Had to pick between a 6-foot and 8-foot post for a sloped job in Tacoma

Client's yard dropped a solid 18 inches over 20 feet. Could either step the fence or rack it. Went with stepping, using the 8-footers for the low side. Took an extra day to set all the step-downs right. Anyone have a better method for a slope that steep?

2 comments

2 Comments

ray18911d ago

Stepping was the right call on that grade, racking a panel over 18 inches would look warped. We use a water level and strings to mark each post height before digging, saves a ton of time fixing them later. Cutting the posts for the step-downs is a pain, but it keeps the fence lines clean. Next time try setting your low point first and working up the hill.

price.tara11d ago

Ever think about how the step-down method changes the wind load on the fence? A racked panel acts like one big sail, but stepped sections break up that force. On a steep hill, that could be the difference between a few loose boards and a whole section blowing out in a storm. It's more work up front, but you're building in a lot of hidden strength.