How to Install Chain Link Fence on a Slope
If you’re wondering how to install chain link fence on a slope, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, we’re going to look at the process of installing chain link fence on a slope step by step, so you can get it done right.
Step One: Assess the slope
The best way to figure out how to install chain link fence on a slope is to assess the slope and understand the gradient. This means how much the slope rises over its distance.
If your slope gradient is less than 10 degrees, you may be able to skip some of the items on this list.
Step Two: Install Terminal Posts at the Top and Bottom of the Slope
Assuming your slope is more than 10 degrees, you will need to install a terminal post at the top and bottom of the slope.
Generally, whenever you have a change of direction of more than 10 degrees on the vertical or horizontal plane, your chain link fence will need another terminal post there.
Step Three: Use Your Terminal Posts to Run a String Line
Fences look better when they follow the contours of the ground and when they have a smooth, gradually changing top line.
You can use your terminal posts to run a string line up the slope you’re installing your chain link fence on, and that will tell you what height you need to set your line posts at.
Step Four: Set Out and Install Line Posts
The next step in the process of how to install a chain link fence on a slope is to set out and install your line posts. This usually means that you measure the distance between the two terminal posts and divide it by the line post spacing – which is usually 10 feet.
Measuring this along the gradient of the slope is a lot more accurate than measuring it off plan and may even result in an extra line post or two if you have a very steep slope.
Step Five: Install Top Rails
Once your line posts are in place, and you’ve installed your line post tops, you can install your chain link fence top rail. If you’ve aligned the tops of your line posts properly, you should have a smooth, even line from top to bottom of the slope.
Step Six: Install Mesh and wire
Chain link fence is a flexible, woven fabric, so it can cope with minor changes in gradient. However, when you are installing a chain link fence on a noticeable slope, the easiest option is usually to hang the mesh from the top rail as you normally would and then bias-cut the ends of the fence line to suit the angle.
This is a fairly complex process that requires some skill, so if you’re not a chain link fence pro, you almost certainly need some help.
Note: Installing Fences on Slopes Often Costs More
While it is certainly possible to install chain link fences (and most other fence types) on slopes, it’s important to note that it will probably cost more to do this.
Often, vehicle access to your fence line on a slope is limited, and that might mean more labor costs to carry materials up and down the slope by hand.
Fence lines on steep slopes are also longer when measured along the slope than off plan, so if you had contractors price off a drawing and did not indicate the slope, they might charge you extra for materials too.
As you can see, there is a clear process for how to install chain link fence on a slope. It’s also something that’s a little trickier than installing a fence on level ground. So if you have a sloped site, think twice before you consider a DIY chain link fence installation!
