Whether you want a contained space for your pets and children to play or you need to define the boundaries of your property, a chain-link fence is an excellent alternative for fencing your yard. It's an affordable alternative, and it offers containment without completely blocking the views around you.
Even with proper installation and quality materials, it's possible that your chain-link fence might start to sag. Once your fence sags, children and animals have an easier opportunity to leave or enter the yard through the fence. Keep reading to learn what you should do if your chain-length fence starts to sag.
Examine the Material at the Botton of Your Fence
When your chain-link fence is being installed, your fencing contractor adds a component known as a tension wire. The tension wire is attached to the bottom of the chain length. Occasionally, a chain-link fence might also have tension wire at the top of the chain-link for extra support.
Like the name suggests, a tension wire creates tension that lends stability and additional strength to the fence. Not only does this additional support prevent animals and children from pushing into or out of the fence, but it also helps keep your fence taut.
Over time, the tension wire can break or stretch out due to normal wear and tear or people climbing or hanging on the fence. Repetitive pressure will also cause the tension wire to degrade. If it appears that the wire at the bottom of your chain-length fence is loose, this is often the cause of your sagging fence.
Replacing your fence's tension wire is a repair best left to an experienced fence repair contractor. You need a decent amount of upper body strength and a tool known as a pull-along to create the necessary amount of tension.
Check That Your Posts are Straight
The fence posts are another important component of your fence. They need to remain perfectly straight for your fence to have the correct amount of tension. Once the posts start to lean over, your fence will sag due to the decrease in tension.
If your posts were installed directly into the ground, it's normal that they will shift position over time. The dirt won't hold them in place forever.
You need to have a fence repair contractor reinstall the posts using concrete to secure them in the ground. All of the fence posts will need to be reinstalled, not just the ones located closest to the sagging portion of fence.
Hiring a fencing contractor can be a bit challenging. You have to decide what type of fencing you want, consider several estimates, and then get on a sometimes-busy schedule to have your fence installed. If you're stuck at any point of this process, perhaps you could use some advice. Find it here! We have compiled all sorts of articles about fencing contractors and fencing in general. We are not in the fencing industry ourselves, but we are really passionate about these barriers and have done our research. We're confident the information we offer will help you pick a contractor, choose the right fence, and more forward with the project.