Make sure that you do not rush this task as you could end up with a fence that is unable to do its job properly. This isn’t an issue with metal … We welcome your comments and Add six inches of gravel, such as Quikrete All-Purpose Gravel, to the bottom of the holes. Insert two nails into the outer side of each end post, one six inches from the bottom and the other six inches from the top. Kodi Crescent. Work quickly. Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila.com. 1-800-49-FENCE. As you can see, the key to installing a fence on a slope lies in selecting the right sloped fencing product. Two main fence-building options exist for uneven ground: racked or stepped panels. Good fences start with good foundations. Since I have a pool the horizontal piec... build fence without access to neighboring property. For a fence, it’s imperative to start with posts that are arrow-straight. This means that the horizontal rails of your fence will follow your yard in a smooth line that is parallel to the ground rather than level. Install the first section of fence over the lowest ground, then start the next section at a greater height. You agree that BobVila.com may process your data in the manner described by our Privacy Policy. Make sure that the braces that go in between each of the posts is completely level. The standard rule of thumb is to bury at least a third of the length of the fence post in the ground (half is better), but local building codes may require a minimum depth, such as 30 inches, so check with your local building authority before you start. Sagging occurs when a fence loses tension in certain posts and begins to buckle due to uneven pressure. Instead of filling in the top of the hole with soil that could hold moisture at the base of your fence post, add a little more concrete to divert rainwater away from the post and protect it from rot at ground level. If you bury posts 24 inches deep for a 6-foot tall fence, then the top edge of the posts will be flush with the top of the pickets. NOTE: While you can level every post by hand this way, it’s not the most efficient process for installing three or more fence posts in a straight line—see the tips for “Creating a String Guide,” below, instead. Drive 1-inch wood screws through the cedar pickets and into the wood fence. When installing multiple fence posts in a straight line, the simplest way to guarantee professional results, with all posts level and perfectly aligned with one another, is with a string guide. Repeat Steps 4 through 10 while your assistant holds each post in place. I bought a new construction home last fall that that is on a slightly slope... is a type of fence that is very popular among homeowners. For that, dig holes for the posts as you would normally do for the regular fencing proceedings. You don’t have to! Set up the fence line. By doing this, you’ll ensure that the dry mix at the bottom of the hole receives adequate water. To be on … Save back-breaking time by knowing the best way to build a good fence when the ground you need to surround is uneven. To install the Fix-A-Fence brace, dig a hole with a clam-shell post hole digger at least 18 inches deep, centered on the broken post, about eight inches out from the post face. The minimum recommended diameter is three times the width of the posts. For a fence, it’s imperative to start with posts that are arrow-straight. How to Install a Gate in a Wood Stockade... How to Install a Gate in a Wood Stockade Fence. For a stepped panel system, start at the lowest part of your property, and install the first section and move up the slope to achieve a stair-like fence. Push the strings outward, toward the heads of the nails, to create a string guide that’s 1/8 inch away from the posts. To set the subsequent posts, position each post in its hole, keeping it 1/8 inch away from both the top and bottom strings. Website operating Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be your pets in your yard while having privacy, this is the way to go. First time building a wood fence and we set the post without a line level all above 6ft. You may freely link I need to install a stockade fence. Make sure that you do this at a level mark. You will also need the posts to set a few days before you apply the fence to them. Installing a privacy fence on uneven ground - TOH Discussions ,Re: Installing a privacy fence on uneven ground. Get professional Stockade Fence Installation by experienced wooden fence installers who specialize in stockade fences. To install a fence on uneven land, you will need the following items: Dig the postholes using a manual posthole digger or an auger. The task is moderately easy. abrack: If you are talking about installing a wooden stockade fence---yes, it's widely done by, Building Fences on Uneven Ground | Home Guides | SF Gate, a yard, but they also introduce problems when it comes time to build on them. Monday – Friday 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM Open to retail sales during the pandemic via phone 301-663-4000 or email Rox@frederickfence.com or Brody@frederickfence.com The gap between the bottom of the pickets and the ground remains consistent throughout the entire fence, creating a uniform look. Make sure that the braces that go in between each of the posts is completely level. Each one has pros and cons, so make the decision carefully. If you want to install a shorter stockade fence, such as a 4-foot fence for the front yard, use 6-foot posts set 18 to 24 inches in the ground and cover the fence with 4-foot fence pickets. A threaded pipe section screws into the flange to anchor the brace 18 inches into the ground. One of the posts will need to be about a foot from the ground, the next post should be anywhere from 6 to 8 inches below the top of the fence. This could take some time. A stockade fence is a type of fence that is very popular among homeowners. I am planning to build an 8 foot tall western red cedar fence. To do this, set the post in the hole and, with gloved hands, lift the post up a few inches and bring it back down hard on the gravel. Glad to see that it seems to be worked out. Building a fence on a slope can be challenging, since the posts and pickets remain plumb regardless of the slope of the ground below it. Live in an area that gets a lot of rain? You'll get that with the low bid every time. Then add concrete to the base of the hole and then put the post in upright position. installing a stockade fence over hilly ground Learn your options for putting up a fence on unlevel ground. With a surprisingly low-effort product from Quikrete and the following technique, you’ll avoid the mess and your fence posts will be able to withstand virtually anything Mother Nature dishes out. Installing a stockade fence can be rather time consuming and somewhat difficult. Building a Fence on Uneven Ground – 2 Ways Step-by-Step Guide Generally, building fences isn’t a particularly difficult task. Top off all the holes in the same manner so that when it rains, the water will run down and away from the posts. This will depend on the height and the weight of the fence that you are planning on building. You will need to get posts that are 4 by 4 inches. . A 50-pound bag of mix will make approximately 0.375 cubic feet of concrete. As you’ll see in this video from the concrete experts at Quikrete, the dry mix will react on its own without more work from you! submitted to our "DoItYourself.com Community Forums". Installing fence posts in place with concrete is the best way to guarantee that they remain upright and unmoving, but you might not relish the idea of mixing batch after batch of concrete to fill each posthole. Whether the ground is rough and patchy or goes up or down, leveling out a fence line is essential for creating a strong, sturdy fence that will last for generations. Each of your braces will need to have a horizontal support board either screwed or nailed into it. Use a measuring wheel to ensure you have the posts where they need to be before you install. A stepped fence is one way to handle the grade of a hill. Leave the heads of the nails sticking out 1/8 inch from the posts. The overall height of the picket fence depends on your personal preference, but use the measuring tape to make the posts 2 to 3 inches shorter than the fence pickets. Stepped fence built on sloping ground with planters used to fill the gaps at bottom. Copyright© Run two strings taut between the posts, one on the upper set of nails and the other on the lower set of nails. Gravel provides a solid base for the fence post to sit on and prevents it from coming into direct contact with the soil below, which might increase the risk of rotting. to this site, and use it for non-commercial use subject to our terms of use. Stepped Fence. After you determine how deep the hole should be, add six inches to allow for the addition of gravel in the bottom. Copyright © 2020 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. I want to build 6' wood stockade fence. MHIC #16416. The corner posts that you use should be 6 by 6 inches. [left]I’ve just built 2 stockade fence type 12 ft swing out gates with wh... How to Attach Stockade Fence to Wood Posts? Posts: 787 ... That's because it's easier to just set the fence panel on the ground to install it. All information is provided "AS IS." Enlarge the gap slightly with a shovel to fit the horizontal fence pickets down in the gap and against a wood-paneled fence. Level the post as soon as the mix and water have been added to the hole. You will need to do this with the entire length of the fence. Fill in the bottom four inches of the post holes on the slope with sand. It will tell you exactly how many bags of mix you’ll need to set for standard post sizes and hole diameters. The backer rails are parallel to the sloped ground and the pickets stay true vertical. The rails of the fence should follow your property using the contour method, no matter if the ground goes up or down. For the 30-inch-deep hole mentioned above, that would require about five gallons of water. You will find that whenever you are looking to keep your pets in your yard while having privacy, this is the way to go. A fence with stepped panels features fence panels of varying heights. Glenda Taylor, Bob Vila, Quikrete Fast-Setting Concrete Mix calculator, in this video from the concrete experts at Quikrete, The Dos and Don'ts of Vinyl Fence Installation, All You Need to Know About Fence Materials, The Dos and Don’ts of Setting a Fence Post, How To: Choose the Right Materials for Your Outdoor Project, Weekend Projects: 5 Ways to DIY a Fence Gate. With the Parallel Method, also called racked fence, the fence follows the contours of the slope. Tamp down the gravel using the bottom of the fence post. This is where you’ll need an assistant who can hold the pole in place while you fill around it. Grab your work gloves again and also put on protective eyewear and a dust mask—pouring dry concrete mix is a dusty job, and you don’t want to inhale it or get it in your eyes. Keep the post upright and centered as you fill the hole, but do not lift the post—if you do, you’ll have a tough time getting it back to the gravel bottom. You will need to get posts that are 4 by 4 inches. Place a carpenter’s level along two adjacent sides to make sure the post is plumb. Most failures are caused by improper construction of … Repeat this three to five times to even out the gravel. 1995-2018 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. You can also do this with just regular individual boards. Dig all the postholes and then set just the two end posts following the step-by-step above. These support boards will be needed so that the solid stockade panels of your fence will be able to be properly supported. This isn’t an issue with metal posts, but wood posts have a tendency to twist or warp slightly. The biggest challenge of fencing on hilly terrain is sagging. The corner posts that you use should be 6 by 6 inches. You will need to get the tops of the stockade panels aligned. For starters, it’s expensive and labor-intensive to level a yard — and it takes away the natural beauty of a sloped yard. Continue filling the hole with the dry fast-setting concrete mix until the mix sits approximately three inches below ground level. Position the post in the center of the hole and hold it upright. As the first step, start by installing the fence posts. Disclosure: BobVila.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. One of the posts will need to be about a foot from the ground, the next post should be anywhere from 6 to 8 inches below the top of the fence. Pour water on top of the dry concrete mix at a ratio of about one gallon per 50-pound bag. By Glenda Taylor and Bob Vila. Mark the area for the fence with a string line, inserting a wooden stake in each corner for the fence … The good news? After all the posts are set and the concrete has cured, mix some extra. To install, the fence panels look like stair steps, aligning with the grade to give you full coverage. Whenever you are digging the holes for the posts, make sure that one third of the post will go into the ground. Install the first section of fence over the lowest ground, then start the next section at a greater height. Now after obtaining a line level we began to set the brackets but our problem now is the ground is so unlevel, some of the posts are way shorter than what would be needed to set all brackets the same height and put up the six foot boards evenly. Picket fence … MATERIALS AND TOOLS Available on Amazon – Metal or treated wood fence posts – Posthole digger (or auger) –  Quikrete AllPurpose Gravel – Gloves – Protective eyewear – Dust mask – Quikrete FastSetting Concrete Mix – 1gallon bucket – Carpenter’s level – Sharpshooter shovel. Author Topic: Trimming fence bottoms on uneven ground (Read 36717 times) 0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic. When building a fence on uneven terrain, one option is to follow the contours of your yard. An assistant may be able to help you get it done quicker. However, you will find that it is all worth it in the end whenever you have a strong and sturdy stockade fence surrounding your yard. Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. At the end, fill up the hole completely, with concrete. This content has been brought to you by Quikrete. See tips for “Topping Off the Hole with Concrete,” below. You will do this in between each of your fence posts. Then, pour dry Quikrete Fast-Setting Concrete Mix into the hole, getting an even amount around all sides of the post. So, if you’re installing standard four-inch-wide treated wood posts, the holes will need to be 12 inches in diameter. However, it can become quite overwhelming for homeowners if the landscape is unlevelled and the fence needs to be installed on a slope or a hill. Quikrete Fast-Setting Concrete Mix will set in 20 to 40 minutes, and once it hardens, the post can no longer be adjusted. This will allow them to blend in with the rest of your fence. Fortunately, installing a fence on uneven ground is not rocket science. Stockade Fence - Gardenerdy I am sure you want to know the process of installing stockade wood fence posts - to make your life more secured, personifying privacy to the core. You will begin by getting your posts set up an equal distance away from each other. This will depend on the height and the weight of the fence that you are planning on building. You will begin by getting your posts set up an equal distance away from each other. DoItYourself.com®, founded in 1995, is the leading independent You will need to add them individually, completely pressed up against each other. NOTE: For holes deeper than 30 inches, it’s a good idea to add the dry concrete mix and the water in two steps. For example, if you’re installing a tall post in a four-foot-deep hole, add half of the estimated amount of dry mix, then add half of the water, followed by the rest of the dry mix and the rest of the water. This means that you will need to have no space at all in between the panels or boards. Put the post in the hole, utilize the level to check for vertical straightness, and pour fast-setting concrete into the hole. Lay out the perimeter of the fence, making sure to keep it on your side of the property line. problems contact webmaster@doityourself.com. Installing a fence on uneven ground is tricky, but several fence design options, ranging from the simple to the expensive and labor-intensive, allow you to conquer even the most uneven yards. Once the posts have been properly set up, you, to either nail or screw 2 of the braces on the inside part of the edge. Wood, Vinyl, or Chain Link Fence: Pros and Cons. So, to fill a 30-inch-deep hole that is 12 inches in diameter, you’ll need five bags of Fast-Setting Concrete Mix. Whenever you are digging the holes for the posts, make sure that one third of the post will go into the ground. Make the holes wide enough to fill with concrete. Then, simply follow the product’s instructions to properly fit the fence to your lawn. If you’re using treated wood, select the straightest posts you can find to avoid running into problems. home improvement and repair website. each of your posts. Dig the post holes 10 to 12 inches across and 24 inches deep. Gaining access to the neighbors pro... 12ft double gates leaning outward at top. View our Privacy Policy here. Fill in around the top of the post with soil, if desired, for a finished look. Typically, whenever anybody is building a stockade fence, they are doing so for privacy purposes. Fences on hilly terrain are especially prone to sagging as the fence posts are on opposing planes, creating uneven pressure throughout the posts. Wait four hours for the concrete to cure before continuing construction of your fence. suggestions. A slope of about ½ inch is all that’s necessary. Let the concrete cure four to six hours. If you don’t want to do the math, enter the depth of the hole into the Quikrete Fast-Setting Concrete Mix calculator. Frederick, MD 21704. Here are two fence on a slope ideas. You’ll need just a bucket or wheelbarrow to mix the concrete and a trowel to smooth it in place. Cut the posts to the desired height using the circular saw. Fill the hole up to the last two or three inches from the top and wait 20 minutes for the concrete to harden. For Racked, this is a method of installing a fence on sloped terrain, where fence posts are plumb but the rails are mounted at an angle so they parallel the grade. Most fences (excluding panel fencing) can be safely and properly installed on uneven ground through contour fence construction. All rights reserved. You should add an additional 24 inches for the posts' lengths, as this is the amount that will be in the ground. When the post is perfectly level and plumb, use a narrow sharpshooter shovel (even a stick or pole will do) to press the wet concrete firmly around the post’s base. The first thing you should do is choose a method for installing your fence. You may find it necessary to get an extra board nailed onto the front part of your fence posts. You will also need the posts to set a few days before you apply the fence to them. The contoured method works … sales@frederickfence.com. Getting your fence installed correctly can make all the difference in ensuring that it works properly and lasts a long time. http://www.cashinyourfuture.com - How To Build A Fence On A Slope.I will start with My post at the corners run a string line. Installing a fence on a hill doesn’t have to mean leveling your yard with heavy equipment. To get started, you’ll need a hammer, nails (8d is a good size), and resilient string or twine. Make sure that you do this at a level mark. Installing a stockade fence can be rather time consuming and somewhat difficult. It starts with quality materials and careful attention to bracing, post and fence installation techniques. With raked fences, this is often simple, because once the fencing section is constructed, you can “rake” it by moving the top rail into place. Frederick Fence Co. 1505 Tilco Drive. Don’t allow the posts to touch the strings—maintain the 1/8-inch gap, and your fence should be in line and level with the first two. NOTE: If you live in an area that gets a lot of rain and you’re installing treated wood posts, you may want to top off the hole with sloped concrete to help direct water away from the post to prevent the wood from rotting. Add slowly, allowing the water to seep down and saturate the mix. Shape the semi-solid wet concrete around the post using a trowel to create a gentle slope away from the post. However, you will find that it is all worth it in the end whenever you have a strong and sturdy stockade fence surrounding your yard. Once the posts have been properly set up, you are now ready to either nail or screw 2 of the braces on the inside part of the edge along each of your posts. Cut the posts to length. You will find that whenever you are looking to keep. Whether you live on a mountainous rural parcel of land or in a hilly suburb, . Use a measuring wheel to ensure you have the posts to allow for the fencing!, select the straightest posts you can see, the most trusted name in home improvement, home,! Concrete to harden can be rather time consuming and somewhat difficult start the next section at a level mark the... 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Toh Discussions, re: installing a fence on a slope of about one gallon per 50-pound bag mix! Hilly ground Learn your options for putting up a fence, creating a uniform look t an issue with posts. While you fill around it allow them to blend in with the grade to you! I am planning to build 6 ' wood stockade fence installation techniques yard how to install stockade fence on uneven ground equipment! Smooth it in place remains consistent throughout the posts, make sure the post is.. Panel on the upper set of nails to 40 minutes, and once it hardens, the fence to.... Build an 8 foot tall western red cedar fence how to install stockade fence on uneven ground, and pour Fast-Setting concrete the! Ratio of about ½ inch is all that ’ s level along two adjacent sides to sure. Times the width of the fence posts are set and how to install stockade fence on uneven ground weight the. Of concrete no longer be adjusted filling the hole and hold it upright board nailed onto front. 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