When chain link fencing first came into use during the Industrial Revolution, the manufacturing process was a technological wonder. Machines worked to weave heavy wires together to make a mesh. This wire mesh comprised the panels of chain link fencing. At the time, the only choice in finish was the bare galvanized steel.
Because choices didn't exist for chain link finishes, the resultant fences showed their industrial roots. However, manufacturing processes have come a long way, so now fabricators can coat the mesh in vinyl or even use powder coating techniques. The former process yields black, white, brown, and green. The color range with powder coating is unlimited.
Below are methods for choosing chain link mesh colors to enhance your property.
Let the Chain Link Recede into the Background
Plain galvanized steel sticks out from any background, especially one with landscaping. However, green chain link mesh does not. Indeed, if you choose a green chain link fence with green posts, you can make your lawn look greener. Likewise, such a fence will virtually disappear behind taller landscaping.
If you subscribe to xeriscaping principles, though, a bright green fence can stick out as much as a steel one. Therefore, a brown mesh with brown posts might be a better complement to your landscaping.
If your fence is closer to a building, other colors may be more suitable for blending in. For example, a matte gray or beige could match your house siding. Conversely, redwood mesh and posts could blend in with brick work in your house. Just be aware that such colors might stand out if the fence extends to landscaped areas. You may want to distinguish which area provides more backdrop.
Make a Bold Statement With Black Mesh
The polar opposite of blending your chain link fence into the background is the stark profile a black chain link fence makes. Contractors usually affix the black mesh to posts and rails with a slight sheen. From afar, such a fence can resemble a wrought iron fence, which is an upscale fencing option.
Even if your fence doesn't give the impression of wrought iron, a black chain link fence presents a bold silhouette. This silhouette would be ideal for modern-style houses. Modern ideals favor the clean lines of geometric shapes. From afar, the chain link fence presents the bold rectangles comprised of the posts and rails. The mesh creates a level of texture.
Channel Copper for a Warm Finish
Another method for highlighting the beauty of a chain link fence comes if you choose a warm copper finish. Up close, this finish exudes the warmth of a penny. From afar, the copper finish tends to render the mesh almost invisible. However, the space between the posts retains the warm essence of the copper-colored mesh.
Copper mesh looks good with copper-finished posts and rails. However, you also find this mesh with naturally stained wood. The warm colors found in the two materials complement each other.
Consider Adding Wood
In that vein, homeowners often upgrade their chain link fence by having wooden framing installed instead of metal tubes. Such a fencing construction makes the fence appear more upscale. However, mixing wood into the fencing profile should help influence your choice in mesh color.
For example, the copper finish as described above minimizes the overall visual impact of the fence, which may be your goal. However, the black mesh can work beautifully here, too. The natural wood creates another layer of background for the black mesh to stand out from. Such a combination could be a way of keeping your fence more transitional in style than modern.
If the wood you're adding is in the form of lattice screens, you might go back to the idea of beige or green chain link mesh. The purpose of such lattice screens is to train plants up the trellis. Therefore, you may want your chain link to take a backseat to such landscaping.
Integrate your chain link fence with your property by being deliberate in your choice of mesh color. If you're ready for a new chain link fence, contact Duke Fence Co., Inc.
