsOvertime supporting posts can have some wear shift. When resetting your post, make sure they extend at least 2 feet into the ground. After particularly challenging weather be sure to check for any post that have shifted. All you have to do is make sure that they are at right angles to the ground so you can get the best result out of your fence and the amount of protection that it is giving you.Cleaning Rust can be a real problem if you have a chain link fence outside your business or even your home and for this reason you need to do everything you can to make sure that it is maintained to the highest possible standard. If you do notice that your fence is rusting then rather than waiting for the rust to get so bad that you need a chemical remover, you should tackle the issue sooner by simply getting a hose and rinsing it down. Sometimes you may even be able to get some steel wool and scrub down the rust, because this is a great way for you to remove any discoloration as well as making sure that you are getting the best result out of your fence in general.An environmentally friendly option to keeping your fence clean would be borax. You can mix it with water and remove the rust from your fence. The best thing about borax is that it doesn't contain any detergent or or other environmentally harmful materials. If you have a very large fence then you could easily put this in a pump style applicator and spray the areas that have accumulated dust or rust.If your fence is really bad with corrosion then it would be an idea for you to replace your fence. When you do this, be sure to leverage these tips so that you can extend the life of your fence.Common Repairs The most common damage we see to fences that can be repaired are from falling tree limbs during a storm or due to a dying tree. The first thing that you need to do is get a new section of top rail and a couple of wire ties. The top rail should have an open end and one crimped end, and to fix this you will need to get a file and a hacksaw.You need to start by removing any wire ties that hold the fence together at the top of the rail. You can then rest the new rail on top of the damaged rail, while you mark a cutting line on the old rail. You will then need to mark a cut on the other end of the new rail, where it will meet to make a joint. After this has been done, all you have to do is cut the damaged rail at the cutting line, slide it off and toss it. When you have done this, cut off the excess top rail and combine it with the existing joint. You will need a bit of room to do this, but when it's done you should be able to insert the new rail into the crimped end of the older rail, before you reconnect the cap on to the corner post.You can find many of the aforementioned supplies on here or at your local hardware store. We hope that you find these tips handy. Whether your fence is coated or uncoated it should last about 15 to 20 years. Using the aforementioned tips can save you the cost and time of prematuring replacing your fence entirely. The post Maximizing the Lifespan of your Chain Link Fence appeared first on Fencer Wire.
