When it’s time to fence your yard, there are several factors that need to be taken into consideration.

One of them is whether or not your property is flat with no changes in elevation.

If your yard does not have a slope, the process will be relatively simple.

If your yard has a slope, however, fencing it will be more complex.

In this situation, there are two basic options for a fence on a slope: step down and angled.

We’ll go over how each one works as well as its pros and cons, so you can decide which one is best for your property.

Step Down vs. Angled Fencing

One thing to remember is neither of these options for a fence on a slope directly contours or is flush with the ground.

In both cases, there will be the need to add a ground cover or other materials at the bottom of the fence line to help, for example, keep pets in or other animals out.

Step Down Fencing

With step-down fencing, each section of the fence looks the same as the ones used for flat ground.

Vertical pickets or slats are perpendicular to the rails at the top and bottom and are at the same height from beginning to end.

To accommodate changes in elevation, each individual fence section is stepped up or down. The resulting fence line has a stair-stepped look, giving this approach its name.

One advantage offered by step down fencing is it allows premade fence sections to be used with no modifications.

In addition, it can be used on slopes too steep for angled fencing.

Your fence will, however, have gaps at the bottom where one section is at a higher elevation than the one next to it.

To hide this, taller groundcover can be planted or individual, custom panels cut and installed to enclose these gaps.

Angled Fencing

The other option for a fence on a slope is angled fencing.

The top and bottom rails for each section of the fence are angled up or down between each post.

As the pickets or slats are no longer perpendicular to the rails, they better follow the sloping ground.

An advantage offered by angled fencing is a more continuous fence line compared to the step-down method.

In addition, even though the bottom of the fence does not directly contour the ground, any resulting gaps will not be as extreme as with step down fencing.

Properly Installing Your Fence

You want your new fence on a slope to look as good years from now as the day it was installed.

With sloped fencing, expert installation is critical.

Otherwise, if improperly constructed, uneven shifts in the fence line will appear over time.

Ready to tackle fencing on a steep slope? Contact First Class Fencing today to request an estimate!