Tips for Building a Fence on a Slope

Tips for Building a Fence on a Slope

Building a fence is a satisfying and somewhat challenging project. When you add a hill to that project,  it can add a few other challenges. So, how do you go about building a fence on a slope?

When building a fence on a slope, it’s best if you use a mason’s line. A mason’s line establishes a process for spreading steaks along the bottom and top slope. The cable lets you measure the wood needed for lower slope areas while keeping the tops even.

Below, we will inform you of a few other options and how you can properly do a mason’s line to ensure you choose what’s best for you.

Sloped Fence Option One: Mason’s Line

Start by placing a small, wooden stake at the top and bottom of your slope. Choose a spot to mark on those sticks, ensuring they are at the same level on both steaks.

Tie the end of a strong string on one stake and pound it into the ground. Take your second stake and bring it down the slope until you find the point where the ground begins to flatten.

Pound the stake on the flat point of the land and cut the string, so there’s just enough room to leave it taut. Give yourself a bit of extra string length to account for mistakes, but make sure the line is straight.  

Sloped Fence Option Two: Stair Step Fence

A stair-step fence involves building a wall as if there is no gap to account for underneath. Like a regular fence, make it with a series of similarly-sized pieces of wood.

The name says it all, as your fence will look as if it’s on different stair levels. It’s super handy and can look beautiful but can be expensive depending on what you plan to do with the underside of the fence.

The poles will still need to reach the bottom. However, you can fill the gaps in with anything you want. To keep the costs low, you can fill it in with packed dirt. You can also choose brick, stone, or more wooden features.

Sloped Fence Option Three: Racked Fence

A racked fence is making each plank of wood slightly lower to match the angle. This means that all of your wood is still generally the same length, but the fence will look crooked.

This isn’t a problem if you don’t mind the angled appearance. Some people call this the parallel method.

Your other option is to align the top, so the bottom is racked. This means cutting a series of differently lengthed wood planks to fill in the gap. This doesn’t involve building any additional unique features, only a fence.

Wrap Up

Wrought iron fences can be customized to meet the needs of any slope. If you are looking for a permanent fence fixture that can survive long-term, choosing this fencing style can help you out.

Contact our team of specialists at Master Iron to see how our team can help your sloped fence look complete.