fbpx

Contact Us

Homeowners install fencing around their property to add curb appeal, increase privacy, and keep pets from escaping. While installing a fence around your property is easier if the ground is level, it is not impossible to fence an uneven yard. If your yard is sloped or hilly, you can still have a fenced yard. Keep reading to learn what types of fencing work best under these circumstances.
Andrew Barker

Andrew Barker

Andrew Barker, Founder and CEO of a home improvement publication, HomeownerCosts.

Yes, you can still install a fence on uneven ground.

Building one can pose plenty of challenges. However, it’s not impossible. It’s worth remembering not all yards are completely flat. Gladly, there are a couple of ways to combat the problems such as leveling, stepping, and racking.

Level-Topped Fence

If your ground dips and rises, you can still install a level-topped fence. Building a level-topped fence will require you to fill the low spots with grass or soil. If the dips are bigger, you may have to use gravel or rocks.

Stepped Fencing

A steep slope will require stepped fencing. Each panel is installed according to the height of your land. You will have panels stepping up from the panel before it. It may not be aesthetically pleasing. However, it can accommodate even the steepest slopes.

Racking Fences

Racked fences first appeared more or less than 20 years ago. However, they have become relatively popular since the fences are prefabricated. The posts are at different levels and the rails follow the slope’s angles.

Installing a stepped fence, or a racking fence

If you need a fence, then you can and should install one on uneven ground. It’s not as straightforward a process as putting in a fence on even ground, but it can be done.

Ideally, you build a fence by setting posts vertically and then using horizontal supports between. Then, you fill the structure with boards or whatever fencing material you have chosen. Obviously, vertical and horizontal designs don’t follow the contours of uneven ground.

You could consider other options: [leveling] your ground, installing a stepped fence, or installing a racking fence. To even out your ground, you’ll have to dig and fill. This job is labor-intensive, and if your yard is big and very uneven, it may be impossible to accomplish.

A stepped fence works on sloped ground, and you build it the same as you would a fence on uneven ground. It’s easy to build, but it has problems. There will be gaps between the fence and the ground on each fence section’s downhill side. Also, the top of your fence will look like a stair step, which may or may not be an issue, depending on your opinion.

A racking fence is a good fit for slightly sloping or uneven terrain. The top of the fence is less disjointed than a stair-step fence, and the bottom fits the contour of the ground better. A custom-made fence gives the best results but may be more expensive than you’re willing to pay.

Melanie Musson

Melanie Musson

Melanie Musson is a home design and landscaping expert with USInsuranceAgents.com.
Jay Lu

Jay Lu

Jay Lu is the CEO of Sofary, a lightning brand committed to offering the best quality modern chandeliers at the best price.

You might need to hire professionals to help you out

Even though building a fence on even grounds is the perfect case scenario, in real life, it’s very uncommon to come across perfectly flat ground. It’s likely that you’ll come across ground that’s a bit bumpy. In this case, building a fence should be an easy task with some alterations to the usual process.

If you’re 100% sure you want one, go for it! Keep in mind though that you probably won’t be able to do everything by yourself, and you might need to hire professionals to help you out.

If fencing is needed, it can and should be installed.

Some homeowners find it worth the extra cost which uneven ground brings. Some fence installers will do custom sections so that the top of the fence is consistent throughout.

In other cases, I have seen owners use cinder blocks or place large and heavy items to block access underneath. This is primarily to contain dogs as well as to keep critters out of the yard.

Another circumstance is when a neighbor’s driveway comes up against a property. It might be worth a fence, even with openings at the bottom, to prevent cars from damaging the lawn or property.

Colby Hager

Colby Hager

Colby Hager, Owner of Capstone Homebuyers.

This is a crowdsourced article. Contributors are not necessarily affiliated with this website and their statements do not necessarily reflect the opinion of this website, other people, businesses, or other contributors.