Hills, Slopes and Uneven Terrain
Don’t let a difficult area keep you from installing an aluminum fence. There are plenty of ways to fence in your outdoor space regardless of the circumstances.
Depending on where you live, your home can be on quite uneven ground with hills, slopes, and random corners. Not all fencing materials are created equal when it comes to uneven ground. Aluminum fencing panels can really benefit any type of yard, as long as you install them correctly for the circumstances.
The down-low on slopes
It’s nearly impossible to have a completely flat lot. Uneven terrain comes with the territory of large outdoor spaces. Varying degrees of angles can be easily navigated with aluminum fencing panels.
The main part of an aluminum fence that goes in the ground is the post. With most aluminum fences, there are only posts every so often, with panels in between that don’t necessarily touch the ground completely. That is why this type of fence is ideal for uneven terrain.
Rise over run
For larger slopes, you will need to determine the rise-over-run measurement to ensure your fence posts won’t look incredibly uneven to the naked eye. To do this, you will need a sturdy board the same length as the fence panel (usually six or eight feet long), a tape measure and a level. The key is to find how many inches of difference there will be between one fence post and the next.
Place your board on a sloped area and lift the end of it until a level shows you are perfectly level with the ground. Use the tape measure to see how many inches this end of the board is from the ground. Now you have your rise-over-run measurement for this slopes area.
You will want to use this measurement to get the right fence panels for your specific yard. Mention this to your aluminum fence specialist to ensure you are purchasing a fence that can handle this type of sloped yard, and ask them to explain your choices.
Stepped or raked fence
If your rise-over-run includes a big difference, a stepped fence might be the best solution for your yard.
A stepped fence has the panels placed perfectly level with the ground, with each panel being a few inches lower or higher than the next, creating a stepped effect when you see the tops of the panels all in a line. However, this will not comply with swimming pool codes and many home owners prefer not having gaps in their barrier which brings us to your 2nd option.
A racked (or racked) fence has the pickets still pointing straight up, but the rails angle to the contour of the slope based upon how much pivoting is done on-site during installation. Essentially, you can shift the panel to follow the contour of slight, medium and even steep slopes or stairs.
Racked fence is a better option if you are worried about any empty space beneath the aluminum fencing panels. The pickets can stay the same distance from the ground because the rails stay parallel to the slope. This is helpful if you have pets in the yard you need to keep safe and secure.
Whether your yard is only slightly uneven or it has quite a large gradient, there are fencing options for you. You just need to do a little planning and decision making to ensure you know exactly what is right for your space.