Chain link fences are sturdy and utilitarian but aren’t the longest-lasting fence type. With time, they become a general eyesore and can even become a hazard. When this happens, it’s time to remove or replace it. Generally, you can remove a chain link fence yourself, but might have to call in a professional. Let’s look at how to remove an old chain link fence.
What You’ll Need
Tools and Supplies:
- Fence pliers
- Bolt and wire cutter
- Wrench
- Bungee cords
- Spade shovel
- Twine ties or cable ties
- Bucket(s)
- Colored tape
- Reciprocating Saw
- Angle grinder
- Farm jack or pole puller
- Sledgehammer
- Jackhammer (optional)
For Your Safety:
- Work gloves
- Safety goggles
- Work pants
- Long-sleeved shirt
- Face shield
Preparing the Area
Before starting to prepare the site, collect all the required tools and protective equipment you will need. Then, do the following:
Is Your Fence Reusable?
Examine the complete length of your chain link fence, including the rails, posts, fence gate, tension bars, and braces, to determine its condition. If your fence is in good condition, you can sell it or trade the fence material for free removal with someone in need. The interested person can remove the fence for free and keep the material afterward. This will be a sweet deal and save you lots of effort.
Tip for you: Even if you’re removing a good-condition fence yourself, consider advertising free fence material so the disposal is handled and you don’t have to rent a truck or pay the disposal fee.
If your fence is in a poor state and good for nothing or no one, simply take it down.
Secure Your Plants
All the fence business may harm the vegetation near your fence. Trim or tie up bushes and trees around the fence to contain and keep them out of the work area. Or, you can transplant your plants to another area in the yard or to a planter. If you can’t pull out, tie, or trim plants, cover them with inverted buckets.
If a tree has grown through your fence, don’t remove the tree. Rather, cut the fence on either side of the tree. Doing this not only saves your plants from damage during the process but also makes fence removal a lot easier.
Clear Out One Side of the Fence
Once the fence is removed, you will have to lay it down so it can be rolled up for disposal or transportation. For that, you need to clear out enough space on one side – preferably on the side opposite the top rail – of the fence. The space should be at least 2 feet wider than the height of your fence.
In case you don’t have much space on either side of your fence, you can roll the fabric in smaller sections while it’s still attached. However, you will still need at least 2 to 3 feet of clear area or enough space for a truck or handcart to reach the fence. Because carrying a rolled-up chain link fence mesh is very difficult because of the weight.
Gear Up!
Removing a chain link fence is a serious project. You need helpers and proper, protective clothing and eyewear to stay safe. Fence removal can scratch you up or send small pieces of metal flying at you, so be prepared.
Removing Chain Link Fence – Step-by-Step Guide
You’ve prepared the area and are dressed for the job, let’s get started!
Step 1: Remove Clamps From Terminal Posts
End posts and corner posts are called terminal posts and are wider in diameter than other posts to bear more weight. Metal clamps hold tension bars in the fence fabric to these terminal posts. A tension bar is a flat, thin metal piece that is woven through the fence mesh to hold it in its stretched position.
The clamps holding the fence to the post are generally attached with a bolt and a nut. Use a wrench to loosen the nut and pull the bolt out. Then pull off the clamps from the fence post and see the fence slacken. The fence should get loose but shouldn’t fall. Collect the nuts and bolts in a bucket so it’s easier to manage.
Once the clamps are out of the way, you can remove the tension bars. Slide them out of the chain links and place them in the bucket with the clamps.
Step 2: Measure and Mark Sections to Remove
How and how large a section of fence fabric you can remove at one time depends on the space you have around the fence. Some guidelines to help you decide the length of the sections that can easily be rolled and handled in the space you have:
- If you have a friend to assist you and are working in a flat, open area, mark 50-foot sections of the fence to remove.
- If you’re working alone or there are obstacles such as trees and shrubs in the way, work in smaller and manageable 20-foot sections.
- If there is no ground space around the fence, roll the fence vertically and cut it frequently to avoid too much bulk.
Measure carefully and mark each section using colored tape or a knot of colored string.
Step 3: Cut Fence Ties
Fence ties attach the fence mesh to the top rail and posts. These little wire ties are strong and you will need specialized wire grippers or fence pliers to cut them. Start by removing a few fence ties at a time from the section you marked. Store the ties you remove in a bucket or container as they are sharp and can easily become a hazard.
Step 4: Lay the Fence Fabric on the Ground
Once you’ve finished cutting ties on a section, it will get loose and ready for dismounting.
- Use fence pliers to cut through the fence fabric at either end of the section you marked.
- Slowly lay the chain link section down on the ground with the help of your assistant.
- Roll up the fence section and secure it with cable ties.
If you’re working with limited space and have to roll the fence vertically, you will need a different approach at this step.
- Loosen just a few fence ties at a time. The fence fabric will slack.
- Roll the loose fence vertically and attach the roll to the top rail using a bungee cord or a wire to keep it upright.
- Keep doing this slowly until the marked section is rolled up along the fence.
- Cut the fence at the marked spot and lay the rolled-up fence down on the ground.
Once all the fabric is off the fence structure, it’s time to get ready for the difficult steps.
Step 5: Remove the Top Rail and Post Caps
The top rail is a metal bar running along the top of the fence. It may be attached to the posts in several different ways. Let’s see how to remove each:
- The top rail may be fastened to a “cap” at the top of your end post or corner post. To remove it, loosen the nut and remove the bolt that’s holding the rail and cap together.
- Pull the post cap off the post tops and store them with other hardware.
- Slide out the top rail and store it away from the site.
- Rail may be welded. To remove a welded top rail, put on a face shield and cut it into small segments with a reciprocating saw. Attach a metal cutting blade to it that should ideally have 18 teeth per inch. Remove the top rail once it’s free.
Step 6: Dig Out the Fence Posts
Almost all chain link fence posts are cemented into the ground, which makes removing them a lengthy process. There are different ways you can uproot these posts:
Dig, Soak, and Rock Them Out of the Ground
This is the most straightforward method of removing a fence post from the ground – digging out the posts. Terminal posts are larger in diameter than line posts and are embedded in more concrete relatively. So, start with line posts as they are easier.
Soak the ground around the post you’re going to uproot to soften the soil. This will make ground softer and digging easier. Grab a shovel and dig up near the post until you see the end of the concrete plug. Now grab the post and channel all your inner anger to swing it back and forth. This will loosen the post enough that you can pick it up and off the ground with the concrete still intact around it.
Use Heavy Equipment
Corner and end posts might not budge using the digging method, so you’ll need stronger force to remove their large concrete bases. For that, rent a farm jack or a post-puller. Here’s how to use it:
- Dig out dirt around the base of the post and unveil the concrete footing.
- Wrap the chain of the pole puller around the concrete plug and attach it to the puller.
- Position the puller close to the post base so you can maximize leverage.
- Repeatedly pull back on the lever to jack the fence post out of the ground slowly.
Loosen the Posts
If you’re not able to apply the above methods or they aren’t working, attempt to loosen the fence posts from the concrete. To do that, hit the fence near the base with a sledgehammer or have a brawny person rock the post, pushing and pulling it repeatedly.
You can also torque the post with a large wrench or vise. Once the forces make the post turn or move in the ground, repeat the pulling step to remove only the metal post. Leave the concrete base in the ground. Place the post with other hardware and dig the concrete base.
You can also loosen the post in the ground using water. Use a shovel to loosen the ground around your post and flood it with a garden hose. Push the hose deeper into the dirt to loose soil under the surface. The idea is to soften the soil so much that wiggling the post will uproot it.
Cut Them Out
This is your last resort if nothing is budging the fence posts. Here’s how you do it:
- Put on your eye protection as there will be small metal pieces flying about.
- Cut the post with a reciprocating saw with a metal-cutting blade and an angle grinder.
- Crimp the metal edges left behind so it’s safe.
- Flatten the rest of the jagged top with a sledgehammer so it won’t injure someone who steps on it. Or, cover it with a planter.
- If possible, you can dig a little and cut the post below the surface so you can flatten the rough edges and cover the cut area with soil later.
Step 7: Remove the Concrete (Optional)
You can also skip this step if you’re tired of all the pushing and tugging work.
If there is still concrete in the post holes after you remove the post, use a jackhammer to remove large pieces and a hammer to chisel smaller pieces. Remember to wear steel-toed boots, eye protection, and hearing protection for this step.
How to Dispose of a Chain Link Fence
Bundles of your chain link fence are now ready for disposal, but where do you discard them?
Most residential trash haulers won’t accept rolled fences, so you can get rid of them in one of the following ways:
- If you have a lot of fencing to dispose of or your fence removal is part of a lengthier landscaping project, rent a small dumpster.
- If the fence is in decent condition, put up ads and offer the fencing free.
- If your locality has a bulk trash pickup day or a community cleanup coming soon, hang on to the chain link fence until then. These services are often offered by your county or city so check with them.
- You can also haul the fencing to a nearby recycling facility or a landfill.
- If you hire a fencing company, most of these contractors will remove and haul the chain link fence for you as a part of their service.
When To Call a Pro
Homeowners fluent in DIY generally find this project easy. Removing a chain link fence by yourself needs lots of patience and some know-how of the removal process to safely execute it. But it’s important to know when you need to surrender and call a professional to do it for you.
That is when you’re not familiar with using the tools needed to remove a fence, can’t lift heavy items, or just aren’t comfortable with the process.
Professional fence service companies know how to use equipment and have the relevant experience to make the removal smoother and quicker. Plus, they know how to dispose of it safely.
Chain link fence removal by a professional will cost you around $3 to $5 per linear foot.
Not Ready for This Lengthy Project?
If you’re not feeling up for outdoor work, call in a fencing pro to do it for you. Our experts come with the right equipment, expertise, and knowledge to remove your chain link fence in the most efficient manner possible. So, just give us a call and schedule the fence removal.
Main Image Credit: sestovic / Canva Pro / License
