Chain link is one of the most cost-effective, long-lasting materials on the market, but it lacks privacy. How to remedy that? By installing slats or screens! Slats not only limit visibility but are a fun way to add a pop of color to your yard. In this article, we will explore the various slats available through Fence Specialists, but please check out the link at the end to explore our alternative option, screens!
Before we begin, one very important thing to note about installing slats is you must keep in mind the wind factor surrounding your fence. Adding slats will create a wind barrier and, if your posts are not sturdy enough to support your fence against the wind, your fence will inevitably blow over. We recommend you beef-up your posts to a light industrial grade we call “PF 20.”
Advantage and Arrowlock
Our most popular residential brands are Advantage (aka Litelink), which have a wavy design earning them the nickname “W” slats, and Arrowlock (aka Bottom Lock), which are dual sided flat slats we call “Tube” slats. At 1 1/8 inch wide, these slats are designed to weave through 2-inch 11ga chain link and lock into a 40 inch long bottom channel. Standard heights are 3, 3 1/2, 4, 5, and 6 feet tall. Heights of 7, 8, 10, and 12 feet are available for 2-inch 9ga chain link and each slat is 1 inch wide. These brands provide about 75% coverage. Advantage slats are packaged in boxes, Arrowlock in bags, and each box or bag has enough slats to cover 10 feet of fence. On average, it takes about an hour to install each box or bag of slats. Both brands offer a variety of colors: white, beige, silver, green, redwood, brown, blue, and black. Customers often ask us which color is best. Arguably, lighter colors are the most difficult for the human eye to see through and therefore likely offer the most privacy. However, if you prefer a darker color to adorn your chain link fence, go for it!
| Brand | Height | Color | Mesh Size & Gauge | Slat Width |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advantage | 3’, 42”, 4’, 5’, 6’, 7’, 8’, 10’, 12’ | White, Blue, Redwood, Green, Beige, Brown, Silver, Black | 2” Mesh 3’ – 6’: 11ga 7’ – 12’: 9ga |
3’ – 6’: 1 1/8” 7’ – 12’: 1” |
| Arrowlock |
Winged Slat
There are, of course, other slat options to choose from as well. Winged slats are similar to the “Tube” slat as their bodies are also dual-sided but differ with the addition of “wings” on the sides. To make installation easier, the “wings” are serrated which also allows them to lock into the mesh without a bottom channel. These slats are 2 inches shorter than the height of the fence and available for 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 foot tall fences. They are designed to weave into 2-inch 9ga chain link and create a privacy coverage of 90%. Just like the Advantage and Arrowlock brands, the color options are white, beige, silver, green, redwood, brown, blue, and black. They come packaged in bags and each bag covers 10 feet of fence.
| Brand | Height | Color | Mesh Size & Gauge | Slat Width |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winged | 4’, 5’, 6’, 7’, 8’ | White, Blue, Redwood, Green, Beige, Brown, Silver, Black | 2” Mesh 9ga |
1 3/8” |
Industrial and FINN 2000
If you desire better coverage, would prefer not to install the slats yourself, or require a commercial fence, you may be interested in Industrial or FINN 2000 slats. These brands are typically sold in pre-woven 9ga or 10ga “Slatlink” and are available in heights 4 – 8 feet as well as 10 and 12 feet tall. Both brands offer the same color choices as the previously listed styles and are available to purchase in 25 foot rolls. The main difference between the two is the percent of coverage they bring to your yard. Although both styles have tubular bodies, Industrial slats are only 2 3/8 inch wide while FINN 2000 have an addition of “fins” on either side of their tube, much like the residential Winged slats, making them 2 13/16 inch wide. This means Industrial slats only provide approximately 75% coverage, while FINN 2000 slats offer about 95%.
| Brand | Height | Color | Mesh Size & Gauge | Slat Width |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industrial | 4’, 5’, 6’, 7’, 8’, 10’, 12’ | White, Blue, Redwood, Green, Beige, Brown, Silver, Black | 3 1/2” & 5” Mesh 9ga & 10ga |
2 3/8” |
| FINN 2000 | 2 13/16” |
Hedgelink
Lastly, Hedgelink is a particularly unique “slat” as they are designed to create an organic, “hedge-like” look in your chain link fence. The core of the “slat” is 16ga galvanized, braided wire and the needles are made of 3-mil PVC. They are designed to fit standard 2 – 2 ¼ inch, 9ga and 11ga chain link mesh and are available for 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 foot heights. The PVC needles are Blue Spruce green, flame retardant, and UV stabilized to protect against the sun. Like the Winged slats, no bottom channel is required to lock this style into place. Hedgelink comes packaged in boxes that cover 10 feet of fence and provides about 95% coverage.
| Brand | Height | Color | Mesh Size & Gauge | Slat Width |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hedgelink | 4’, 5’, 6’, 8’ | Blue Spruce Green | 2” & 2 ¼” Mesh 9ga & 11ga |
Not Specified |
Hopefully, this article gave you some insight into the world of slats and the variety of choices available to boost your yard’s privacy. If you have questions or would like to know how much these different styles cost, give us a call at 253-531-5452 and a Fence Specialist will gladly assist you.
Also, please check out the link below to learn all about screens and the privacy they have to offer your yard as well!
How to add Privacy to your Chain Link Fence – Screens
- Alicia Schnell