How To Install Wood Fence Panels On Uneven Ground

Picket fence posts typically are 2 to 3 inches shorter than the tops of the pickets which vary in height.

How to install wood fence panels on uneven ground.

Set one cut post in each hole. When building a fence on uneven terrain one option is to follow the contours of your yard. 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. A measuring wheel can help you to discern where the posts should be placed before you begin.

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. Figure the post length by subtracting 3 inches from your picket height and then adding 24 inches for the hole. Watch my video on the correct way to install a fence.

Racked or stepped panels. After you finish installing the outside pickets begin installing the pickets on the inside of the fence. Start at the lowest part of the fence line and move up the slope for a stair step fence. A fence with stepped panels features fence panels of varying heights.

Installing a fence on uneven ground is tricky. Plumb the first picket in a run with a level and position it at the correct height. 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. The measured rails should be nailed to the middle of the premeasured fence posts before attaching the planks and top and bottom rails.

The contoured method works best when the slope is slight rather than dramatic. Dig the postholes using a manual posthole digger or an auger. Building fences on uneven ground. Slopes and contours add character to a yard but they also introduce problems when it comes time to build on them.

Cut the posts to length. Overlap the outside pickets by 1 inch on each side. Dig the post holes 10 to 12 inches across and 24 inches deep.