Cable Ties for Fencing

Chain link fence installers have long used aluminum or galvanized steel tie wire to attach fabric to posts and rails, and hog rings to attach fabric to tension wire. Those metal fasteners do not degrade in sunlight and are the standard for permanent chain link. Many fence suppliers say zip ties are best treated as a short-term solution on chain link.

Cable ties earn their place where speed and low cost matter more than decades of service: temporary fence, garden and deer netting, light mesh, screens, repairs until a proper fastener goes on, and DIY projects without fence pliers. They also do not scratch vinyl-coated fabric the way a misapplied steel wire can.

These steps assume black UV-stabilized ties and a fence that is already set, braced and stretched. Ties hold fabric in place; they do not create tension and should not be asked to stretch it.

1. 1Stretch the fabric or netting first using a come-along, stretcher bar or the netting manufacturer's method. Ties go on after the material is tight.
2. 2Start at the terminal post and work toward the middle so the tension stays even.
3. 3Loop each tie around the post or rail and through the fabric, catching a wire or strand rather than just the edge of a mesh opening.
4. 4Space ties evenly. On chain link, a common metal tie spacing is about 12 inches on line posts and 24 inches on the top rail; matching that with cable ties is a sensible minimum. For netting, many suppliers suggest a tie roughly every foot on each post.
5. 5On smooth round posts, place the tie where it bears on a brace band or loops around a fabric wire so it cannot slide down the post.
6. 6Pull snug but do not over-tension, especially on poly netting, which can tear at the tie.
7. 7Cut tails flush with flush cutters and point heads to the inside of the fence, away from people and animals walking by.
8. 8Walk the line after the first heavy wind or freeze and replace any tie that has loosened or cracked.

Screen fabric turns an open fence into a sail. The force on the fence and on each tie goes up sharply in strong wind, and a chain link fence that was never designed for screens can bend posts or pull footings. Follow the screen manufacturer's attachment spacing and ask the fence builder whether the posts and footings can take the added wind load.

Tie through every grommet, typically along the top, bottom and each post. Wind-rated screens often have vent flaps or a more open weave to let some air through. In areas with frequent high winds, check ties after each storm and consider removing screens seasonally.

A cable tie's rating is a loop tensile strength: the load at which a new tie fails in a straight pull. It is not a working load, and sun, cold, animal rubbing and constant wind all reduce what a tie will hold over time.

• Permanent chain link that needs to last many years: use tie wire and hog rings
• High-tensile and woven wire livestock fence, where the wire carries real tension
• Pens, corrals and runs holding cattle, horses, hogs or large dogs that push, jump or chew
• Predator-proof poultry runs: attach hardware cloth with screws and washers or heavy staples, not ties alone
• Pool barriers, security fence and any fence required by code, where the fastener must meet the design
• Gate hinges, latches and anything that supports a gate's weight
• Electric fence wire, which needs insulators matched to the charger

Measure the distance around the post, add a couple of inches to pass through the fabric, and add a few inches of tail to grip and pull. The lengths below are rough starting points; post sizes vary, and a tie with a little extra tail is easier to tension than one that barely closes.

Fence work uses more ties than most people expect: several per post, more on terminal posts, more for screens, plus replacements. Buy black ties for every outdoor fence job, and keep one or two lengths on the truck rather than a dozen.

Nirah sells ties in bulk packs for installers, landscapers and farm supply buyers. If your company needs US-made product for a project, ask about the Stealth line, which is manufactured in the USA, and confirm it meets your specific procurement requirements. Business and wholesale accounts are available at /wholesale.