I need to replace the fence in my back yard. I currently have a 3' chain link fence and I intend to reuse the same post positions (8' span). Behind the fence, also on my property, are cedar hedges. My back yard is 50'x50' with one of the four sides being the house and gate.
I need to replace the fence because my dogs are escaping the yard. I've already replaced the gate with a wooden one 7' tall. I want to install a 7' fence around the entire yard (7' is my local residential maximum height). Because I have cedar hedges that I enjoy, I'd like to put in black or green chain link since the hedge will grown through it and make it effectively invisible. Our current fence is invisible because of this.
My first problem is the prices I'm being quoted for materials. Turns out that around here anything over 5' is pretty much commercial grade. That means steel posts and about 5x the cost of the residential stuff. I'm thinking that instead of using metal posts for the corner and line posts, I'd use wood. What do you think about using a 10' 4x4 buried 3' deep for a chain link fence post? I would make holes in the top to pass the top bar through and would attach the chain link with flat brackets and screws. Has anyone seen this type of installation before? As a bonus I could run an outdoor circuit and have a decorative lantern on every second post (the wife will find that purdy).
Second question is securing the posts. I live in Canada and the ground freezes during the winter. I'm thinking of digging the holes 3
1/2', fill with 3' of gravel, 3' of concrete then put in and brace the post and fill the rest of the hole with concrete. I'd also put the wooden post in a plastic liner so it doesn't make direct contact with the concrete and also mound the top to prevent water accumulation. Does that sound excessive or just about right? Would you suggest something different for the corner posts or line posts?Third question is how large would you dig the post holes? I'm not planning to use sonotube for these but would you go with a 6", 8" or
10" diameter hole?Thanks!