Chain Link vs. Wood Fence in Baton Rouge

Chain link and wood solve different problems. One is about keeping things in for the least money. The other is about keeping the view out. Most of the decision comes down to which of those you need — and on a big enough yard, the answer can be both.

Cost

Published ranges for the Baton Rouge area put chain link at $10 to $20 per linear foot and wood privacy at $15 to $30 per linear foot, installed. Over a few common lengths, before gates:

These are multiplications of published ranges, not quotes. The gap grows with the footage, which is why the choice matters most on large lots.

Privacy

This is the biggest difference. A wood privacy fence is solid; chain link is open. Privacy slats woven into chain link add some screening, and a black or green coated fence blends in better than plain galvanized, but neither matches a solid fence. If the reason for the fence is a neighbor’s back porch or a busy street, wood is the answer.

Pets and kids

Both keep a dog in. Chain link lets you see the yard from the house, which some people want, and its smaller mesh sizes are harder to climb. Wood blocks the dog’s view of the yard next door and the street. For either, ask about the height, the gap at the bottom, and a gate latch that closes reliably and sits out of a small child’s reach.

Looks

Wood looks like part of the house. Chain link looks practical. Coated chain link is a middle ground for a backyard. If looks matter mostly from the street, it may only be the front-facing runs that need to be wood.

Upkeep and how long they last

Wood is the material where upkeep is part of the deal. USDA Forest Service research on climate and wood decay rates the southeastern United States among the regions with the greatest potential for decay. That puts the focus on the posts and the finish: The American Wood Protection Association’s residential guide calls for posts in ground contact to be treated to Use Category 4A or higher — the rating is printed on the lumber’s end tag. Ask whether a stain or sealer is included and how often the installer recommends refinishing. Chain link has no finish to keep up, but ask what the posts are and how they are set, and look at the fabric and ties now and then for damage.

For more on what decides a wood fence’s life, see how long a wood fence lasts in Louisiana.

Using both

On a larger lot, mixing the two can be good value: wood privacy on the runs that face a neighbor or a road, chain link on the rest. As an example, 80 feet of wood and 170 feet of chain link works out to about $1,200 to $2,400 plus $1,700 to $3,400, against about $3,750 to $7,500 for 250 feet of all wood. Ask how the two will meet at the corners, and get each section priced on its own line.

A quick way to decide

• You need privacy: wood.
• You need to keep a dog in, on a budget: chain link.
• You have a big lot and need privacy on one or two sides: both.
• You are not sure: ask for both on the same footage and gates, and compare.

Call (225) 351-2857 or send the form with your footage and which you are leaning toward. Your request goes to one local installer, who measures and quotes in writing.