Galvanized Chain Link Fence

What is galvanized chain link fence?

Galvanized chain link fence is the classic perimeter material made by weaving zinc-coated steel wire into a diamond (mesh) pattern and sold in rolls. In the trade it also goes by the names welded wire mesh, woven wire or simply fence wire. Because the wires interlock instead of being welded to each other, the product stays flexible: it follows the slope, the humps and the bends of the ground.

That flexibility makes chain link fence both cheaper and easier to handle on site than rigid systems over long runs. The standard size we hold in stock at our Ostim warehouse is 150 cm high × 20 metre rolls; wire diameter comes in 2.0 / 2.2 / 2.5 / 3.0 mm and mesh aperture in 5×5 cm and 6×6 cm.

Technical specifications

Roll weight climbs noticeably as the wire gets thicker. There is a serious weight difference between a 2.0 mm roll and a 3.0 mm roll, and that difference feeds straight into how easily the roll is handled on site as well as into the freight cost.

Galvanized or PVC coated? Which one suits which site?

The core of the two products is the same; the difference lies in the surface protection. On galvanized chain link fence the steel wire carries a zinc layer only; on the welded wire mesh in common use the zinc coating weight sits roughly in the 40-60 g/m² class, which is barrier enough against rust in normal climates. PVC coated chain link fence adds a plastic sleeve over the galvanized wire, so the zinc never meets air and moisture directly.

• Galvanized is the choice: for fields, vineyards and gardens, land boundaries, site hoarding and livestock pens, where cost drives the decision and appearance counts for little.
• PVC coated is the choice: for the coast and humid regions, lines in constant contact with irrigation water, villa and housing-estate gardens, schools and parks, where the look matters too.

In short, galvanized makes sense when budget and long runs come first, PVC coated when service life and appearance do. If you are undecided, just tell us how damp the ground is and whether the fence will meet fertilizer or crop spray; we will settle on the right option with you over the phone.

Chain link fence or panel fence?

This comparison comes up constantly. Chain link fence arrives in rolls, it is flexible and its cost per square metre is low; it follows the ground on sloping land and is far cheaper over long runs. Panel fence is built from rigid, spot-welded panels; it needs no tensioning and looks neater and more decorative, but the unit cost is higher and sloping land calls for stepped installation.

A practical rule: chain link fence for land boundaries running to hundreds of metres, panel fence for areas on show such as a factory frontage or the inside of a housing estate. Most projects use both, with panel fence along the frontage and chain link fence on the side and rear boundaries.

Where is it used?

• Field, garden and land boundary fencing
• Protective fencing for vineyards, orchards and nurseries
• Sheep and cattle pens and paddock perimeters
• Temporary fencing on construction sites and material yards
• Factory, workshop and logistics yard boundaries
• Solar power plant (SPP) site fencing
• Greenhouse perimeters, water tank and well protection

On sites that want a higher level of security, barbed wire is added along the top of the fence, carried on arms set at 45 degrees on the post tops.

How many rolls and how many posts do you need?

Two figures are all you need before ordering: the perimeter length in metres and the post spacing you want. The calculation runs on these formulas:

• Number of rolls = perimeter length ÷ 20
• Number of posts = (perimeter length ÷ post spacing) + 1
• Tension wire = perimeter length × number of lines (usually 3 lines: bottom, middle, top)

Example: on a square plot measuring 25 × 25 metres the perimeter is 4 × 25 = 100 metres.

1. Chain link fence: 100 ÷ 20 = 5 rolls. Ordering one extra roll to cover overlaps and offcuts makes the job easier on site.
2. Posts: at 2.5 m spacing, 100 ÷ 2.5 = 40, plus 1 = 41 posts. At 3 m spacing about 35 posts will do.
3. Tension wire: 100 × 3 = 300 metres of plain galvanized wire.
4. Allow as well for a brace at each of the four corners and for one entrance gate.

Post choice follows the ground. On soil, the economical and long-lasting answer is the concrete post. On a concrete parapet, a kerb, asphalt or an existing wall, a flanged steel tube post suits better.

What determines the price of galvanized chain link fence?

Chain link fence is not priced off a fixed list; the figure follows the amount of steel in the product and the market on the day. These are the items that decide it:

• Wire diameter: the single biggest factor. The weight of steel going into each square metre changes considerably between 2.0 mm and 3.0 mm.
• Mesh aperture: a 5×5 cm aperture is a tighter weave than 6×6 cm, so it swallows more wire over the same area.
• Zinc coating weight: heavier coating lifts both the service life and the cost.
• Steel market: the wire rod price and the exchange rate feed into the figure week by week.
• Running meters: the unit price falls as the roll count rises.
• Ancillary material: posts, tension wire, tie wire and gates are separate items; a fence system is never just the mesh.
• Despatch: the product is heavy, so total weight and distance set the transport cost, and delivery is charged.

All the prices we quote include VAT. For a firm figure, just send us the perimeter length, the wire diameter you want and the province for delivery.

How is the fence tensioned and installed?

The service life of chain link fence rests largely on tensioning it properly. A slack fence sags within months, lets animals under it and works itself loose in the wind. The right order is:

1. Setting out: a line is strung along the boundary and post positions are marked at 2.5-3 metre intervals.
2. Setting the posts: concrete posts go roughly 40-50 cm into the ground; for a steel tube post a 40×40 cm hole is dug and filled with concrete. Corner and gate posts always get a brace, because those posts carry the whole of the tensioning load.
3. Concrete curing time: no wire is tensioned until the posts have set; wait at least 24-48 hours. Otherwise the corner posts lean inwards.
4. Running the tension wires: three lines of plain galvanized tension wire (usually 3.0-3.5 mm), at the bottom, middle and top, are run along the posts and pulled up with a wire strainer (tensioner).
5. Unrolling: the roll is fixed to a corner post and rolled out along the line; the mesh must never be dragged across the ground.
6. Tying: the mesh is tied to the tension wires with galvanized tie wire or clips at 40-50 cm intervals.
7. Final tensioning and trimming: the strainers are tightened until no sag is left, surplus wire is cut off and the cut ends are turned inwards.

Installation is not a standard service; our teams attend projects of approximately 1000 metres and above. On smaller jobs we send the product out and give you technical support by phone wherever you get stuck during the work.

Maintenance and service life

Galvanized chain link fence asks for practically no maintenance; a visual check once a year is usually enough. How long it lasts depends on the coating quality and the setting: in dry inland areas it runs for many years without trouble, while on the coast and on lines that stay permanently wet the zinc is used up faster. These are the mistakes made most often:

• Cut ends leave bare steel exposed; unless they are sealed with galvanizing spray, rust starts there first.
• Leaving the mesh buried in soil shortens its life; the bottom edge should sit 3-5 cm clear of the ground.
• Contact with weedkiller and fertilizer causes local corrosion, and a strimmer damages the coating.
• Wire pulled up slack moves constantly in the wind and wears the coating away at the tie points.

Despatch to every corner of Turkey

Selling and shipping the product is our main business. You place your order by phone or through the contact form; the rolls are picked from stock and sent from our Ostim warehouse to all 81 provinces of Turkey by parcel carrier or freight. Because the product is heavy and bulky, the transport method is set by the quantity and stated plainly in the quotation: a few rolls travel by parcel carrier, while pallet quantities go out through a freight forwarder.

If you are in Ankara, the site survey is free; we see the site in person and pick the right product for the measurements and the ground conditions. That said, delivery is charged, and that applies to deliveries within Ankara too; we do not offer free delivery. Prices include VAT.

Send us the dimensions of your project and we will price a complete material list covering mesh, posts, tension wire and tie wire, so nothing is missing on installation day.