Yards come in all shapes, sizes, and slopes. Your yard is probably not a perfectly flat piece of land. So, how do we follow the natural beauty of your landscape?
There are two ways you can “slope” your aluminum fence: Racking vs. Stepping.
Racking actually adjusts the angle of the posts and pickets to follow gradual slopes. Stepping is when you install the panels in a stair-step fashion.
What is Racking?
If you look closely at our aluminum fence panels, you’ll notice some small gaps where the pickets pass through the horizontal bars. These gaps allow you to “flex” the panel ever so slightly.
Most aluminum fence styles rack up to 18 inches per 6-foot section. So that means the post at one end of the 6-foot panel can be 16 inches higher or lower than the other end.
For steeper slopes, you can request “double-punched” panels. These can rack up to 28 inches and incur no extra costs.
How do you rack your Aluminum Fence?
First, we always recommend drawing out your fence first. Measure twice, cut once, as they say.
- Do NOT Loosen the screws along the horizontal rails. These screws act as the pivot point, but do not need to be loosened.
- Lift up on one end and push down on the other end. Tilt the panel to match the slope. Just be sure to keep the pickets vertical.
- Once you have the slope you want, slide the rail ends into the posts. Use self-tapping screws into side of post, through into the rail inside the post to secure rail in place.
Pros and Cons of Racking your Aluminum Fence
Pros:
- Creates a seamless appearance.
- No gaps under the fence like you get with stepping.
Cons:
- Only applicable for moderate slopes.
- Over-racking can cause uneven picket spacing.
What is Stepping?
Stepping is when you stagger the heights of each panel. So instead of a gradual slope, it’s like a staircase.
Posts will have holes on the high side, but blank on the low side. Wall or Post mount brackets attach to the lower side at whatever height best matches your slope.
How do you step your Aluminum Fence?
Again, we recommend familiarizing yourself with our installation guide.
- First, set the high side post in pre-dug hole. (start on the high side and work your way down) Connect the fence panel on the high side first, keeping a level on the panel. No need for concrete just yet.
- Mount the panels to the posts using the brackets on the lower side to match the slope. Pour concrete into post hole to set the post. On to the next panel and repeat this process.
Pros and Cons of Stepping Your Aluminum Fence
Pros:
- Better for steeper slopes.
Cons:
- The staircase look might not be aesthetically pleasing for some.
- Stepping is preferred for such panel styles like “Castle.”
- Bigger gaps under the fence for pets and kids to enter or escape.
Regardless of which method you choose, trust aluminum fencing to complement your landscape!
