Frequently Asked Questions

Parts of a chain link fence aren’t mysterious, but if you don’t know what they are called it can be difficult when you talk to builders, contractors, or look for repair parts. If you want to do the work yourself you may spend a lot of time trying to figure out what a single part is called or order the wrong part due to simple confusion. 

All of the parts in the fence diagram perform a necessary function and should not be left out of any new construction. They shouldn’t be missing on your fence, even if it’s been in place for 20 years.

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Is your fence missing a necessary part? Does it have parts that are not shown in the diagram? If the answer is yes to either of these questions, you may want to contact the professionals at All American Fence Erectors. We can inspect your fence from top to bottom and provide a free written estimate in case you need to take any corrective actions before something breaks! So check today, and make sure your chain link fence has all of the parts in the diagram. A missing part can drastically reduce its dependability when you need it most.

If it’s time for a new fence, choose the pros at All American Fence for top-shelf perimeter protection. Our products can give you peace of mind and enhance and protect your property value. Our agents serve Apple Valley, Hesperia, Oak Hills, Phelan, Victorville, and nearby areas with professional sales and service. We’ll erect an attractive fence on your property with all of the parts on the diagram at a competitive price that is built to last and built to code. Contact us now for a free estimate!

Every job size differs, but a close rule of thumb on how we run our business is:

• 1 day to set fence posts, all posts are set in concrete (unless stated otherwise)
• Takes 3-4 business days for the concrete to cure and/or make the gates.
• 1 day to stretch the wire and hang the gates

There is a possibility there are utility lines running underground or above ground (on power poles) between you and your neighbor’s property.  This exact information is often found in your preliminary title report you received when purchasing the home.  Sometimes the city can get you this paperwork as well.  Do know it isn’t a standard property map; utility easements are only shown on a much more detailed layout like the photo below.

It is always best to place the fence outside of the said easement, leaving free access to the easement at any time.  If the total easement is 20’ wide, usually you and your neighbor would split the difference, 10’ each. So if there were property pins in the center of the easement (where the actual property boundary is) your fence should be no closer than 10’ from the property pin.  Some easements are obvious, as multiple neighbors have all given in for the easement with their fence and it’s easy to follow suit.  Sometimes people do not leave these dedicated easements open for public access and will just allow the utility workers to enter their yard to have access to the utility lines if need be.  This, however, can be a headache for all parties involved and should be avoided at all cost, and often illegal if it does in fact show a dedicated easement on your title report.  We the contractor shall not be responsible for property line locations, easements, roads or any other boundary type setbacks with fence installations.  If it is of any concern contact a licensed surveyor to better assist in the matter.

How Tall Can My Fence Be?

Every city and county has different fencing rules. Before you put up your fence, it is always advisable to check with your local authority for the exact, up-to-date codes. Most cities in the High Desert have set a maximum height of 4’ for front yard fences, and 6’ for backyard fences.

For instance, in San Bernardino County, you can have a four-foot-high chain link fence at the front of your house and a six-foot-high one at the rear of the property. The only EXEMPTION is for properties on "RC" (resource conservation) and "RL" (rural living) land zones, where fences can be as tall as 5' in the front yard. 

Even so, many Californian homes still have taller front yard fences than the codes allow. In such cases, the homeowner is always responsible for any problem arising from their extra-tall fence. 

So, how high can a fence be in California?

The Town of Apple Valley

The Town of Apple Valley has adopted a new ordinance stating that any home built after June 2007 in zones R-SF and R-EQ CANNOT have chain link fences in the front or front street side yards regardless of what the height is. If this date timeline applies to you, click the "Apple Valley fence height" links below to read more. Also, check the Apple Valley Zoning Map to see which zone you fall in. 

Remember, the new ordinance applies only to homes built after June 2007. Although thousands of homes in the area, built before 2007, may have this type of fencing, do not be tempted to go against the code. That may cause you unnecessary trouble.

In addition, you are NOT allowed to fence bare land on residential property in the Town of Apple Valley..

The City of Victorville

The City of Victorville amended its front yard chain link code in February 2015. Lots under 1/2 acre in select areas are NOT allowed to have chain link fences in the front yard regardless of fence height. The zoning that you are allowed to have chain link in the front yard is R-1B 1/2 (1/2 acre or more of land). 

In addition, you are NOT allowed to fence bare land on residential property in the City of Victorville. Check the City of Victorville Zoning Map to identify your zone.

City/County Information Links

If you still have questions on how high a fence can go in California, click the links below for more information.

Apple Valley

APPLE VALLEY FENCE HEIGHT 9.28.120

APPLE VALLEY FENCE HEIGHT 9.31.030 / scroll to line "K" walls and fences

APPLE VALLEY FENCE HEIGHT 9.31.050 / scroll to line "M" walls and fences

APPLE VALLEY ZONING MAP

Adelanto

ADELANTO FENCE HEIGHT

Hesperia

HESPERIA FENCE HEIGHT Title: 16/ Chapter 16.20/ Article III/16.20.070

HESPERIA ZONING MAP

San Bernardino

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY FENCE HEIGHT Page 321 Chapter 83.06

Victorville

VICTORVILLE FENCE HEIGHT

VICTORVILLE ZONING MAP

Get Swift Professional Assistance

Planning authorities regularly update fencing codes. Keeping up with these changes may be hectic for a regular property owner. Luckily, All American Fence Erectors has a team dedicated to fence building and all the relevant regulations including front, back-, and side yard fence heights and more.. Call us at (760) 948-2428 or contact us online with any inquiries, and we will be happy to assist.

This all depends on the ground and how much or little gap is acceptable under the fence.

• If the ground is flat or the grade is consistent, then the fence should be flat or straight.
• If the ground has dips or humps the top of the fence must mirror the bottom.

Roll Gate Wheel Options

Rolling gate wheels are a common gate installation accessory. They can be used with chain link fence gates to provide a rolling gate that is easy to move and open as needed. Whether you own a residential or commercial property, chain link gate wheels can be a great addition to any chain link fencing job, as they provide the flexibility of having an easy way to open and close the gate with no manual lifting or force needed.

We provide two different options for ground wheels on chain link rolling gates: Rubber wheels and V-groove wheels.

Rubber Wheels: Rubber wheels are intended to roll freely over any type of terrain but remember it's only as good as the ground it's rolling on. If you have rocky, sandy, or uneven ground under your rolling gate, it will make opening and closing your gate very difficult. If you have smooth hard-packed level dirt or concrete the rubber wheels work alright, but you often will still need to help guide the gate into the latch which isn't ideal, but if you aren't using the gate too often, it may not be of concern. This rolling gate wheel option is the cheaper of the two and the more common for that reason but it will take two hands and a little muscle to use.

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Angle/V-groove Wheel: Angle/v-groove option is the preferred method as the gate guides perfectly in the exact same spot every time you open and close the gate. For this option to work, you must have concrete across the gate opening for the angle/v-track to bolt to. If you do not have a concrete driveway or your concrete driveway doesn't reach the gate opening, we can provide a quote for pouring a small concrete strip that works perfect for the cause (at an additional fee). This option is slightly more expensive but often well worth it and requires very little effort to use. The other plus about this setup is if you ever want to install a gate operator, the only way that will work is to have the angle/v-groove setup. Remember we don't install any of the gate operator/motors, but can refer you to a company that specializes in them for this rolling gate wheel option.

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Contact Us Today

Want to enjoy rolling your gate with ease and smoothness? Then we recommend the angle/v-groove option for rolling gate wheels. This will ensure you get the best performance out of your chain link gate wheel options. But if you need a simple and cost-effective way to open and close a chain link gate that you're not using too often, rubber wheels are a great option. 

Get your fence installed professionally at All American Fence. Complete the contact form to tell us more about your chain link fence gate wheels project. Get your free estimate now.

• Common question is always; which looks better, or is it worth the extra cost for privacy vinyl over privacy chain link.  
• This is mainly subject to opinion of apperance or issue of durabilty (privacy chain link is far more durable then that of privacy vinyl due to it's steel frame work).  
• Here is a great photo comparison of the exact same job with both types of fence.
• Typically privacy vinyl costs 35%-45% MORE than privacy chain link.

Click here for more Privacy Vinyl info

Click here for more Privacy Chain Link info

All chain link material and products we sell and install have been galvanized to avoid rust or maintenance.

• 3 year on material (excludes gate hardware).
• 1 year on our workmanship/installations.

• Our vinyl fence is made from high quality virgin vinyl raw materials and has UV inhibitors to help prevent fading.  It is a very good and durable product but will show wear and marks upon normal wear and tear or certain abuse.
• Like all plastic/vinyl, it will slightly discolor (usually only noticed when compared to brand new side by side) and get brittle over years in the sun.
• Sprinklers spraying water on it can make it dull and blotchy looking.
• Grass trimmings getting thrown at it (weed wacker will make it dull and blotchy with a green tint).
• Any objects hitting or getting thrown at the fence can mark and break/crack the fence.
• If proper care is taken, our vinyl fence will last for years.
• 3 years on material
• 1 year on our workmanship/installations.
  Exclusions: Vandalism, disaster type weather, wind damage, snow damage, water damage, flash floods (washes), animal or vehicular damage, any vinyl coated or powder coated material, and normal wear and tear.
  Warranty subject to change without notice:

Vinyl gates have always been the missing link to vinyl fences due to lack of durability and appearance (photo 1).  We have been developing a structure that we can have confidence in its longevity without compromising the appearance.  We have come up with a STEEL design that mimics the design of the ranch style vinyl fence and are powder coated white to match the fence.  These have been a customer favorite and it’s easy to see why.  They’re made to last and look beautiful (see photos 2-4).  We can also incorporate chain link gates within the vinyl fence opening, (last photo), although it doesn't give that superb fit and finish, it is a much cheaper alternative.  

CLICK HERE to learn more about our Ranch Style Vinyl Gates:

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Any pet parent knows the importance of keeping their furry family members safe and secure. A vinyl ranch-style fence provides a classic and stylish security solution for many homes in the High Desert area of California, but is it sufficient to keep dogs contained? The solution lies in having a vinyl dog fence with mesh wire installed on the backside of the fence. The durable vinyl material ensures long-lasting performance and is hassle-free to maintain, making it ideal for environments with pets, while the wire mesh helps keep your dogs and animals out.

How Our Ranch-style Fence With Wire Works

If you already have a vinyl ranch-style fence installed, we can attach mesh wire to the backside of the fence at a cost-effective price. The mesh we use is a 2"x4" galvanized welded wire fence that is attached via self-tapping screws to the fence – usually the backside. If you look closely, the photos show how the mesh is attached so that it disappears in the background and isn't too noticeable. This is what makes our vinyl dog fence a popular option for property owners.

Consider that the mesh is only attached with screws directly into the vinyl/plastic posts, so if you have aggressive animals, they can damage it very easily. It is considered a decorative fence, so keep that in mind when it comes to durability from objects/animals. If you need a more durable fencing solution, you can opt for our chain link fencing and gate installation services. 

Get Your Free Estimate

Looking for vinyl dog fencing services? Look no further than All American Fence. With over 30 years of experience in the industry and a 5,000-square-foot warehouse full of parts, not to mention competitive pricing and unbeatable customer service, we're here to help you. Plus, you can start your installation in as little as one to two weeks and enjoy written estimates free of charge. Contact us to discuss your vinyl dog fence installation project today.

• Yes, HOWEVER, additional posts should be set in between existing posts for added strength due to the wind.
• We recommend using 2 3/8" diameter, 16ga thickness for the additional posts.
• Many people make the mistake of slatting a fence that was not intended to withstand wind load. 
• NOTE: The slats that fit in standard chain link are NOT the same slats found in Privacy Chain Link, nor do you get the same privacy coverage as 'Privacy Chain Link' (see photo above for comparison). Privacy Chain Link slats come premanufactured with the slats already in the rolls of mesh. These slats wouldn't fit in standard chain link due to their width.

We never recommend this because not only is the Privacy Chain Link thicker gauge wire which is heavier, but the slats are laced so tightly that minimal wind can pass through, which in turn puts a load on the fence.  So we highly recommend using materials of greater strength-- not only the posts (min. 2 3/8" line posts set closer together, thickness of the line posts will determine distance between each one) but larger top rail (1 5/8") and steel ties are needed, which usually leaves nothing to be reused.

We do NOT--strictly because the wind load is far too violent with the way roll gates attach to the fence- two steel wheels are the only thing holding a roll gate in place to the fence itself.  We don’t want to install something you simply cannot use safely in windy conditions.

• If we need to set a post in your concrete, for whatever reason, we can core drill (see photo above) a hole through the concrete and set our post inside it (via: smooth quick setting cement).  OR, we can use a post that has a base plate welded to the bottom of it and use concrete sleeve anchors to bolt it down to your concrete. This method is nice because if in the future you want to remove the post, you’re only left with 4 small bolts that can be hammered down flush.
• Core drilling is usually the best way to go as it leaves the cleanest finished look, as long as you want the post there permanently.

• Yes, 99.9% of jobs the posts are cemented in the ground.
• Dirt setting the posts is only for temporary jobs where the customer wants the cost as low as possible.

• No. You can if you’d like, however with our insurance, we the contractor, must call in your address for line location. Whether you do or not, we still will.
• There can be ground marking paint, multiple flags and/or whisker tassels placed in the ground to represent the underground utilities. Please don’t pull them out as they are crucial when we dig our post holes.
• There is no way of us knowing what time the utility markings will get done. If you have dogs or locked gates, then they will get in touch with you prior to us starting to set up a time to meet you.

An operator can be installed to your rolling gate if your gate is equipped with the proper items needed (v-groove wheel assembly & a boxed tail for added gate length, as well as a concrete strip for the gate to roll on for angle iron to attach to).  Most of the time gates aren’t set up for an operator, in which case we would have to modify your gate and depending on the condition your gate is in, possibly make you a completely new roll gate.

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Ideally you want your gate openings as level as possible for ease of use, however, we can build a gate with the correct amount of ‘hill side’ in it to match the slope of the ground. This would make the gate shape a ‘parallelogram’.