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Using old chain link fence posts for a new privacy fence?

8 years ago

HI everyone!

I have been thinking of replacing my 6 foot high chain link fence with a cedar privacy fence. Has anyone out there every reused the chain link posts for a new privacy fence? Is this possible? It would save a lot of time and money if we could do this. Any input you have is much appreciated! Thank you!!

Featured Answer

elphaba_gw

8 years ago

As most of us know, (except Geoffrey), there's a big difference between reading about a project in a magazine and finding someone here who has actually done it and can talk about it pointing out tips that they discovered.

Sorry, pretty_saab, seems like you struck out on this forum (except for snoonyb's tip about rust). Good luck.

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Comments (9)

geoffrey_b
8 years ago
I don't think the metal posts would look good agaist the cedar.
sdello
8 years ago
I agree that the metal/cedar mix would not look good. For privacy you could get the filler strips that slide into the chain link fencing. Not as aesthetically pleasing as a wooden fence but I suspect it's cheaper and will do the job.
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I read somewhere that the fastest growing perennial vine is the Dutchman's Pipe. It will, apparently, cover a screen in the first year. The flowers smell awful though. You could weave just about any kind of stripping that you liked through the fence, angled, corner to corner. I would go with something natural looking. I think there are a lot of choices out there that look like wood or bamboo. It would give you time to get some vines growing on it too for added privacy. You could use the stuff lawn chairs use to be woven with. We used to live beside a chain link walk-through. I lined it with little wild lilacs my first summer there about 1.5' apart. By the time we moved 14 years later, we had all the privacy we needed. I trimmed them back a lot on our side to give us space. The flowers were Heavenly! I have also rooted a couple of large weeping willow branches in front of a chainlink fence and wove the branches through the fence as it grew. After a few years the trunk will pull the fence out of the ground, so that's not really a good option for a fence that's permanent. You could weave cut willow branches through it, however. That might look quite good. I have used Virginia creeper too but it takes a couple of years to start taking off.
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Kimmiek: I have similar situation.I did have ivy there and I was covering sort of ok, but it was getting quite big touching my windows and my windows were always wet.Needs lots of training also.I cut it all off this Spring because the water it accumulated was always touching my windows and the paint was peeling off.So I have seen a similar fence and it was kind of landscaping fabric green in color made of plastic like material .This fabric covered the fence nicely and all you could see was lovely green color.No maintaince and no problem.Its been in our neighbourhood fence for about 3 years and always looks clean and green.So this is what I intend to do with mine.If you want more info I will have it as I have to do mine so I will find out exactly what it is.It has very tiny wholes in it like ventilation wholes, but gives total privacy and looks great.
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I'm in Ca. but replied to this post some time ago. Someone mentions other colors of lattice. I thought I would paint some wood lattice Hunter green some years ago & was I upset to discover- most of the birds poop white stuff. It doesn't look good on green, brown or black. It needs repainting this year so it will be white!! I'm sick of looking at the mess. Just a warning to others that you don't want to put out a lot of money & they have a fence showing poop bird do. Sorry, no way to say it nice.
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pretty_saab
Original Author
8 years ago
The posts would not be visible from the outside of the yard, and on the inside, there is always the option of wrapping them in wood to conceal them. Here is an interesting article i read on it

Here is a link that might be useful: Reusing chain link posts
snoonyb
8 years ago
In addition to " pretty_saab's" idea, there are specific brackets available for the process

However, inspect the posts near their base for rust..
geoffrey_b
8 years ago
@pretty_sabb: "Here is an interesting article i read on it"

Well if you already researched it, why do you ask????
SaltiDawg
8 years ago
Geoffrey_B,

That showed her! lol
snoonyb
8 years ago
I use the process in the article referenced by " pretty_saab"with a slight variation/s.

I dome the, vinyl ad-mix, concrete at the posts to prevent the affect of ponding which van occur from soil subsidence, wash the posts with vinegar, prime, using a string line mount the brackets.
The field posts are sleeved/enclosed with 1x and 2x for posts where gates are installed.
There are any number of capitols available for the post tops, or you can fashion your own.
AdamCor
8 years ago
Yes,you can replace chain link fence with cedar privacy fence,but there is need to consider some parameter like height of fence,you have to sure none of the posts are loose from the concrete,etc. you can refer TotalFence Inc,hope they will help you in proper way.

Here is a link that might be useful: TotalFence Inc

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