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Chain link gates · Galveston County, TX

Chain Link Gate Installation in Galveston County, TX

Walk gates, double drive gates and slide gates in galvanized or black vinyl-coated chain link, for yards, dog runs and commercial lots. A chain link gate is a welded steel frame hung on a gate post. It works well for years when the post is sized to the leaf, the frame is braced, and the hardware suits how the gate will be used.

  • Reviewed Sept 26, 2026
  • Sources: CLFMI guide spec (ASTM F900, F1184), 2021 ISPSC, ASTM F2200
  • Interactive gate sizer
Call (346) 910-8641Size your gate
Galvanized chain link gate panel on a ground track across a driveway at a brick house
A galvanized double drive gate across a driveway, from recent work.
The short answer

A chain link gate is a welded galvanized steel frame with chain link fabric that matches the fence. The chain link industry’s guide specification (CLFMI, following ASTM F900) calls for 1.900 in. frame members no more than 8 ft apart, a positive locking latch, and gate posts sized to the leaf: a 4.000 in. post for a 10–18 ft leaf on a 6 ft fence. Wide openings split into two leaves or roll aside on a cantilever slide gate, which needs a tail of at least 40% of the opening. In a pool barrier, chain link openings can’t exceed 1¾ in.

1.900″Outside diameter of the welded gate frame members in the CLFMI guide spec
4.000″Gate post OD for a 10–18 ft swing leaf on fabric up to 6 ft (and for cantilever gates)
40%Minimum cantilever tail (back frame), as a share of the opening
1¾″Largest chain link opening allowed in a pool barrier (2021 ISPSC)

Sources: CLFMI guide specification 32 31 13, §2.9 and §2.10 (ASTM F900 and F1184); 2021 ISPSC §305.2.7.

Chain link gates we install

Chain link is the most economical way to put a gate in a long fence line, and the galvanized coating stands up to the weather without paint. Vinyl-coated fabric adds color. If you need privacy, slats can be woven into the fabric.

Chain link gate sizer

Enter the opening and the gate type. You’ll see the leaf size, the gate post the chain link industry’s guide specification lists for it, a starting footing size, and what changes for a pool or an operator.

6 ftEACH LEAF
Posts
Footing
Frame

Gate posts, frame and hardware: CLFMI guide specification 32 31 13, §2.9 (swing gates per ASTM F900) and §2.10 (cantilever slide gates per ASTM F1184). Footings: the general minimum in §3.2 (24 in. plus 3 in. per foot of height over 4 ft; diameter 4× the post up to 4 in., 3× above). ASTM F567 calls for larger footings at gate posts, and soil and wind can add more. Tail: CLFMI 40% minimum and the Anchor Fence SURTRAC overhang table. Pool: 2021 ISPSC §305.2.7 and §305.3. Operator: ASTM F2200 as printed in the LiftMaster CSL24UL and CSW24UL manuals. A planning aid, not an engineering check.

Elevation of a chain link double drive gate between two gate posts set in concrete footings. Each leaf is a welded pipe frame with a horizontal mid member and chain link fabric, hung on two hinges. A positive locking latch joins the leaves at the center, and a drop rod on one leaf drops into a center stop. Fence fabric continues on both sides Welded frame: 1.900″ OD members, no more than 8 ft apart Welds touched up with zinc-rich paint (ASTM A780) Hinges: galvanized malleable iron or heavy pressed steel POSITIVE LOCKING LATCH DROP ROD INTO A CENTER STOP LEAF WIDTH SETS THE POST SIZE OPENING, GATE POST TO GATE POST Gate posts get larger footings (ASTM F567)
A-1
DrawingA chain link double drive gate
BasisCLFMI guide specification 32 31 13 §2.9 (ASTM F900) and §3.2 (footings). Not to scale
ScaleNot to scale
The frame, hinges and latch are specified; the gate post is picked from the leaf width. Gate posts take bigger footings than line posts.

Gate post size by leaf width

The CLFMI guide specification’s swing-gate post table (ASTM F900), outside diameter in inches. Taller fabric and wider leaves need much heavier posts.

Up to 6 ft tall, leaf ≤ 4 ft2.375″Up to 6 ft tall, leaf 4–10 ft2.875″Up to 6 ft tall, leaf 10–18 ft4″Over 6 ft tall, leaf ≤ 6 ft2.875″Over 6 ft tall, leaf 6–12 ft4″Over 6 ft tall, leaf 12–18 ft6.625″Over 6 ft tall, leaf 18–24 ft8.625″
CLFMI Product Manual, guide specification 32 31 13, swing gate post table (ASTM F900). Heights are the chain link fabric height.

What a well-built chain link gate has

Most chain link gate problems are a sagging leaf or a leaning post. The industry’s guide specification addresses both:

  • A welded frame of 1.900 in. OD galvanized pipe, with members no more than 8 ft apart both ways. A tall or wide leaf needs intermediate members. Welds get zinc-rich paint so they don’t rust.
  • Gate posts sized to the leaf, from the table above, in larger footings than the line posts. The general minimum is 24 in. deep plus 3 in. for each foot of fence over 4 ft. ASTM F567 sets bigger footings for gate posts.
  • Hinges of galvanized malleable iron or heavy pressed steel, and a positive locking latch of 5/16 × 1¾ in. pressed steel, galvanized after fabrication.
  • Matching fabric and coating. On vinyl-coated gates, the frame and posts are coated to match, and the moving parts can be touched up.

Around salt water, look at the galvanizing and the hardware first. Rust shows up at cut ends, welds and the latch before anywhere else.

Black vinyl-coated chain link walk gate standing open in a black chain link fence around a grassy lot
A black vinyl-coated walk gate, from recent work.
Galvanized chain link fence with a wide braced swing gate across a concrete drive apron
A wide galvanized drive gate with a diagonal brace, from a chain link fence project in Galveston.
Galvanized chain link gate between pipe gate posts beside a commercial building, with yellow bollards
A galvanized gate at a commercial building, from recent work.
Plan view of a chain link cantilever slide gate across a 16 foot opening. The gate frame extends back past two roller posts into a counterbalance tail at least 40 percent of the opening, 10 feet in one manufacturer’s table. When it opens, the gate needs a clear strip along the fence about as long as the opening plus the tail, 26 feet in this example. A note lists what F2200 adds if the gate is automated OPENING (16 FT EXAMPLE) TAIL ≥ 40% of opening (CLFMI); 10 ft in one maker’s table CLEAR RUN-BACK ≈ OPENING + TAIL (26 FT) Two 4.000″ OD gate posts carry the rollers (guarded) Latch post Keep this strip clear and fairly level IF AUTOMATED (F2200): screen openings to 6 ft against a 2¼″ sphere, guard the rollers
A-2
DrawingA cantilever slide gate, in plan
BasisCLFMI guide specification 32 31 13 §2.10 B (ASTM F1184 Type II); Anchor Fence SURTRAC overhang table; ASTM F2200 slide gate list as printed in the LiftMaster CSL24UL manual. Not to scale
ScaleNot to scale
A cantilever gate never touches the ground in the opening. It hangs on rollers on two posts, and the tail balances it, so it needs a clear strip along the fence as long as the opening plus the tail.
Galvanized chain link slide gate being installed at dusk, with a solar panel and operator box on a post and a work truck behind
A chain link slide gate with a solar-powered operator, during installation, from recent work.

Chain link gate types compared

TypeBest forRoom it needsWatch for
Walk gateYards, side passages, dog runsA quarter circle as deep as the leafLatch height and self-closing hinges if it’s part of a pool barrier
Double swingDriveways and lot entrancesTwo quarter circles, each as deep as one leafDrop rod and center stop; post size for each leaf
Cantilever slideWide or busy openings, slopes, drifting sand or gravelA clear strip beside the opening: opening plus tailTail at least 40% of the opening; guarded rollers
Automated (any)Frequent vehicle useAs above, plus the operator and sensorsASTM F2200 and UL 325; a separate walk gate

CLFMI guide specification 32 31 13; ASTM F2200 as printed in the LiftMaster manuals.

Galvanized chain link slide gate open along the fence beside a concrete driveway at a house raised on piers
A slide gate rolled back along the fence at a raised home, from recent work.
Black chain link fence with a double gate across a gravel drive into a commercial lot
A chain link double gate across a gravel lot entrance, from a project in Baytown.

Adding an operator

The CLFMI specification says electrically operated gates must comply with ASTM F2200 and UL 325. For a chain link gate, that means no latch on the automated gate and a separate walk gate for people. Slide gates need openings screened so a 2¼ in. sphere can’t pass from the bottom to 6 ft, and guarded rollers. Swing gates need room around the open leaves. See electric gates, gate automation and access control and UL 325 and ASTM F2200 explained.

What affects cost and timing

We give you a written price after a free on-site estimate. The main things that move it:

  • Width and height. Wider and taller leaves need heavier posts, more framing and bigger footings.
  • Gate type. A slide gate adds rollers, a tail and extra posts. A double gate adds a second leaf and a drop rod.
  • Coating. Vinyl-coated frames, posts and fabric cost more than galvanized.
  • Hardware and access. Heavier latches, locks, self-closing hinges, an operator and entry controls.
  • The site. Slope, drainage, and whether an old post has to come out.

Financing is available through the providers on our financing page, subject to credit approval.

What Galveston customers say

5.0
90 Google reviews · read them all on Google
★★★★★
Very professional and friendly. Gotten automatic gates done and they are done to perfection! Thank you
Tannia Cravinas · Google review · a year ago
★★★★★
Absolutely loved my fence once i saw the finished product. No hassle, no rude interactions, and no inconveniences everything was just perfect. One of the best fencing companies in Texas
Elayn Pineda · Google review · 2 years ago
★★★★★
Great work. Fast service. Very friendly. I recommend using this company to replace your fence.
Roshanta Bell · Google review · a year ago

Reviews shown word for word from the Mustang Fencing Services Google Business Profile (Galveston), captured 2026-09-26.

Questions we get about this

Is chain link a good option for a driveway gate?
Yes, where you need a secure, economical gate rather than privacy or decoration. Chain link is common on driveways, lots and equipment yards. Wide openings are split into two leaves or built as a slide gate, and the gate posts are sized to the leaf.
What size post does a chain link gate need?
It depends on the leaf width and the fabric height. The chain link industry’s guide specification (ASTM F900) lists 2.375 in. posts for leaves up to 4 ft on fabric up to 6 ft, 2.875 in. for 4–10 ft, and 4.000 in. for 10–18 ft. Taller fabric needs heavier posts, up to 8.625 in. for an 18–24 ft leaf.
Why do chain link gates sag?
Usually because the gate post is too small for the leaf, its footing is too small, or the frame has no intermediate members. The guide specification calls for frame members no more than 8 ft apart, gate posts sized to the leaf, and larger footings at gate posts.
How much room does a chain link slide gate need?
A cantilever slide gate needs a clear strip beside the opening about as long as the opening plus its tail. The tail must be at least 40% of the opening, and one manufacturer’s table uses 10 ft for a 15–22 ft opening. For a 16 ft opening, that’s about 26 ft of clear run.
Can a chain link gate be part of a pool fence?
Only if the openings are no larger than 1¾ inches, or slats fastened at the top and bottom reduce them to that size. The barrier must be at least 48 inches tall, and the gate must open away from the pool and self-close and self-latch.
Can I add a keypad or opener to a chain link gate?
Yes. An automated gate must meet ASTM F2200 and use a UL 325 operator, so it has no latch, it needs a separate walk gate, and slide gates need screening and guarded rollers. See our gate automation and access control page.
Is financing available for a chain link gate?
Yes. Financing is available through the providers listed on our financing page, subject to credit approval.

Sources

Checked September 26, 2026. Rules change, so confirm with the City before you build.

  1. Chain Link Fence Manufacturers Institute (CLFMI) Product Manual 2, guide specification 32 31 13 Chain Link Fence and Gates — swing gates per ASTM F900 (frame, latch, hinges, gate post table); cantilever slide gates per ASTM F1184 (40% back frame, 4.000 in. posts, guarded rollers); footings; operated gates per ASTM F2200 and UL 325.
  2. Anchor Fence, SURTRAC cantilever slide gate installation instructions — overhang (tail) by opening width.
  3. 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, Section 305 — §305.2.7 chain link openings no more than 1¾ in.; §305.3 gates.
  4. City of Galveston Swimming Pool Permit Application — new pools must comply with the 2021 ISPSC.
  5. LiftMaster CSL24UL slide gate operator installation manual — ASTM F2200 slide gate requirements: openings screened against a 2¼ in. sphere to 6 ft; guarded rollers; no latch; separate pedestrian access.
  6. ASTM F2200, Standard Specification for Automated Vehicular Gate Construction — the standard itself (requirements quoted from the operator manuals).
Free on-site estimate

Need a chain link gate?

We’ll measure the opening, check the room to swing or slide, and recommend the gate type, posts and hardware for how you’ll use it. Free on-site estimates across Galveston County.

Call (346) 910-8641Request an estimate

Keep planning

ServiceChain link fence installationServiceDriveway gatesServiceCommercial gatesGuideCantilever vs V-track slide gatesGuideDrop rods and center stopsServiceGate automation and access control
Page reviewed September 26, 2026 by Mustang Fencing Services, Galveston. Next review due March 2027.

PLAN YOUR FENCE OR GATE PROJECT WITH US TODAY

Planning a new fence, a driveway gate or an automated entry? Tell us about your property and we’ll set up a free on-site estimate. We work with homeowners, HOAs and businesses across Galveston Island and Galveston County.

Prefer to talk? Call (346) 910-8641.

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