Yes. On a slope the fence is either racked, with the rails running parallel to the ground, or stepped, with level sections that drop one after another. A racked fence leaves less open space underneath.
Racked or stepped: which is better?
- Racked: rails tilt with the ground and pickets stay upright. Good for mild and medium grades, and the best choice with a dog.
- Stepped: every section sits level and the next one is set lower. Used on steep ground and with rigid factory panels. Each step leaves a wedge of open space below.
- Built in place: wood boards are cut one by one to the ground line. This gives the tightest fit.
I have a dog that digs and a yard that drops. How do I avoid gaps?
Choose a racked or built-in-place fence and then close off the bottom edge. A treated board along the ground, pickets trimmed to the grade, or wire mesh buried a few inches under the fence all stop a digger.
My yard is steep and rocky and two companies turned the job down. Who does this?
Call us and we will walk the line before saying yes or no. Steep lots are common along the Mississippi River bluffs, around Minnehaha Creek and the lakes, and in the hillier western suburbs such as Minnetonka and Eden Prairie. Glacial soil here can hide large stones and mature trees leave heavy roots. A post that hits one is moved, or the hole is worked by hand. That takes longer and costs more than open soil.
Do installers dig by hand or with a machine?
Both. A power auger is quick in an open yard. Hand tools are used beside a garage or foundation, close to utility marks, among tree roots and in the narrow side yards of older Minneapolis lots where a machine cannot turn.
A free on-site estimate gives you a real number for your yard. Call (612) 688-5135 or text us a photo of the fence line.