Differences Between a Chain Link Fence and a Wooden Fence — LS Fencing & Metal Work.
Differences Between a Chain Link Fence and a Wooden Fence
Head-to-head comparison of chain link and cedar fencing across cost, lifespan, maintenance, security, and curb appeal.
Nine times out of ten a homeowner asks us the same question at the first walk-through: chain link or wood? Both are excellent. They just solve different problems.
Cost
Chain link is roughly 40–60% cheaper per linear foot than a comparable cedar privacy fence. For long perimeters that difference adds up fast.
Lifespan and maintenance
- Galvanized chain link: 20–40 years, effectively zero maintenance
- Cedar: 15–25 years, best with a stain or seal every 3–5 years
Security
Chain link makes intruders visible on the way in and out. Cedar hides your yard from the street, which is a privacy win but a security tradeoff.
Curb appeal
Cedar wins the aesthetics contest for residential front yards. Black vinyl-coated chain link is a close second and disappears into landscaping.
The right answer for most yards
Cedar out front for privacy and warmth, black chain link along the rear and side yards for cost and containment. That combo covers most residential jobs we do across the Fraser Valley.
Everything a strata council needs to know — barrier arms, parkade rolling doors, cantilever gates, chain link and security fencing, access control, Canadian regulations, and 2026 costs.
Heavy-gauge industrial perimeter security fencing for Langley BC — 6-gauge chain link, 358 anti-climb mesh, barbed and razor wire toppings, bylaw limits, footings and access control specs.
CSA Z614 playground fencing, basketball and tennis court perimeters, and dog park airlock gates in Langley, Surrey, Abbotsford and the Fraser Valley — specs, costs, permits and FAQs.