When should I stair-step my fence instead of racking?

Stair-stepping is recommended when the slope exceeds the rackable limits of a panel or when using styles that cannot be racked. This method installs panels at stepped intervals using straight posts.

Aluminum Fence for a sloped yard

One of the many benefits of installing an aluminum fence for a sloped yard is the flexibility it provides during installation. Each panel can flex on-site to follow the slope of your terrain.

Aluminum Fence Panels Are Ideal for a Sloped Yard

Aluminum fence panels are ideal for a sloped yard because they are designed to rack — meaning they can follow the contour of uneven terrain without stair-stepping. This allows for a smooth top line, better security, and easier installation across hills or rolling grades. You can configure your aluminum fence panel online for slight, medium of steep slopes. The actual racking takes place on-site, during the installation. The vertical pickets stay, well, vertical. And, the horizontal rails angle as you decide how much to “rack” the panel prior to setting the panel-to-post connection(s).

Always check your local building code for installing an aluminum fence on a slope. Here’s an example:

Construction of a fence

For racking and heavy racking, the horizontal rails are factory-routed with wider openings to allow the fence panel to shift or rack on-site during the installation process.

It’s easy to customize and order a rackable fence panel. Simply search our online store, find the fence panel of your choice and configure it for your slopes and hills.

Another option for barricading your property, which is used much more on large commercial applications, is the stair-step method. Simply mount each set of two fence panels to one post, at different heights using powder coated metal mounts and screws.

RACKING

RECOMMENDED
FOR MOST
APPLICATIONS

STAIR STEP

YOUR ONLY OPTION FOR MAKING MEDIUM AND STEEP SLOPES WITH STYLE 7 OR STYLE 8 OR ANY FENCE PANEL WITH RINGS, BUTTERFLY SCROLLS OR PUPPY PICKETS

Stair Stepping requires additional metal mounts called Rail Ends so that you can mount two aluminum fence panels to one post at different heights.

Frequently Asked Questions

Rackable Aluminum Fence Panels FAQs

What is a rackable aluminum fence panel?

A rackable aluminum fence panel is designed to flex during installation so it can follow the slope of your yard without leaving gaps. This makes it ideal for sloped terrain or uneven ground.

Style 1 - aluminum fence racking configurations

How much can GreatFence panels rack?

STYLES 1 -4, 9 and 10 (no rings, no butterfly scrolls, no puppy pickets): Standard rackable panels can flex up to 6 inches per section. Rackable configuration (tier 2) enables the rack on-site during installation up to 18 - 20 inches per panel. Heavy Rackable configured fence panels can rack up to 36 inches per panel. STYLES 7 & 8 or other styles with rings, butterfly scrolls or puppy pickets must be stair stepped for slight, medium and steep slopes. See: Hills & Slopes

aluminum fence installed on a sloped yard

Can I use your factory-routed posts with rackable fence panels?

Yes for standard and rackable configurations. For heavy rackable configured aluminum fence panels, you must use blank (non-routed) aluminum posts + vertical swivel mounts. Also, if you're connecting any racked fence panel (standard, rackable, heavy rackable) to an existing structure (house, building, wall, column, 3rd party wood post), you'll need to order our adjustable vertical swivel mounts (instead of our popular wall mounts). See: Vertical Swivel Mounts

How do you stair step an aluminum fence panel?

Very simple. Instead of inserting the horizontal rails into our line/corner/end/3-way posts, you will "mount" both fence panels to one of our blank (non-routed) posts using our rail end mounts. This allows you to connect two fence panels to one post at two different heights. Tons of flexibility is offered with this installation method. See: Rail End Mounts

Stair Stepping Aluminum Fence Panel STYLE 7 with Blank Posts + Rail Ends (sold separately)

How do you fabricate an aluminum fence panel that's rackable or heavy rackable?

All of our fence panels are constructed so that the vertical pickets go through the horizontal rails and are connected with stainless steel screws. When we make a rackable or heavy rackable fence panel, we overpunch the holes in the rails at every picket-to-rail connection point. This allows the fence panel to flex more (or rack) on-site during installation. Once you've installed a standard, rackable or heavy rackable fence panel, it won't move. Ever!

Aluminum Fence for a sloped yard

Aluminum Fence Panels Are Ideal for a Sloped Yard