Like wood fences, they look great as long as you set the posts plumb and in a straight line. Variable Terrain Installation. We’re happy to help you find a better solution for your fence if that’s the case. Essentially, your fence gets higher as the ground gets higher. Our vinyl fences fall into three major categories: Privacy Fence - Most difficult to rake, and smallest range, though can be done providing there are no accents on top. There are two commonly used methods for installing a fence on a slope that you can do yourself, and before you pick which one is the most aesthetically pleasing, carefully consider which works best for you and your family. This means that the horizontal rails of your fence will follow your yard in a smooth line that is parallel to the ground rather than level across the entire fence. If you are using chicken wire, you can use a staple gun to attach it firmly to the posts and rails. The picket fence is the traditional American choice for fencing, as it delineates and frames your property line without standing tall. One can easily refer to the plans and instructions for building a fence that are available on Internet as well as guide books. So you’ve got your shiny new vinyl fence in the mail and have a general idea of how to install it. It's important to clear and smooth the area in which the vinyl fence will be installed to make the process as easy as possible. Picket Fence - True Picket Fences can rake quite a bit. Whether building a fence made of chain link or wood, everyone loves the look of a level fence top. Corner posts need to be braced, and wires need to be tight. Vinyl fencing isn't subject to rot, fading or other effects of weather and time as wood fencing can be. Vinyl is a good choice for an attractive, easily maintained fence … This is because vinyl fencing is easily customized . Please refer to our vinyl fence planning guide, or give us a call! This view shows the "stair-stepping" technique that is used to maintain the close distance from the bottom rail to the ground. This is fence installation and not erecting a large building or making a pool. Set up the fence line. Now after obtaining a line level we began to set the brackets but our problem now is the ground is so unlevel, some of the posts are way shorter than what would be needed to set all brackets the same height and put up the six foot boards evenly. Generally, building fences isn’t a particularly difficult task. Installation On A Slope. Using heavy equipment to excavate the land is a surefire way to make the ground unlevel. If your yard has steeper grades, stepping your vinyl fence might be the best option for you! Building Fences on Uneven Ground. If you forgot to take into account the varying levels of elevation in your yard until just now — fear not! For angles over 10 degrees, you will need to trim the rails (horizontal panels of fence) accordingly. However, depending on the severity, this can be remedied by filling the gaps with soil. This adds more air and fluff to the ground which means the vinyl fence will settle more over time, eventually causing it to be unlevel. Most fences (excluding panel fencing) can be safely and properly installed on uneven ground through contour fence construction. How to Install Fencing on a Slope. Cut the Sections of Chain Link that Span the Uneven Ground Please go to www.usavinyl.com for more information. Slopes and contours add character to a yard, but they also introduce problems when it comes time to build on them. You will always take more away than what you actually need and then you will backfill the area. A measuring wheel can help you to discern where the posts should be placed before you begin. The task is moderately easy. Putting up a picket fence is the simplest type of fence construction, particularly if you can use prefab panels. When installing, make sure to hang the gate from the high side of the slope. 6. The contoured method works … Angles 35 degrees or more are possible with special posts and cutting. Installing a fence on uneven ground … How to Install a Vinyl Picket Fence on a Slope. Both methods are described in better detail below: Racking is the preferred method providing the grade change isn't too drastic. Chain link fencing isn’t the most popular option to utilize on hilly areas because the fence railing would be installed slanted rather than straight, … Fences on hilly terrain are especially prone to sagging as the fence posts are on opposing planes, creating uneven pressure throughout the posts. Otherwise, no trimming is needed. If you chose a picket style with closer spacing, the range will decrease to about 2" per foot(approximately 18") per section. Racking (also called raking) is the most popular way to adjust to slopes in a yard. Farm fence installations can be a hassle, especially when the ground that the fence is being installed on is rough or bumpy. How to Install Vinyl Fence Sections on Uneven Terrain. Working on uneven ground is a little trickier and requires setting each picket individually to accommodate the changes in the ground while maintaining a straight top line. In this article, you will learn how to put up a nice-looking fence on an uneven ground … Racked fences follow the contours of the ground, leaving no gaps between the bottom of the rail and the ground. Because uneven ground can put extra stress on a fence installation, ensure deep holes are being dug and cement is used to keep the posts in place. Set up the fence line by moving down where you want to install the fence with a measuring wheel, marking where the posts go by driving stakes at the appropriate intervals. It looks crisp, clean and safe! In this case, order end posts instead of line posts so you can cut the second side on site for a custom fit. When building a fence on uneven terrain, one option is to follow the contours of your yard. Both methods are described in better detail below: Racking Vinyl Fence Panels: It's available in forms similar to both wood panel and rail fencing. HOMEPRODUCT CATALOG INSTALLATIONHELP CENTERSITE MAPGET A FREE QUOTECONTACT US. The rails of the fence should follow your property using the contour method, no matter if the ground goes up or down. © 1999-2018, A Vinyl Fence Wholesaler, All Rights Reserved. If you’re thinking about a new fence, consider this: Vinyl fences last practically forever with no maintenance whatsoever. As we said before, stepped fencing is the preferred method when your property has larger slopes. Start at the lowest part of the fence line and move up the slope for a stair-step fence. The panels of a stepped fence do not follow the shape of the land, and they leave a triangular gap between the bottom rail and ground. They are also the better option for families with dogs, as they are typically built without any spaces between the rail and ground, minimizing any opportunities for escape! Installing a fence on a hill doesn’t have to mean leveling your yard with heavy equipment. When learning how to install fencing on a slope, you will need to use either a raking method or a stepping method.Both options are readily available and viable for many lawns, but they are significantly different, so don’t make a slapdash decision when selecting between the two. To install a stepped fence, you will need to trim the posts of the fence accordingly. Prepare the ground for the fence. If you need more help, please call us toll free at 1-800-431-4720. Building a stepped fence is the alternative to racking. If you are in one of such situations, then the following Gardenerdy article will definitely help you out. One of the biggest mistakes a person makes when installing a fence is breaking out heavy machinery. Raked Fencing A raked fence also called a racked fence is manufactured with a strong angle in mind. When it comes to installing vinyl fence across uneven terrain, there are a two options available. When building a fence on uneven terrain, one option is to follow the contours of your yard. It may be necessary to fill in with dirt or gravel to close the gap between the bottom of the gate and the ground. Measure and level frequently. First time building a wood fence and we set the post without a line level all above 6ft. However, it can become quite overwhelming for homeowners if the landscape is unlevelled and the fence needs to be installed on a slope or a hill. This method of adjusting to slopes gives your fence a more uniform, smooth appearance. As the name suggests, stepping a fence will result in an uneven rail line that resembles stairs. Fortunately, installing a fence on uneven ground is not rocket science. Because stepping a fence will not hug the ground as a racked fence will, pets can escape with greater ease under the gaps. Installing a picket fence on unlevel ground is slightly trickier than on level ground, but is not a task that will result in blood, sweat and tears. Vinyl picket fence parts are often pre-sized and pre-drilled, and assembling the fence on level ground … The biggest challenge of fencing on hilly terrain is sagging. Pull the stakes up and dig pits with a mattock, posthole digger and shovel, using the measurement from step 1 … Remove any bushes, plants, trees or stationary objects that are in the way of your planned fence. Assuming you are trying to follow the grade, you can either "Stair-Step" the panels, or "Rack" the panels out of square. Vinyl fences come either panelized or as board-and-rail systems. Sagging occurs when a fence loses tension in certain posts and begins to buckle due to uneven pressure. Fortunately, installing a fence on uneven ground is not rocket science. Once you have the panels or posts set in the ground, unroll enough wire mesh to reach to the next post and stretch over any rails. For sharp racking, outside of these guidelines, the routed holes in the posts may need enlarged on their heights to allow the rails to slide in at the additional angle. With racked fences, it is important to keep in mind that any slope over 15 degrees will generally be too severe to install. Total range is 3" over section width. At Edge Wholesale Direct, we provide a wide variety of fencing solutions across BC and Alberta. View this video to show the basic layout and post installation for USAVinyl's Vinyl Fencing. Assuming you are trying to follow the grade, you can either "Stair-Step" the panels, or "Rack" the panels out of square. Place the spanner bars between the fence posts and secure the fence to both. Variable Terrain Installation Instructions [pdf] 142kb. Uneven ground makes it harder to judge whether the top line of the fence is level, so take a little extra time to check with a level or a string to make sure things are going smoothly. Starting with the sections that are on even ground, install the sections of chain link fence. There are two existing methods for installing a fence on variable sloping terrains - stepping or racking. How to Install Vinyl Fence Sections on Uneven Terrain Read More: When it comes to installing vinyl fence across uneven terrain, there are a two options available. Racked fences are great options for those with gently sloped yards. methods for installing a fence on a slope, How to Deal With Nosy Neighbors: 4 Vinyl Privacy Fence Ideas to Consider, 4 Key Factors to Consider When Choosing Your Deck Material. The reason for this is that you can utilize the pre-routed posts, and simply install the fence so that the top and bottom rails are out of square, but the posts and in-fill pickets or panels are plumb. Vinyl fencing is a relatively new, maintenance-free type of fencing. Post and Rail Fence - Post and Rail fence is can follow terrain at a rate of 2" per foot (approximately 18") per section. A popular fence type for the step installation method is a vinyl fence. The measured rails should be nailed to the middle of the premeasured fence posts before attaching the planks and top and bottom rails. Whichever method you choose for your yard, know that we’ll always be here to help if you encounter any trouble. How to Install Chain Link Fence on Uneven Ground If you are considering upgrading your property with an attractive and functional chain link fence, you may simultaneously be deciding whether you’d prefer to complete the installation yourself or if you require the help of a professional. Vinyl Fence Installation Guide. If you forgot to take into account the varying levels of elevation in your yard until just now — fear not! Use a measuring wheel to ensure you have the posts where they need to be before you install. This means that the horizontal rails of your fence will follow your yard in a smooth line that is parallel to the ground rather than level. So you’ve got your shiny new vinyl fence in the mail and have a general idea of how to install it. This is much more labor intensive, and depending on how drastic the grade change is, you may need to order longer blank posts and custom route both sides to match your application. Knowing how to install a wire fence on uneven ground can ensure that you are prepared if your fence installation project runs into difficulty. For starters, it’s expensive and labor-intensive to level a yard — and it takes away the natural beauty of a sloped yard. This can be done with a coarse file. Note: These are the limits of the materials without a lot of fuss, or what we like to call the "natural" racking ability. After plotting your fence line with string, you will be able to clearly see the changes in elevation in your yard. Here's how. WARNING: Pre-fabricated gates will not rake. When it comes to installing vinyl fence across uneven terrain, there are a two options available. Stick to the s… However, when it comes to building up the fence on an uneven part of the ground; you may start feeling helpless. : vinyl fences come either panelized or as board-and-rail systems difficult task leveling yard... 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