Having a garden or any outdoor space is a luxury and something you should celebrate. Saying that if you are looking to install fencing for uneven ground, or on an overgrown patch of land on a natural slope, you are probably not counting your lucky stars just yet. Never worry; help is at hand. So, we gathered our landscape experts, who know a thing or two about uneven fence challenges and have offered the following practical advice if you are installing a fence on a slope:
Assessing the slope
The first thing to do is assess the viability of the slope or uneven terrain so you can work out precisely what fencing and accessories you need to install your boundary fence easily and quickly without overextending your budget. Indeed, not buying enough fence panels and fencing accessories which causes you extra hassle, after all, fencing for uneven ground is not a walk in the park.
There are two approaches to installing a fence on sloped or uneven ground, either grading the slope or building to conform to the uneven area in your outside space.
The easiest way to work out your garden's gradient or degree of slope is to measure the rise and run (the difference in elevation between points is the rise, and the distance between the points is the run) using a string, wooden stake, and string level or sprit line and then divide the rise by run to get the slope.
It sounds complicated, but having proper measurements gives you the materials you need and no or very little waste. If you are in doubt, our experts can help work out your fencing calculations. So now you have your measurements in place, installing a fence on a slope is a little easier or at least less daunting.
Step-by-step guide: fencing for uneven ground
When deciding on a fence type, choose something robust. We recommend that you use concrete fence posts as concrete is durable and weather-resistant, meaning your fence post will not warp, compromising the skeleton of your fencing structure. Fencing for uneven ground presents more issues than regular fence installation, so creating a solid structure before you start makes sense. Now fence posts are chosen - let us install a fence on a slope.
1) Start from the top and work down
By starting from the top of your slope and working down, you can easily calculate the height of the fence panels you need.
2) Plot out your concrete fence posts
Equally, measure out the plots or holes for each concrete fence post. Add the first fence post marker, and continue equally along the slope or uneven ground, marking to indicate where you should place each fence post.
Measure straight lines along the ground between each fence post – do not measure directly across the slope. The ground will be uneven as it slopes, so taking measurements of the actual slope will not be accurate.
3) Measure your gravel boards
Gravel boards are the concrete or wooden boards that sit under your fence panel on top of the ground to protect the wooden panels from moisture penetration and insect attacks; they also stop debris from getting into your garden.
The boards slot in between the fence posts, so it is vital to measure from the inside of the concrete posts and not the outside.
4) Dig a hole for each fence post
Dig a hole once you have plotted the positions for your fence posts. Each hole should be a minimum of 60cm deep (23.6 inches) and deeper still, 78cm deep (30.7 inches) if you are building a high boundary fence of 1.8 meters or higher.
Top tip - dig all the post holes at the same depth, regardless of the slope angle; adjustments based on uneven terrain will make the fence uneven.
5) Fence post installation
Install your concrete posts in the holes you have dug along your boundary or fence lines. Fencing for uneven ground relies on the proper installation of upright concrete fence posts. Even the smallest lean or movement in the post positions will mean the fence panels will not fit together correctly, causing bigger issues down the line.
Once you are happy with the position of your fence post holes and place the concrete posts in the ground, back-fill them with cement or ready-made concrete mix. It will take 20-40 minutes for the cement to harden, so the first post should be set by the time you reach the last fence post hole, but it's worth allowing a little more time before installing your fence panels so that all the post are well set in and ready to use.
6) Installing your gravel boards
Apart from protecting your fence from water or insect damage, gravel boards help support the fence post, ensuring strength and rigidity, even when adding a fence on a slope or installing fencing for uneven ground. Gravel boards are integral to your structure and offer a debris barrier between you and your neighbour.
Slot the gravel boards into the posts, maintaining stability by placing your gravel boards in the ground; this will give a clean finish with no gaps. You may have to purchase taller gravel boards depending on where you are on the slope.
Again, if you need clarification on the size or type of gravel board you need, we are here to help.
7) Fit your fence panels
Fit your fence panels between each concrete post on top of the gravel boards. Each panel should step across the entire length, meaning the height of each fence post should be adjusted to match the slope, creating a stepped fence panels approach.
8) Mind the gap
At this stage, there could be some gaps under your gravel boards. If you have gaps, we suggest adding stones to close up the gaps and create a neat finish. Keeping the fence panels level is the key to a neat, even finish.
Top-tip - fencing for uneven ground is all about checking the slope angles and curves of the land throughout the fence installation process. Double-checking will not only keep your fence looking neat and tidy but will ensure that the fence stays intact for as long as possible.
Adapting standard fencing techniques for slopes
We have given you a step-by-step guide to fencing for uneven ground, but if your garden has a gradual slope or is slightly uneven, you can use the 'raking method.' Raking is a traditional method of installing a fence on a slope, but it differs from the stepped fence method.
Raked fences are level at the top, while the sloping ground is accommodated at ground level, which is why you should only use traditional fencing methods on a gradual incline or declining slope.
Maintaining stability and aesthetics
We have discussed the stability of your fence by ensuring the proper installation of your concrete fence posts and gravel boards. Aesthetically, what your fence looks like is up to you.
However, there are fence choices that lend themselves to privacy and security better than others:
- Overlap fencing - for an opaque fence using overlapping fence panels
- Closeboard fencing - is perfect for keeping out nosey neighbours or unsightly views
- Tongue and groove panels - use an interlocking system, keeping out water that can cause rot, and what is more, these fencing panels can help reduce noise
- Acoustic panels - you can use our acoustic panels to cancel out noise from busy roads; our acoustic panels are both attractive and practical
- Finishing touch with caps - to give your fence a finished look, always add fence post caps. Fence post caps enhance the longevity of your fence posts while improving their appearance. Caps provide a finishing touch to your fence, adding aesthetic appeal while protecting the posts from the weather
- Raising height - if you need to raise the height of your fence but don't want to block out the light, then decorative lattice fence toppers and fence topper trellis are an excellent yet practical idea
Conclusion: mastering installing a fence on a slope
Like most things in life, if you are motivated to solve a problem, you will, and there is nothing more motivating or satisfying than installing a fence on a slope.
We hope you find our step-by-step guide to fencing for uneven ground helpful. This leaves us with one last tip from our friendly expert fence installers - always measure twice and cut once, never the other way around.
If you follow our guide, you will be able to install fencing for uneven ground in no time; however, if you have any questions on anything in this blog, contact us. The details are as follows.
Contact us
If you are looking to buy products linked to fencing on uneven ground or installing a fence on a slope, plus other landscaping ideas, we can help. Contact Buy Fencing Direct for further advice by using these details:
- Call via phone at 0333 003 0515
- Complete the contact page form on the website
- Engage in real-time text chat using their live chat app
