Had to pick between a 4-foot and 6-foot post for a sloped job in Redmond

I was putting in a fence on a steep backyard last month, and the ground dropped a full 18 inches over a 10-foot run. I had to choose between setting 4-foot posts and stepping the rails, or using 6-footers and cutting them down to follow the slope. I went with the 6-foot posts to keep the top rail line smooth. It took more time to trim each one, but the finished look was worth the extra hour. Has anyone else faced a slope that sharp, and what's your go-to method?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_brian1mo agoMost Upvoted

Yeah, cutting down the 6-footers is the move. That smooth top line makes the whole fence look pro. I'll always take the extra time to cut over stepping the rails on a slope like that.

the_lucas1mo ago

Lol is a smooth top line really that deep? Sounds like @the_brian and OP are way too into fence aesthetics. As long as it keeps the dog in, who cares.

hayden_nelson8529d ago

Wait, have you actually ever tried to step rails on a slope though? It looks like crap, I promise you. The top line gets all wavy and uneven, and then you've got gaps at the bottom where a small dog could just squeeze right under. Cutting them down takes a little more time sure, but the end result is so much cleaner and more solid. Plus if you ever sell the house, a fence that looks like it was put up by someone who cared is gonna matter way more than just "it keeps the dog in." I'm not saying you gotta be fancy or anything, but a smooth top line is just a sign the job was done right. And honestly, once you see one done well, the stepped ones just look half-assed in comparison.