Do Privacy Slats Work on a Chain Link Fence?
Yes, but they give partial privacy, not a solid wall. Chain link fence privacy slats are plastic strips woven vertically through the mesh, and how much they block depends on the slat design. Pexco, a major slat manufacturer, rates its standard bottom-locking and top-locking slats at approximately 75 percent, its winged slats at approximately 90 percent, and its hedge-style product at approximately 95 percent.
Pexco does not call that number a privacy rating alone. Its literature labels it the "wind load and privacy factor," because the same slats that block the view also block the wind. The company's bottom-lock product sheet says it "will not be responsible for damage due to wind load conditions resulting from insufficient structural support." A chain link fence that was framed for open mesh is being asked to act like a sail once the slats go in. This post covers the slat types, what they hide, whether your posts can take it, and when a privacy fence is the better buy.
What Are Chain Link Fence Privacy Slats?
Privacy slats are narrow strips that slide down through the diamonds of chain link fabric, one per row of diamonds, to fill in the open mesh.
Pexco describes most of its fence products as extruded from polyethylene with color pigments and ultraviolet inhibitors. Its bottom-lock slat is made from high-density polyethylene. Colors on that product include black, white, gray, beige, brown, redwood, green and two blues.
Slats are sold by fence height. Pexco's bottom-lock slats come for fences from 4 to 12 feet, and the slat itself is cut 3 1/2 inches shorter than the fence height so it fits between the top and bottom of the fabric.
Which Types of Slats Are There?
Pexco's lineup shows the main designs you will run into:
Bottom lock: each slat snaps into a horizontal channel woven along the bottom of the fence. Pexco calls it North America's most popular privacy option.
Top lock: a flexible channel threads through holes near the top of each slat to hold the row together.
Winged: each slat has flexible wings along its edges and a self-locking design that needs no channel. The wings fill more of the diamond.
Hedge style: artificial greenery woven into the fence to create the look of a hedge. Pexco says its version gives almost complete privacy and requires no maintenance.
The locking method matters for vandal resistance and for slats working loose over time. The profile, flat or winged, decides how much you can see through.
How Much Privacy Do Slats Give?
Here is what those percentages mean in the yard.
At about 75 percent, standard slats blur the view. Someone walking past sees shapes, movement and color through the gaps between slats and around the wire. You will not feel on display, but you will not feel hidden either.
At about 90 percent, winged slats close most of those gaps. From a normal distance, the fence reads as a solid colored surface with a visible diamond pattern.
At about 95 percent, hedge-style products come closest to full screening.
None of them match a solid vinyl or board-on-board wood panel, and slats do nothing above the top rail. A 4-foot chain link fence with slats is still a 4-foot fence that people can see over. If privacy is the reason you are fencing, compare the result with the styles in our privacy fence installation guide for PA property owners.
Will Your Fence Hold Up With Slats Installed?
This is the question to settle before buying a single bag of slats.
Open chain link lets most of the wind pass through. The Chain Link Fence Manufacturers Institute's Wind Load Guide, which fence designers use to select line posts and post spacing, builds its tables on a solid panel and then applies a reduction for the open area of the mesh. Fill that open area with slats and most of the reduction goes away. The posts, footings and rails are now carrying far more load in a storm than bare mesh would put on them.
The CLFMI Product Manual recommends line posts at intervals not exceeding 10 feet on center, and it points designers to the Wind Load Guide for any fence that needs a structural framework design due to wind load. A slatted fence is that kind of fence.
Signs your existing fence is a poor candidate:
Light residential posts or rails that already flex when pushed
Posts that lean or rock in their footings
Long runs in an open, exposed yard or along a ridge
A fence taller than 6 feet
If you are building new and know you want slats, say so at the estimate. The installer can size the posts, spacing and footings for a slatted fence from the start. Our post on how weather in Western PA affects fence materials over time explains what local storms and freeze-thaw cycles do to fence framing.
Will Slats Fit Your Chain Link Fence?
Fit depends on two measurements: the mesh size and the wire gauge.
Pexco states that most of its slats fit 2-inch mesh, and that its top-lock and bottom-lock slats are also made for 1 3/4-inch, 2 1/4-inch and 2 3/8-inch mesh. Its brochure adds that the wire gauge will affect the fit of its slats, and the ranges differ by product. Winged slats are made for 9 gauge wire only.
Measure before you order:
Mesh size: measure the inside of one diamond between parallel wires.
Wire gauge: check the original fence paperwork or have a fence company gauge it.
Height: measure the fabric from top to bottom.
Black and green coated chain link needs extra care. The polymer coating makes the finished wire thicker than its stated core gauge, which leaves less room in the diamond. For gauge and framework basics, see our overview of chain link fencing for Pittsburgh commercial and residential security.
How Long Do Privacy Slats Last?
Pexco backs its bottom-lock slats with a 25-year, pro-rata warranty against breakage under normal conditions. Its hedge-style product carries a 10-year warranty, and its lighter slat line carries 7 years. Pro-rata means the coverage value steps down as the product ages.
The ultraviolet inhibitors in the plastic are what slow fading and brittleness. Even so, expect individual slats to need replacing after impacts from mowers, balls and falling branches. That is one advantage of slats over a solid panel: a damaged slat pulls out and a new one slides in.
Should You Add Slats or Install a Privacy Fence?
Slats make sense when the chain link is in good shape, well framed, and you want screening without starting over. They also suit commercial yards, dumpster enclosures and equipment areas where 75 to 90 percent is plenty.
A privacy fence makes more sense when:
The existing chain link is light, leaning or rusted
You want full visual screening at 6 feet
Noise is part of the problem. A fence has to be solid and heavy to reduce sound, as we cover in what fence works best for noise reduction.
You care about the look from the patio as much as the function
Check local rules either way. Slats do not change a fence's height, but they do change how open it is, and some front yard rules require an open design. Penn Township, for example, requires front yard fences to be at least 50 percent see-through.
A middle path is a semi-privacy fence, which screens most of the view while letting air through.
FAQ
How much privacy do chain link slats provide?
Pexco rates its standard top-lock and bottom-lock slats at approximately 75 percent, winged slats at approximately 90 percent and its hedge-style product at approximately 95 percent.
Can slats damage a chain link fence?
The slats themselves do not, but they raise the wind load on the fence. Posts and footings sized for open mesh may not be enough, and the slat manufacturer does not cover wind damage from insufficient structural support.
Do slats fit any chain link fence?
No. Slats are made for specific mesh sizes and wire gauges. Measure both before ordering.
Can I install privacy slats myself?
Yes. Slats slide in from the top by hand. It is repetitive work on a long fence, and the locking channel has to be woven in first on bottom-lock designs.
Are slats cheaper than a new privacy fence?
Adding slats to a sound fence costs less than replacing it. If the framework has to be upgraded to carry the wind load, get a quote for both options before deciding.
Do slats keep a dog from seeing out?
They reduce what a dog can see. Standard slats still leave gaps, so a dog will notice movement on the other side.
Chain Link and Privacy Fencing From a Local Installer
Just Fences is a locally owned fence company in Harrison City that has installed chain link, vinyl, aluminum, wood and custom fences across Westmoreland County and Greater Pittsburgh since 2007. Free quotes are available. If you are weighing slats against a new fence, the company can price both on the same layout. See solid panel options on the vinyl fences page.
Visit Just Fences or call (724) 392-4416 today. Contact us for more information.
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