Chain Link Fence With Wood Posts: Does It Work, and How Long Does It Last?

Short answer: yes, chain link fence can be hung on wood posts. The mesh is stretched and fastened to the posts with heavy staples or screw-on brackets instead of the round tension bands used on steel posts. It looks warmer than an all-steel fence, but the wood posts are the weak link. A modern pressure-treated post in wet ground commonly lasts about 10 to 15 years, while galvanized chain link mesh often lasts 15 to 20 years or more. In Portland's wet soil the posts usually fail first.

We install chain link fences around Portland, and this is the honest version of the wood post question: when it makes sense, how it goes together, and when steel is the smarter call.

How do you attach chain link to wood posts?

The mesh is the same as on a steel fence. What changes is the hardware. On steel posts, the mesh is held at the ends by a tension bar and tension bands that wrap the round post. A square wood post takes a different approach:

• The end, corner and gate posts carry the pull of the stretched mesh, so they are the posts that matter most.
• The mesh is stretched tight first, then fastened along each post with heavy galvanized staples or screw-on brackets, with fasteners at the top, the bottom and at least one in the middle.
• A top rail or a tension wire keeps the top of the mesh from sagging between posts.
• All hardware should be galvanized or coated so it does not rust out before the fence does.

How long does a chain link fence with wood posts last?

As long as the posts last, which is usually less than the mesh.

That mismatch is the whole story. With wood posts in wet ground, you can end up replacing posts while the mesh is still good, and re-stretching mesh onto new posts is real work.

Why do wood posts fail first in Portland?

Because they are the only part of the fence sitting in wet ground, and Portland ground stays wet for most of the year. Clay soil holds water against the post, and the post rots right at the soil line, where you cannot see it until the fence leans.

We wrote more on this, and on the 2003 change to treated wood, in our guide to metal fence posts on a wood fence.

Wood posts vs steel posts for chain link

When does a chain link fence with wood posts make sense?

• You are extending or patching a fence that already has wood posts and want it to match.
• You want a rural or garden look and accept that the posts will need attention down the road.
• The site drains well and the posts will not sit in standing water.

If none of those fit, steel posts are the better spend for chain link. They are what the system was designed around.

Want the wood look with a see-through fence?

That is usually a hog wire fence: a cedar frame with welded wire panels. It keeps the open view of chain link but reads as a wood fence, and it is one of the most asked-for styles we build around Portland.

Want chain link that blocks the view instead? See our guide to chain link privacy slats and screens.

How we build chain link

Our chain link fences are built on a steel frame in galvanized, black or green, with options for a top rail, a bottom rail, tension cables and privacy slats. Our fence installs carry a limited 3-year workmanship warranty, and every installer has at least five years of fence experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you put chain link on 4x4 wood posts?

Yes. The mesh is stretched and fastened to the posts with staples or screw-on brackets. The end, corner and gate posts take the most load, so they need to be the strongest and best set posts on the run.

Do wood posts for chain link need concrete?

They need a solid footing at the right depth. We set fence posts in concrete. Keep the top of the footing shaped so water runs away from the post, not into it.

Can you switch wood posts to steel later?

Yes, but it means taking the mesh off, setting new posts and re-stretching the mesh. If the mesh is old too, a new fence is often the better spend.

How long does a chain link fence last?

Galvanized chain link usually lasts about 15 to 20 years, and up to 30 with care. Coated mesh in black or green lasts longer. On wood posts, the posts usually set the limit.

Deciding between materials altogether? Read wood fence vs chain link fence.

Leaning toward cedar? Here is how long a wood fence lasts and what makes one last longer.

Gorilla Works proudly serves Portland, Gresham, Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tigard, Lake Oswego, Happy Valley, Milwaukie, Troutdale, Vancouver WA, and Camas WA. Call (971) 343-4964 or request a chain link quote.