First, the fence itself is likely to be weaker if it's not built on level ground. Second, an uneven fence is more likely to fall over, which could cause serious injury to anyone who happens to be nearby.
Using Yard Contours
The most common option home and property owners tend to choose when it comes to building sloped fences is following the contours of the yard. As you place horizontal rails for the fence, these will follow a smooth, parallel line to the ground, rather than staying level with each other.
In most applications, a wooden fence should be mounted at least two inches off the ground. Your posts and rot boards (if you want to mount them) should be the only fence components that come into contact with the ground. Wood pickets are never meant to touch it.
The best way to mark and level ground quickly is with a string level. Drive stakes into the ground that are about a foot tall, and attach a string to the stakes a few inches above the ground. Then, level the string between each stake to find the high and low points in your yard.
Most fences (excluding panel fencing) can be safely and properly installed on uneven ground through contour fence construction. The rails of the fence should follow your property using the contour method, no matter if the ground goes up or down.
You may be surprised to discover that while your yard looks fairly flat between posts, there could be small dips in your yard. These dips can cause gaps under your fence at certain spots. Our standard is to keep the top of the fence straight, disregarding discrepancies at the bottom.
It is recommended that you use a minimum of 2 horizontal rails between posts for all fences less than 5' high, 3 rails for fences 5' to 7' high, and 4 rails for 8' high fences.
Wooden Pockets for Filling in Gaps
To fill the space between the fence and the ground, use horizontal pieces of wood rather than bricks. Cut the wooden boards uniformly after measuring them. This is one of the best choices if you have a wooden fence because it will blend in flawlessly.
If there is a gap underneath your fence, you will need to use filler material to remove the problem. For example, you can put chicken wire in the gap so that the fence opens and closes freely without the gap being exposed. You could also put wood blocks in the gap or even fill it in with cement.
Face the finished side of the fence toward your neighbor
In particular, the solid panel fences often used for privacy are generally constructed like this. The finished side should face toward your neighbor. Not only is this more polite, but it's the standard.
When building a wood fence, be sure to plan for a space between the pickets and the ground. In most applications, a wood fence should be installed at least two inches off the ground.
Windproof fence panels that let the wind pass through. It is known that the best fence panels for windy areas are the ones that let the winds pass through. This means that the fence panels need to have gaps left between the boards, in order to release the wind pressure from the panels.
DO Employ a Base Gravel Layer. If a fence post fails without any sign of a pest infestation, it's likely that the failure was caused by moisture that rotted the wood over time. To help slow such deterioration, add pea gravel or crushed stone to the bottom of the posthole.
Some customers feel that the smooth side or the picket fence side is nicer looking and so many prefer to see this side. It is important to note that any fence visible from the street should have the smooth side facing out toward the street. Many if not most HOA's require this.
Stepped Wood Fence
If you have a sloping yard and are looking for a fence that not only enhances your property but also works well with the slope, a stepped wooden fence could be the perfect solution. A stepped wood fence is designed to follow the natural contour of the land, creating a series of levels or steps.
The 'quick' answer is that the finished, or good side of the fence faces the outside of your property, visible to neighbors and the outside world. That being said, the fence posts (or poles), rails, and other hardware are installed on the inside of the fence line and face you.
A kickboard, sometimes known as a "rot board," is a piece of wood that's placed on the bottom of a fence and is in contact with the ground. Kickboards are typically pressure-treated.
In five to eight years, the fence may start to lean, but it should last 10 to 15 years overall. To keep the wood from rotting, apply a wood preservative to seal it.
1. Build a Berm. One of the most effective ways of preventing water from reaching your home is to construct a raised barrier made of soil called a berm. Not only are berms effective and generally easy to install, but they also add to the aesthetic value of your property.
The hardest part of any fence installation is digging the postholes. The level of difficulty, not surprisingly, depends on the fence length and hardest of the soil. For a short fence, use a manual posthole digger.
So, how far apart should fence posts be? The standard spacing for fence posts is 8 to 25 feet apart, depending on the type of fence. A standard wood fence would require posts 8 feet apart, while a high-tensile wire could span 25 feet.
It's a good question and one that we get asked a lot. For most residential fences 8′ between posts is the maximum. Commercial fences (industrial chain link, for example) typically can handle up to 10′ spacing because of their stronger frames.