Having a fence installed on your property is a great way to add more privacy to your property. If your yard has a slope, however, things become more complex, as building a fence on a sloped yard is typically more complicated than installing a fence on level ground. Read on for a brief guide to this important home improvement topic.



Install a Straight Fence



One option is to simply ignore the slope of your yard and install a straight fence, just as you would if the grade was flat. The problem with this method is that it will leave large gaps under the fence if your yard had a significant slope.



Although installing a straight is possible if the property slopes only a few inches, it is generally not a good solution for yards with a steeper grade. The gaps under the fence allow small animals to enter your property. You also do not want a straight fence if you have small children or pets who could escape through the gaps.



Install a Stepped Fence



Another solution to the problem of building a fence on uneven ground is to create a "stepped" fence. A stepped fence is one that goes down the hill in a series of steps. Every section of the fence accommodates the slope. The result is that each section is higher or lower than the section adjoining it, so that the fence resembles the steps on a staircase.



One issue with a stepped fence is that some homeowners might not find it aesthetically pleasing, though this will vary depending on the tastes of each homeowner.



A more practical objection to stepped fences is that they have the same gap problem as straight fences, although on a lesser scale. You can solve the gap problem in several ways. One interesting idea is to position raised planters alongside the fence. Not only do the planters close any gaps, they give help the property more attractive with flowers or shrubs.



A related idea to cover the gap with chicken wire and then plant a row of bushes that hide the wire. A third option is to cut the bottom of each fence section to match closely with the ground. The last idea only practical, however, if your yard has only a slight rise.



Install a Racked Fence



A racked or rackable fence is one that follows the contour of the land and does not leave any gaps under the fence, unlike the other options described above. A racked fence has rails that are matched to the ground's slope. The rails follow the slope of the yard while the fence's post and pickets remain vertical.



Racked fencing often comes in prefabricated panels. Due to the difficulty of making these rackable panels in wood and iron, you typically find them made of aluminum or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). So if you prefer a racked fence made out of another material, such as wood, you may need to have it custom built.



Another advantage of a racked fence is that it uses posts that are all the same height. Stepped fences sometimes require posts of different heights, which makes installation more cumbersome.



Installing a fence on a flat yard is a difficult task even for those who are handy with tools, but building a fence on a sloped property is even trickier. That's why you should leave the job to the professionals.



When you want to build a privacy fence on a sloped yard, you need expert advice. At Duke Fence Co., Inc., we have the training and experience to install a wide variety of fences on any type of sloped property. Contact us for more information.