Metal fence installation questions

[Kaizen]

I’m welding up metal fences for some of my property in front of garage. We don’t have them much around here so not many examples to see. Going to have six foot tall approximately with finials. Posts will be two inch tube and fence will be 3/4 and 1”.
How are these installed in a slope? In a eight foot section it will drop 6-8 inches. I feel having the top not be level will be strange. So are the Rails of the fence also level and the Panels step down as it goes?
Or should I build so the picket bottoms are different lengths to follow the grade for a few sections then drop fence down a foot for a few more sections?


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[p00p]

raise the grade gradually to meet the level bottom at an "even" gap while keeping the top straight.

 

[Kaizen]

raise the grade gradually to meet the level bottom at an "even" gap while keeping the top straight.

Should have mentioned street is two feet from it and above grade. Also neighbors property is down slope on the side so raising grade would be frowned upon after I flood his yard. I had thought about pillars and level between but that’s more then I want to take on. Trying to solve this with just fence design. I can build rails to match slope and have tops even. Not sure if that looks bad


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[fourjeepin]

I considered building a metal fence around part of my backyard but bought the steel panels from HD. They are 5’ x 8’ and on,y about $60 each. The hardware to connect them is a little spendy and pulling up the posts is slow work as they have to be level, plumb, and within about 1/4” accuracy from the last post. Not easy when setting them by yourself.

Oh, and to your question. Most fabricated fences I see are level at the top and drop down in sections. Many of the prefab panels will rack to follow the slope of the property.

 

[The Cobbler]

keeping the rails & pickets parallel to grade doesn't look bad at all, IMO . infact I often prefer it over stepping the fence

 

[Kaizen]

keeping the rails & pickets parallel to grade doesn't look bad at all, IMO . infact I often prefer it over stepping the fence

So posts plumb and rest
Follow grade? Tops as well follow grade?


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[Kaizen]

I considered building a metal fence around part of my backyard but bought the steel panels from HD. They are 5’ x 8’ and on,y about $60 each. The hardware to connect them is a little spendy and pulling up the posts is slow work as they have to be level, plumb, and within about 1/4” accuracy from the last post. Not easy when setting them by yourself.

Oh, and to your question. Most fabricated fences I see are level at the top and drop down in sections. Many of the prefab panels will rack to follow the slope of the property.

Thanks four. Appreciate your experience


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[The Cobbler]

I would run a string line from point to point a given height from the ground. posts plumb, posts & pickets parallel to the line

 

[nadogail]

I weld tabs onto the posts, the pressure treated rails get bolted to the tabs and I nail pre painted Cedar Pickets to the rails.

 

[Kaizen]

I weld tabs onto the posts, the pressure treated rails get bolted to the tabs and I nail pre painted Cedar Pickets to the rails.

It’s all steel but I get what you are saying


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[Kaizen]

I would run a string line from point to point a given height from the ground. posts plumb, posts & pickets parallel to the line

You mean just rails parallel to line?


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[BD1]

Call a fence guy and ask for a estimate. Then ask how he's gonna do t and if he has pictures of his work

 

[firebirdparts]

I would run a string line from point to point a given height from the ground. posts plumb, posts & pickets parallel to the line

This would absolutely be the best looking option.

 

[rjacobs]

I would have to measure some of the drops between posts on mine, but all of my panels are level, they do not follow the ground. Some of them start flush with the ground and on the other side have 5-6" of a gap. Doesnt look bad because grass takes up most of that gap.

 

[The Cobbler]

You mean just rails parallel to line?


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rails parallel to the line . pickets all same lenght(ish) and tops parallel to the line (equal distance from the rail to the tops) , posts tops parallel to line and plumb

 

[fourjeepin]

Call a fence guy and ask for a estimate. Then ask how he's gonna do t and if he has pictures of his work

I got a quote for 100 feet of metal fencing for between the house and pool along with a quote for 300 feet of 6-foot chain link around the back property line. They wanted $100 a linear foot for the metal. They did the chain and I DIYed the metal for about $12 a foot.

 

[BD1]

I got a quote for 100 feet of metal fencing for between the house and pool along with a quote for 300 feet of 6-foot chain link around the back property line. They wanted $100 a linear foot for the metal. They did the chain and I DIYed the metal for about $12 a foot.

OK, did you ask "how " they will run it ?? That's what your asking about. See which method they suggest and ask if they have pictures.


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[Kaizen]

OK, did you ask "how " they will run it ?? That's what your asking about. See which method they suggest and ask if they have pictures.


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Honestly I see fences installed of all types and just shake my head. These pros are not any better then most I’ve installed. So I’m hesitant to ask them. Besides around here we really don’t have many of them. All the wrought iron from 19century has been cut out and scrapped.


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[Kaizen]

rails parallel to the line . pickets all same lenght(ish) and tops parallel to the line (equal distance from the rail to the tops) , posts tops parallel to line and plumb

Thanks. This seems the best solution.


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[csp]

Does the slope of the ground vary between each and every post?

If yes, I'd make that straight line span over three or possibly four posts instead of between each and every post. Nothing looks worse IMO than the top of a fence line that goes up and down and up and down over the entire length, when it could be smoothed out some and give the illusion that the grade is smoother than it really is. It also depends on how much the change is between each vertical post.

 

[Kaizen]

Does the slope of the ground vary between each and every post?

If yes, I'd make that straight line span over three or possibly four posts instead of between each and every post. Nothing looks worse IMO than the top of a fence line that goes up and down and up and down over the entire length, when it could be smoothed out some and give the illusion that the grade is smoother than it really is. It also depends on how much the change is between each vertical post.

Nope consistent all the way. Any low spots I will fill in for asthetics


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[Joemctag]

Exactly what csp said. And to do that and make it look good, you'll need to do a lot of standing back and looking at it as you raise or lower posts. But it's worth it. Just did one.

 

[gnpenning]

Call a fence guy and ask for a estimate. Then ask how he's gonna do t and if he has pictures of his work

So you are going to waste someone's time that you have no intention of using just to get ideas.

 

[Joemctag]

Does the slope of the ground vary between each and every post?

If yes, I'd make that straight line span over three or possibly four posts instead of between each and every post. Nothing looks worse IMO than the top of a fence line that goes up and down and up and down over the entire length, when it could be smoothed out some and give the illusion that the grade is smoother than it really is. It also depends on how much the change is between each vertical post.

Old thread, but if someone’s searching, yeah, this is the way to try to do it. Couldn’t have worded it better myself.
I erect some metal fences occasionally for myself and commercially.