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Choosing The Right Fence

It might not seem like a difficult decision, but finding the right fence can be hard to do. In addition to choosing a picket style, a color, and a height, you might also be concerned about abiding by city and neighborhood ordinances. However, all of these decisions are easy if you choose the right fence contractor. A few years ago, I found a great contractor who helped us to create a beautiful, functional backyard in a few weeks. Read this blog for more information about fences, contractors, and design styles that you won't regret a few years down the road.

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Choosing The Right Fence

Your Guide To Installing An Aluminum Fence When Your Yard Has A Slope

by Chester Alvarez

If your yard has a slope, you're likely to find that some fencing options don't meet your needs and are more difficult to install due to the differences in ground level. Fortunately, aluminum fencing is a popular choice for that issue and there are two ways that it can be installed to compensate for an irregular ground level. Therefore, whether you need a new fence to provide an area for your kids or pets to play or you need to be able to keep animals in the area away from your garden, it's a good idea to acquaint yourself with the information shared below.

#1- Determine The Slope Before Choosing Fencing 

It's important to note that if pre-assembled, aluminum fencing is often purchased in a series of six-foot portions. This assembly permits you to make allowances for the sloping of the area with each new panel. 

Before installing your new aluminum fence, you will need to establish the degree of slope for the landscape. Doing so is explained by SF Gate and first requires finding the difference in elevation between the highest and lower ends of the slope, which is known as the rise. Then, you need to find the run, which is the horizontal distance between the two ends of the slope, and divide the run into the rise. 

#2- Rake Or Slant Panels With Slopes Under A Foot

The good news is that if your slope is at or less than a foot, you will not need to provide any extra posts to the area. In that instance, the process of installation is known as raking or slanting and is necessary in order to maintain the right amount of space under the fence. Essentially, the smaller degree of slope means that it is possible to compensate for it with a raked or slanted fence without needing to stair-step the area with extra posts.

#3- Plan To Stair-Step The Panel With Slopes Of 12 Or More Inches

When your yard has a foot or more of slope, you will need to use an end post on each section. That will permit you to provide a constant amount of space between the different panels, which is important for the fence's aesthetic appeal and usability. You might want to introduce planters or similar decorative choices to fill in any of the open areas between fencing portions. 

End posts need to be used only at the stopping/starting points of each panel of fencing. It is easy to identify end posts because they only have a single hole on each side. Stair-stepping with end posts permits you to adjust for the existing slope without compromising the long-term continuity of the fence.  

In conclusion, aluminum fencing is an affordable and popular choice for homeowners who want the security of a solid fence, even if there is a significant degree of sloping on the yard itself. If that situation resembles your own, you're likely to benefit from the facts listed above. If you want to learn more, talk to companies like Mills Fence.

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